<p>Now that the time is drawing near, I wondered how everyone is doing. My daughter doesn’t leave for another month, but some of her friends have left already and most of the rest of them are leaving next week. I can tell by her moodiness that it will be hard to be one of the few left behind. </p>
<p>Parents, are you hanging in there?</p>
<p>Sigh. My son is never, never, never home. His girlfriend leaves in two weeks but DS not for five more. So I guess we’ll see him after she leaves. I’m looking forward to it.</p>
<p>I’m planning to have an “empty nesters’ dinner” for some friends the Saturday after he goes away.</p>
<p>Hanging in there, but only because there is so much going on for us right now. As soon as things settle down, I expect to be miserable. H.S. daughter is very sad. She and the college bound brother are very close.</p>
<p>Your question showed up just as I was reeling. Opened up the email an hour ago, to find the long awaited itinerary and date of departure for my Peru bound Rotary exchanger, the day before her twin sister moves into her dorm for freshman year. The day after, I leave to work at a camp for a week. I love this job, and the entre it gives me into a fun and magical world each summer. But am sad, as the day after that ends, I return home to say goodbye to the college grad son, off to teach in China this year. And in the same period, the Korean girl who has shared our house, and soothed my soul this last year is returning home. </p>
<p>What am I left with??? Aging and cranky cats, a house that needs a start on all the long delayed fixing and cleaning, a garden in need of massive amounts of time and refurbishment. And…a new bike to ride to my hearts content, sunsets and a beautiful fall, a warm community of friends, and finally the free evenings to take classes and finally start on some of the education I’ve longed for all these years.</p>
<p>Life is bittersweet.</p>
<p>Second and last child goes away to distant college in six days.</p>
<p>I think that reflection on the situation will have to wait until after I return from dropping her off. Things have been too busy here this summer to allow much time for contemplation.</p>
<p>Besides, I can’t believe it’s really happening. But then, when I was nine months pregnant with child #1, I couldn’t believe the lump under my shirt was going to turn into a baby until it did.</p>
<p>D, a rising Sophomore, has already planned NOT to come home next summer. She wants to get an internship in Boston or DC. The next 2 weeks before she leaves will be tough. I try not to think about it. When is winter break???</p>
<p>Six days to go. She stopped work last weekend to “get ready”, which seems to mainly consist of staying out until 2 and sleeping until 2.
OTOH, three suitcases are full. If she doesn’t pack another thing but sends in the online Target order, she can get by.
My main problem has been my desire to “decorate” and her aversion to fussy things. I point out that towels don’t go with comforter. She says “Ugh, I don’t want to be a matchy-matchy girl.” Fortunately room-mate (as yet unmet) hasn’t suggested color-coordinating everything!</p>
<p>VeryHappy - I love the idea of the “empty nesters” dinner! </p>
<p>Son is leaving in 13 days. Yes, I’m counting. So is he, but for different reasons. He can’t wait to go. I’m excited for him, maybe even a little bit jealous… but the idea that I will no longer be a part of his daily life after 18 years… I knew this day would come, but I didn’t really KNOW it.</p>
<p>Both my sons will be gone this time two weeks from now. I’m re-decorating our back porch/pool deck. Today an outdoor billiards table was delivered. Next week, a new table/umbrella/chairs for the corner of the deck. I’m hoping to make the place into a nice retreat for us and our friends. I’m kind of nervous about all the changes, but I’m looking forward to learning how to shoot pool and getting a lot of reading done out there.</p>
<p>Less than two weeks to go here, too, until S1 leaves.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine what it will be like, as the family dynamics will almost certainly change. S2 and I will probably miss him the most. S2 will miss having a partner for ping pong, frisbee, and watching Family Guy (ugh). I will miss our conversations and even his seemingly constant feeding and foraging here in the kitchen. Mostly I’ll miss him because- well, we all know why. I don’t think kids have ANY IDEA how fast time flies for us parents. </p>
<p>He is my first, and this is tough. That said, though, he is SO ready to go, and I’m actually very excited for him. I just hope he’ll be very very happy.</p>
<p>Next Sat., S has orientation.
