Who else is sending their last kid away in the fall (class of 2013)? - Page 4

morandi · 08-12-2009, 07:29 PM

yes, we clearly need a support group here. i was just thinking, next week both boys will pack up their car and head 1,500 miles away to two different schools, s1 as a junior and s2 as a freshman. no doubt i will stand by the curb, waving goodbye, and become overwhelmed with emotions (perhaps i'll have a bottle of wine at the ready). of course i'm happy for them, of course i'm proud, of course we will continue to evolve our relationships, but it's the end of an era. we bought boxes today to sort through their stuff--some to keep, some to give away--it really hit me. you're not alone, jptmom!

IMHopeful · 08-12-2009, 07:53 PM

Its time to put as much time and energy into ourself as we did into our kids. Just imagine what amazing lives we can lead with that kind of self-directed attention!!!!!

IMHopeful · 08-12-2009, 07:54 PM

I think I meant ourselves! Haha

gadsdenite · 08-12-2009, 09:06 PM

I too am joining this club and I'm feeling really sad. I have so enjoyed being a mom and of course I'm still a mom but in a much different fashion. D is a senior in college now so I'm used to her being away but for S - and the last one - to leave is really hitting me a lot harder than I thought it would.

I'm going to miss that boy like crazy!

IMHopeful · 08-12-2009, 09:16 PM

I had a meeting with one of my staff today -- a young woman with two young children. We were talking about work-life balance, she is struggling with trying to work and be a mom (sound familiar to anyone?) Her oldest is starting kindergarten and she said it really struck her that her daughter is growing up and that time is going so fast . . . . I thought, you don't know the half of it!

D and I started cleaning out her room today -- and she is an absolute pack-rat. We found all kinds of things from elementary and middle school -- and laughed about all of the memories they brought back. It was great fun while we were doing it -- now she is off seeing friends for the evening -- and it makes me smile, but with tears.

ilovetoquilt22 · 08-12-2009, 11:34 PM

D leaves in less than two weeks. She and her sister will be at the same school, so that makes it a bit easier and the school is in a city I can't wait to visit again.

I too know tha tmine won't be coming back very much, her career plans are were her school is. As she is sorting through her clothes and I keep telling her, no toooo much, you don't need the spice girls tshirt, I look around her room and think, wow, I will pass this room and it will always be neat. Eerily so.

Right now, when she comes home, the dogs get all excited and bark and wag their little tails. That will happen so much less often. RIght now its to chaotic to be sad, but I know it will hit me at weird times. I did get a giggle last night when I met a woman with two teen girls, 13 and 15, and I just siad been there done that!!!!

I think for me, it will be hard leaving that campus and heading to the airport with empty suitcases.

IMHopeful · 08-14-2009, 06:32 PM

The boxes are 99% packed. Shopping is done. D is making the rounds saying goodbye to friends. We leave in a day and a half. The household is AMAZINGLY calm . . . . Calm before the storm? Waiting for it to hit.

heyalb · 08-14-2009, 06:47 PM

I am finding when I go out for walks with my husband, and we see a young couple with two little kids on bicycles, and the littlest falls off the bike and cries inconsolably......

......distraught parent picks up little kid, still inconsolable & screaming at top of lungs, bloody knee, while other kid tugs at parent's shirt screaming for attention, parent is getting frazzled, and I think I should say to this stranger:

"They'll be heading off to college in around eight hours."

Nobody gets it till they're there, where we are.

I find myself remembering my frazzled self, with inconsolable, bloody-kneed toddler, and thinking "they'll be babies forever." I knew nothing back then.

mmaah · 08-15-2009, 12:28 PM

I was out with the dog this morning and found myself talking to a proud 4 year old who was showing off her new bike-riding skills. Made me marvel too at how quickly the time has flown, even though there were some endless trying times (eg: the weekend I was home with an 1 year old and 5 year old with chicken pox and my husband was off skiiing.) My second and last is off to college--on Tuesday. Even though we've been getting ready for this for a long time, it is somehow a jolt to all of us to say "You're going to college--on Tuesday!" What a ride this has been.

IMHopeful · 08-16-2009, 09:00 AM

We are off -- heading to the airport

heyalb · 08-16-2009, 09:34 AM

^^ DS boarding 2nd leg of 2-leg flight.

We dropped off DD last weekend.

Is it too early to have a drink?