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

BusyMomof4
Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:13:58 +0000

It’s a year later…and I see lots of new posts from moms (and dads?) who felt the way I felt last year.

It does get better. The first few months were AWFUL (for me). D had moments of being homesick, called me right away, and then minutes later ran off and had fun - while I suffered at home! D’s first visit home was wonderful, as were all of her other visits. We may have had a day or two of adjustment, but we fell right back into our old patterns. I am still her best friend, although she has tons of new wonderful friends. We still find the same things funny and connect just like we always have. She shows me all of her pictures and I feel like, in a way, she is really not that far away. What I have now is a slightly older, slightly more mature D who is even more enjoyable. She appreciates me a little more. She is so thankful for her family. All of the learning experiences over the last year have led her to appreicate her life that much more.

I dropped her off a few days ago and she just called to say she is a little homesick. She is helping the new freshman move in and she remembers what it was like for her. Sure, she was homesick from time to time - but it is an adjustment and she had (and has) to allow herself that. She needs me to be her cheerleader and as hard as it is not to wallow in my own self pity (which I love to do based upon this thread), I need to be there for her and be strong as much as I can. Best of luck.