Help! Oldest daughter going off to college. We need support

mafool
Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:32:36 +0000

Survivor here! Our son (only child) graduated in May and started his job in June. He has not lived closer than a 9 hour drive since 2006.

It hurts to let them go. No getting around it. It is hard to believe that it will ever get easier. It does. Really. But it takes time and does not happen in a straight line.

Also, be prepared to hear about problems and sadness when they occur and know that you may not hear about solutions and happiness! That was hard for me. He would call about a problem; I was the sounding board for solutions and a safe place to vent. Then I wouldn’t hear from him for days. Meanwhile I worried. When I did ask, the answer was something like, “Oh! I took care of it last Wednesday. Turns out it wasn’t a big deal after all.” Grrrr. :)

Hugs to all the newly bereft parents. And to the old-timers like me. (I still cry after I say goodbye, every time.)

~mafool