<p>We just left our son at college, a 20 hour drive from home. The more time we spent there, the better we felt about the school he had chosen. I thought I might be in tears leaving our one and only, but he was so happy, I just had to feel happy for him too. Am I missing something?</p>
<p>Nope.
That’s what it’s all about- knowing that your son is happy; you’re happy; everyone is happy. What a great outcome. Celebrate! Knowing that he is doing well and enjoying his experience is the best feeling in the world, even if he isn’t around 24/7. Good job!</p>
<p>No, it sounds perfect!</p>
<p>(I was thinking about you and figured you must be dropping him off!)</p>
<p>What a great feeling Bethie! May it continue throughout your son’s 4 years!</p>
<p>I want him to know he can tell me, though, if things aren’t so perfect–they can’t be always. It’s a balancing act.</p>
<p>Of course,
You get the good with the bad, right?
Things haven’t always gone the right way for my older son; in the past year he’s been at college he’s had his share of “tryouts” and disappointments, trials and tribulations. Your role as a mom is now, more “officially”, one of confidante, cheerleader, therapist, role model, and resident expert.</p>
<p>I’m glad he’s off to a good start. I remember when we left our 16 year old daughter at Interlochen for her junior year in high school. I never would have imagined doing something like that, but the time we spent there made it so clear to us that it was where she needed to be. Unfortunately, her first day of class was 9/11 and we were all terrified. The school had every child call home. We missed her, but knew we had done the right thing.
It’s pretty much the same way with college.</p>
<p>I almost starting crying when I picked up younger D from school yesterday, the first full day without big sis in the same school, it was sooo weird</p>
<p>bethievt: D1 had a melt down when we left freshman year. D2 barely noticed we were gone, she was already so involved in other things. However, I’ve been told that sometimes the ones who are OK upon their parents leaving, may have their melt down days or weeks later when the novelty wears off. I cried with D2 when we were in a session for freshman parents with the college president, who was so eloquent and engaging in his “avoid the helicopter parent stigma” address. So when we said goodbye to her several hours later, I was fine.</p>
<p>Both Ds are long-distances away, too. D1 is 720 miles away; D2 is 770 miles away. So I’ve done my share of driving in the last week, too. The good news: as empty nesters, our first task was to stop in South Williamsport, PA on our way home and watch the two Little League World Series games last Saturday because there was no one to get home to!</p>
<p>teriwtt</p>
<p>That’s funny–I also cried a lot in response to one of the speakers before the “big goodbye” and then the college president told us to call him any time we wanted to. By the time it was “hug your child goodbye time”, I was all cried out and reassured. Do they plan it this way?</p>
<p>My mom cried when she said goodbye. She’s a big crier to begin with (which is a little strange since I am not at all), and my school has a whole ceremony where bagpipers lead parents and students to the gates of campus: students go through the gate to begin orientation, and parents split off to go to a building for parents’ orientation activities, and that’s it. </p>
<p>My sister closest in age to me and I are both at schools that are great fits for us and that we really love, and I think it’s definitely comforting to my parents. It would be so hard to leave a child who wasn’t enthusiastic about his school.</p>
<p>Now enjoy some quiet time at home, and enjoy yourself! Perhaps wine, a bubble bath, and a movie to congratulate yourself?</p>
<p>I only cried during our “last” breakfast together at our favorite coffee shop on Friday. I didn’t cry at all on Saturday. In fact, it feels like she never left, since I’ve spoken to her at least 6 times/day by phone and at least one IM session online/day in the last 3 days. I told her that eventually she should only call a few times per week.</p>
<p>bethievt</p>
<p>Congratulations on getting your son happily off to college!</p>
<p>This is the second anniversary of the drop off of our one and only son at his college (but notice I am still here on CC occasionally for continued moral support). I still vividly remember though, on returning home from that trip, feeling like the hosts of a great party after all the guests have left - remembering what a great time I’d had but feeling suddenly empty at the same time. And left with all the clean up, too.</p>
<p>Bethie: the average time to the first “Mom/Dad, I have a problem” call is less than a week. So enjoy the peace for now, then you’ll be back to being a parent (long-distance).
LOL</p>
<p>zip100</p>
<p>I have felt a few empty moments and DEFINITELY agree about the clean-up. Somehow the whole house is an incredible mess!</p>
<p>“That’s funny–I also cried a lot in response to one of the speakers before the “big goodbye” and then the college president told us to call him any time we wanted to. By the time it was “hug your child goodbye time”, I was all cried out and reassured. Do they plan it this way?”</p>
<p>I think so! D’s president gave a moving speech about “Welcome and Goodbye” and I boo-hooed, but when it was time to leave her, I could go without too much fuss. Of course, when we saw the many fire trucks and part of the campus closed off by firemen, my heart about stopped and I wanted to take her home!</p>
<p>“then the college president told us to call him any time we wanted to…”</p>
<p>This reminded me of a funny moment when we took my middle daughter to college a few years ago. Her new president also said something along those lines but then when we were at the airport preparing to board our flight home, he was there too! I couldn’t help but kid him about it and he sheepishly explained that he was having a weekend away before classes started.</p>
<p>Well, I didn’t exactly think he’d be waiting for our call. I just thought he’d take my call sometime. Funny story though.</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear that everything went well with the dropoff, bethievt. I am with you - I’m happy as long as they are happy!</p>
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<p>Actually, in our case (both last year and this) it was the other way around - the cleaning was on the dropoff end! I don’t know if it’s because the school is in a city, there’s tons of construction going on and dust gets in there fast, but dirty is an understatement. Two trips to the store for cleaning supplies and a rug shampoo machine rental later things were looking much better. However, after two years of this, I’m beginning to think it’s a conspiracy. They get you all so exhausted from cleaning that no one has any energy left for sad goodbyes!</p>
<p>I was dreading the thought of the “big clean up” at home after we moved our daughter into her dorm at her school located in center city Phila but discovered there was nothing to clean up. I think she packed every stitch of clothing and pair of shoes she has accumulated over the past 18 years! What I can’t figure out is how it all fit into her dorm room.</p>