Only child off to school

[mommafrog]

Mom of an only d...now a college sophomore. Stradmom's comment about taking up the cello made me smile -- that's exactly what I did last year! (Not quite ready for Carnegie Hall...). But I use babyfrog's room as my cello practice room (and now have to move out when she comes home on breaks....) But it helped me to have a reason to be in her room and not just keep walking by the empty space. I text her a "good morning" and usually hear a small detail of her day. We have a couple of "guilty pleasure" TV shows that we often watch "together," texting snarky comments about the show. (Keeps the connection, without having to stalk her or invade too much of what she's up to.) I do send her a silly card about every week...and discovered, when moving her out last spring, that although she never really said much about them, she did keep every card. (Somehow, real mail makes a difference.)

I have always worked full-time, and that continues...wonder if parents who were home full time feel more of the quiet in the house...anyone care to weigh in on that?

And hubs and I? We have worked to start weekly date nights again. (I was always schlepping the kid to rehearsals and dance classes, working on my Master's, etc...). Usually, we hit the local cheap dive place and maybe, if we splurge, the $3 second run movie house, or a walk, or the park...it's just the dedicated change of scene.

It gets less hollow over time, freshman parents. Still miss her terribly (and now, she's at school with a bad sinus infection, and I'm trying to "nurse" from afar...that's hard). But it's also great to be able to celebrate this next step toward successful adulthood -- if we did our job well, it is to make it so they appreciate us, but no longer "need" us in the way they did as kids.

[sportsmom2016]

Great thread! Thanks to all who posted as it brought some comfort to this mom of an only child! We dropped our son off at school back in August and we sure do miss him as well as the way life use to be! Taking it slow on the adjustment to a new normal on the homefront. Sportskid is doing just great at school - classes (and grades) are going well, gets along with his roommate, has done laudry on a regular basis, is getting involved with activities, likes the food situation etc.....

A few posts back RateMyProfessor was mentioned. Oooooo ahhhhh I have a new site to ad to my daily agenda - thanks ! I have been working up some research (and spreadsheets to accompany said research) on law school for Sportskid! I just want to be "prepared" in case I am asked for advice!

Best wishes to all parents out there going through sending a child off to school. I am sure it is never easy however you cut it - only child, first child, last child, middle child.....