'Parenthood's' Monica Potter Previews 'Empty Nesting' Ahead for Adam and Kristina

Chris Haston/NBC

"Parenthood"

Not a dry eye was left in the house as Haddie bid her parents farewell as she departed the safe confines of living at home and high school for the greener pastures of college some 3,000 miles east on NBC's Parenthood.

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In the closing moments of the season four premiere, Adam (Peter Krause) and Kristina's (Monica Potter) daughter Haddie (Sarah Ramos) stoically parted ways with her loving parents at the airport, only to turn around moments later for one of the premiere's biggest emotional hooks.

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But now that their eldest of three kids has left the building, what's next for the couple?

"There will definitely be some empty nesting," Potter tells The Hollywood Reporter of what's to come. "They try to replace her with a dog and it's really kind of funny because you can't really replace your kid with a dog."

While Haddie, like any typical teenager, has had her battles with her parents, Potter says her relationship with Kristina is goes beyond mother-daughter to more a best friend scenario and that her character may try to cover up just how much she misses her daughter.

"When your kid goes away you hide your emotions a lot," she says. "Especially for Kristina, wanting to spend time with her and being best friends and hanging out together and just having her as a buddy as well as a daughter, you're going to see that especially with what happens in the story line and in the following episode what an impact it has on her not being there."

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Part of that will entail Max (Max Burkholder) coming out of his shell a bit more.

"You see him sort of take the reins and become this kid that in season one you never thought he could become," she says, noting the bond between all the Bravermans' kids -- including new addition Nora -- will continue to be further explored this season. "We'll elaborate on the bond between all three of the kids and how it is for Kristina missing Haddie."

Parenthood airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC. Watch a promo, below.

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