@Benniesmom1 - virtual hug right back at you! We’re all going through the same thing. It’s nice to share a bit of the emotion behind the strategies, planning, and auditions. It’s what makes us human, after all. And I agree @akapiratequeen- thank you for sticking around and being like a big sister to us 
@BenniesMom1 - Can’t help but notice…
“Oh and I dunno… I’m not sure I would find ironing my son’s shirts (“cause you do it better than the dry cleaners Momma” ) and driving them to Pittsburgh totally insane ? Not totally.”
Pittsburgh, eh? Am I sensing a frontrunner?
I remember crying hysterically on my driveway as my husband, on a Sunday, drove my eldest to college, about 20 min away without traffic. My S20 just matter-of-factly said, “Mom, we’re seeing him on Tuesday.” Yes, I’m that ridiculous, but I also knew, as @compmom was saying, our family would never be the same. I think that’s what I was mourning the most. Now when he comes home for an extended time and leaves his clothes/mess in nearly every room in the house, I look forward to when he leaves. Yes, life does become a bit less hectic with one less kid being driven to a lesson, soccer game, etc. Unlike @akapiratequeen 's children, mine doesn’t yet have an appreciation of the little things we’ve done for him, but I do enjoy our more adult conversations now. He’s taken on the big brother role advising his younger siblings on their life choices.
S20’s imminent departure hasn’t hit me yet, but I know I’ll be crying hysterically on that driveway again soon.
Figured if anyone would pick up on that it would be you ? Just testing it out… you know… wearing the T-shirt for a few days kinda thing . The kid also is testing it out in his mind. We were in the car yesterday and out of nowhere… “You know, Mom, Marching Band does not a school make”. I was like… HUH?? Now where did THAT come from? #1 and #3 have Marching Bands, and I’m a hardcore band mom. Might have said at some point in time that West Chester was MY fav because it’s sooo close to home and they DO have THE best collegiate MB in the country at the moment. read: I’ll be that loud mom at ALL the games. ? So, who knows… Maybe it wasn’t out of nowhere, really, since 76 Trombones from the Music Man was playing on Sirius at the time. We shall see!!
@Coloraturagirl my D went to Tanglewood summer of 2018 and I cried my eyes out (as did she) when we left. I will never forget that night when she called me on Facetime and was trying to talk to me and all we could hear in the background was a flutist practicing scales the whole time. Finally my D said…and this FLUTE won’t stop!! We started cracking up! She grew to love it in a weeks time and adjusted very well. It’s so hard to let them go. Ugh.
I’m so glad to hear that we all go through the same struggles. @akapiratequeen thanks for sharing with us what’s to come. I’ve been getting teary eyed at every audition. I get choked up on the airplane ride and then again pacing the hallways of all these schools. We’ve only got two auditions left and I’m glad and sad because D is that much closer to leaving us. She’s my oldest and I don’t want to say goodbye.
I am not letting my self think very much of what life will be like after D goes off to school. I’ve got a few projects and plans for myself after but I figure I will deal with it then. Right now I’m really enjoying our time together. I’m relishing doing things for her and thinking of the details of getting her to college. She is also very busy with school, music, rehearsals and various performances and gigs.
We have a trip to Spain planned for spring break. We were supposed to go to with her friend and friends Mom but they canceled. I’m annoyed that they canceled but also, we will have a blast. Just the two of us.
When older D went to college it was much less difficult than I thought it would be. We all talk, FaceTime and text frequently and she was very happy that first year. Also, we see her frequently. It hasn’t all been roses. I was Suddenly very ill shortly after she started school and that was traumatic for all of us it took a while for me to recover. (I’m better) She also was dealing with mental health issues (Depression and anxiety) and it was challenging to get her to initiate care and then it took a while before she was getting the right care. Finally, this year she seems to be on the right track. Which is a weight off my back.
I’ve seen some friends slide into sadness after their child leaves but watching my daughter grow and bloom has kept me from going to that place. I miss her terribly and It hadn’t all been easy and it won’t all be easy but she has found her place and seeing her move forward into adulthood so beautifully is a pleasure.
So, we shall see how it goes with younger D. Meanwhile I’m enjoying her time at home,
Sometimes we FaceTime with older D during dinner and she “eats” with us. Next year we will have to do three way calls.
To all the mamas. I read it all and it is nice to know I am not alone. One side of me does not want to let him go but on the other side I know it is his time, he needs to grow to be the man he will be. One plus thing came of his auditions and interviews: we have been getting kisses and hugs from him. 
Also I am so grateful that he had summer camps. I think it was the best thing to get him ready for college life and giving him the taste of freedom. This summer we would like to back pack in Europe with him. We have close friends all over the Europe so we can easily stay with them. But as of now no plans. I know he was looking at EAMA in France but did not apply.
Daughter has one audition left and it’s a state school about an hour and a half away. We’ve enjoyed the process and audition trips and can’t believe it’s almost over. She still can’t believe she’s about to graduate.
