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As I begin reviewing "Parents' Orientation" schedules and "Student Orientation" schedules, the reality that my only daughter will be moving 2.5-3 hours away has me in the beginnings of a panic state. I do not let on to her, but gosh, this is way more difficult than I could have imagined. All the worries about getting in to college are now worries about how will she "do" college (probably very well without me nagging). I am so proud of her, and I know she will be fine. I think the worries are about how I will do.
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I know how you feel, because I feel pretty much the same way. I'm already starting to miss my son. (He'll be in Chicago, more than two hours away from home.) He's an only child, and I'm divorced (my ex and I split up 8 years ago), so he's been essentially the sole focus of my life -- not counting my job! -- for a long time now. He was always a shy child and only began spending a lot of time with friends in the last year or so (something I've been overjoyed to see), so we've always been together a lot, especially on weekends, and he's the sort of kid who tells me just about everything about school and friends. Plus, we happen to share a lot of interests (history, literature), so we always have a lot to talk about. I look forward to being his friend, as well as his parent, for the rest of my life.
So, although I know he'll stay in touch, and as proud and excited as I am for him, things obviously aren't going to be the same. And I don't know how I'm going to manage. I have a cat whom I love and who loves me, but he's not as good a conversationalist as my son! I don't spend a lot of time with friends myself -- I have some pretty serious chronic health issues, and I often work long hours (I'm a lawyer), so I haven't had a lot of energy to seek out friends, or do things outside work other than be a parent. It occurred to me recently that I haven't had more than a very occasional weekend free, with no responsibilities, since 1986, before I got married, so I'm afraid I'm going to be at something of a loss!
Donna