We just finished about 60 hours of co-facilitating a youth program. I love facilitating. S is my favorite facilitator.
I am going to really miss S. He is a very nice young man. We have lots in common.
I am glad that he has chosen a college that seems a good fit for him. Still, I will miss him a lot.</p>
<p>D leaves in 4 days - youngest of 3 and last to go to college. S2 comes home tomorrow from his summer program, and will be here a couple weeks, so empty nest won’t really come till after Labor Day. Like many have already mentioned, our summer has been so busy, I haven’t had time to think about it. But I think this year will be hardest of any. I am making lots of plans to keep myself busy.</p>
<p>S leaves 2 weeks from today, and I’m really not looking forward to it. I keep telling myself what a great kid he is, and what a great opportunity is ahead of him. But I am selfishly wondering what H and I will do around here without him! I think that after about 2 weeks, I’ll be fine. One of the simple things I am looking forward to is going to bed at a reasonable hour, and not having to wait up for S.</p>
<p>Wow - This thread brought it home that D leaves in 14 days. I’ve known she was leaving, in my head, since I started the college countdown at 147 days. I think my head forgot to tell my heart! I’m excited for her, and a little scared. I’ve promised myself the I WILL NOT CRY until after we leave her on drop off day. I hope I can keep that promise. I don’t want her to be concerned about me. Sigh. Seems like just yesterday that I took her to kindergarten.</p>
<p>I’m a complete night owl so the one thing (right now the only thing) I’m looking forward to is staying up as late as is natural for me and then sleeping in without feeling I must get up to see her off to school in the am. Once I’m up, I’m up, so sleeping past 7 am will be a blessing. I haven’t been able to do the up 'til 2, sleep 'til 10 thing in so-o-o long, I can’t wait to get back on my natural schedule.</p>
<p>Actually, mine has been spending more time WITH ME! After I took 1/2 day to do some (sort of) last minute shopping, we went out to dinner (OK, it was only Panera) and then we got a movie and watched it together. She actually turned down a couple of get-togethers with friends to spend time with me.</p>
<p>She also leaves 2 weeks from today.</p>
<p>I thought I was ok until she just called to tell me she is only 1/4 of the way there when she should be halfway by now (due to traffic on I95 after DC.) Ugggh…her 10 hour dirve may turn out to be more like 16 if things don’t clear up!
I feel bad since she is going alone ( sophomore) but she didn’t think it would be practical for me to come this time. She has to bunk with a friend for a week until she can move in to her apartment ( weird lease) and then football games and Rush will be taking up most of her time.
Right now I wish I could be teleported to I95 to keep her company while she is slugging along at 15mph.</p>
<p>D caught me tearing up over the thoughts of her leaving. She said I was going to be all cried out before I even dropped her off. I told her I was going to try NOT to cry when I left her. She got a little upset at that and said she planned to cry and would be upset if I didn’t. It would be as if I didn’t care. So now I’m free to sob away…</p>
<p>Kids! I just can’t figure them out!</p>
<p>Yeah - it only took 12 hours instead of 16 LOL I’m just so happy that she made it safely. The house already seems so quiet…I don’t know what I’ll do next year when my senior is off to college as well…
Good luck to all , hang in there. Once they call to tell you about all of their friends and how great their classes are, you can breath easier. : )</p>
<p>S leaves in 5 days…yikes. The summer has just flown by. Even though he is a returning sophmore, I am dreading him leaving again. I loved having him home all summer and being a part of his everyday life. I treasure the time we had together and I guess I am gearing myself up for the feelings of loss when he leaves. He is a 3 hour plane ride away, so no weekend visits until parent weekend.</p>
<p>I am thankful to have my 8 year old at home to distract me and fill the void. She really misses her older brother when he leaves. Last year she was hysterical. I imagine we will all get through it and just look forward to parent weekend at the end of Sept.</p>
<p>Gosh, I am getting teary just writing this! I’m gonna be a mess.</p>