She is our youngest, but I’m ahead of the game on sending her off. She attends our state arts school about an hour away, so has been living away from home since beginning of junior year. I don’t remember any tears after dropping her off on move-in day, just adjusting to so much free time. I am an artist, so it helped me have more time to paint and attend art-related events in the area. My husband had a harder time with her leaving two years early. She does text me a lot (always has), so that has helped keep her close. When she comes home, she fills me in on what’s been happening at school. Hoping the texts and chats keep up as she goes off to college, wherever that may be.
Bennie just got the most fun and exciting acceptance into a music program AND University from Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquense. The chairman of the department, along with students from the studio made a personalized Congrats and Welcome VIDEO ( ( I, along with a few of your future colleagues …" )and texted it to him!! Waaaaaaaay better notification than email, portal or snail mail. So he walks into my room dancing, with this big grin on his face blaring the video on his phone. Definitely was his favorite acceptance delivery. Super Cool, even though he " accidentally heard" he was IN the program already after the audition on Friday, but NOW it’s official. Or is it? it’s a kinda quirky fun video, probably not admissible in court… ??He should probably still wait for the “official” letter from Admissions, huh? Anyhoo… Just thought to share cause it was fun and different and had my kiddo dancing. Now that auditions are over… Yup…the rest are cancelled… I have my happy go lucky non-stressed kiddo back. Hadn’t realized how stressed he’d really been until now. “So, Mom, when are we going to New York for that belated birthday and celebration trip?” Let the good times roll!! My uber serious, hard on himself, auditioning musician, has been replaced by my happy, laid back, silly kid once again. What a journey!! Oh and he just came up again with a … 'By the way, I’m going on the Senior Trip to the Beach". He wouldn’t even let himself THINK about any of the fun Senior stuff. Sooooo happy we’re DONE.
Thanks for being on the journey with us !! Newbies, this 'aint for the faint of heart but if you’re reading this already before your 2021 grad starts the journey, you are waaaaaaaay ahead of the game and in the right place. The good folks here will help you through this. My only regret is that I didn’t find out about this place sooner 
?
@BenniesMom1 - that is absolutely the best acceptance notification I’ve heard of! Congratulations!!!
I love this @BenniesMom1 ! Congrats to the kiddo! So is this a final decision? Have you gotten the financials?
I am so thrilled for both of you!!
Right? We’re still both smiling about it and it got a lot of “play” this evening at my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary drink.
Thanks and Nooooo… Not a final decision - though he’s been playing it in his mind lately, but no financials yet other than the 50% off tuition “Lead with Music” Scholarship and 4K Room and Board discount, (given to ALL music students accepted) which is a good start. Still waiting on 2 more AND final financials before making a decision. Duquense, however, is battling for the #1 spot at the moment 
?Probably won’t be making a decision til end of March when everything is in. He just cancelled the rest cause he got into his top two and he’s not too fond of the rest after visits and lessons. I told him not to burn bridges but from what I’ve read, I don’t think they will be able to match what Duq, who is known to meet need, will. So, might as well be done. He got no argument from me when he was yelping SPAM SPAM today from one of his audition reminder emails from Temple and literally trashed a letter reminder he received for one of the others. PLUS, in his words "If I go forth with the Temple audition, I actually have to dig out that orchestral excerpt which I haven’t practiced in weeks cause nobody else required one. Nope. Nope. I’m done. I’m in Jazz mode now with my saxophone, so no orchestral excerpt for me " ??He’s so full of jokes today.
Big congrats @BenniesMom1 ???
What a huge relief for you both 
@BenniesMom1 congratulations! What a cool acceptance notification, it sounds like it brought a lot of joy to your house! I love that they did something special.
@BenniesMom1 congratulations! What a cool acceptance…makes me think that school could be so fun!
@albertsax We only ever fly Air Canada because of their stellar in print musician policy, and in the States Southwest Air has the best rep
Hi everyone, just curious if anyone who auditioned live at Bienen has a take on the environment and level there? My son did the Video Audition route there, as the days didn’t work out to piggy-back with the other schools (higher on his list) that he was auditioning at, and he received a nice email from the prof there who definitely wants him in the program. There is no official financial offer or anything yet but we are thinking it will be hard to make a decision for NU when we haven’t seen it or gotten a feel for the environment. It seems that April 1 is the general “notify by” date for all of our schools…
Go to the Bienen Website and look at live streamed concerts that may be archived. You can ask the professor who your son is interested in for the names of students to speak with, or to google them on YouTube. You didn’t mention the instrument however it is our experience that the caliber of musicianship is extremely high. My daughter is a senior in vocal performance there. Feel free to PM if you have specific questions.
Today my son posted a picture of himself with his acceptance letter to the college of music he currently attends, saying “This happened a year ago and I’m so happy it did.” Great memory.
There’s a bunch of people on this thread who are in the middle of the stress now but will be looking back in a year with happy memories too. Hang in there!