It’s been a great four years as our son finishes up his last semester of college,before graduating in May. He has accepted a job offer with the place where he’s been doing his internship for the last two years. Its about an hour from home. What I am realizing is that I am experiencing the same type anxious moments thinking of his transition to the work force and living on his own that I felt when he was moving from high school to college. Can you offer any advice?
Enjoy the moment! Congrats to your son and you too! You’ve both jumped another hurdle in life! Your time is done for this leg in the journey. I’d say you should be moving to “consulting basis” only…
Anxious moments only come until you realize you will never be in control of someone else’s life. Even your kids. You don’t get to tell them what life path to take. You can only give parental advice (and hope they hear ANY of it. And you can’t control fate). So just let them keep growing up! Let adult kids lead their own lives and make their own decisions. That way your kids will have less anxious moments trying to please the 'rents. YOU’ll still be anxious! Get over it!
I’ve got two young adults out on their own. At times they have lived close to me, one once lived on the other side of the world. You do the best you can and realize that if you did your job, your kids will fly and not depend on you to solve their problems and live their lives. But as gouf says, you really don’t control any of it, ever, you just think you are when they are little.
That doesn’t mean they won’t come home to visit, or call you with good (or bad) news or to ask for advice. They will. But it’s different-you can forge a new way of interacting-more like friends or perhaps peers. While I sometimes get nostalgic for those little tow-headed toddlers, I am proud of the adults my two older kids have become and enjoy who they are. I am really only anxious when they are having difficulties-and then only if they tell me about it. But it’s up to them to solve those problems. Good luck to your son!
Savor the fact that he’ll only be an hour from home. 
One of my kids went to college an hour away (40 minutes if there’s no traffic on the Beltway, but there’s almost always traffic on the Beltway), and the other lived an hour away for the first three years after graduating from college. It was very nice in both cases.
They’re in other parts of the country now, but it was great while it lasted.
I think your son should do just fine. He will be living in a familiar geographic area and working for a familiar employer. That means that he will be more comfortable than peers who are going to companies they know nothing about in cities they’ve barely even seen.
Pat yourself on the back for a job well done, savor the fact that he is only an hour from your home and you’ll see him more than once a year, enjoy the extra money in your pocket and do something wonderful with your spouse (if you have one) or girlfriends.
Savor the fact that he’ll only be an hour from home.
You have a lot of things going for you- he knows where he’s headed after graduation, he knows his employer, there is time to find a good place to live, he will be very close to home, etc. My son came home briefly after graduation, but then accepted a job in a different state. I was anxious over the move, finding an apartment (which turned out to be almost impossible), him starting a new job with virtual strangers, him being gone - for good- all of it. It definitely felt different than when he left for college. The first month or so was hard (for me, at least). It became easier for me as he settled into his job and new life. He does still call every week or so to catch up, which is nice. I am finding that I really enjoy hearing his work life stories. It is very satisfying to see him manage his work, social, financial, etc. life issues with very little input from us. I agree with everything golf said. We are now infrequent consultants, and it feels good.
Appreciate the fact that this too is a major transition, and though he hasn’t been physically present the last 4 years, his home has still been with you. That is now to change, though with the distance being an hour away, there can be a lovely sharing of weekends and evenings, still.
Some of my friends had a rougher time with this less heralded change, than the empty nest at the start of college. As with all transitions, time is the healer. Though it certainly is not easy in the short term, so allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling, and know that things will evolve to a new reality with time. As with college he will figure things out, and with you an hour away, he is a fortunate guy!
Thank you all for your words of encouragement, insight, personal experiences and support. It truly helps.