<p>Awwww, now I’m going to have to go take a look at the '09 thread and cry a few tears too.</p>
<p>zm, my second and last is my twin. I think it’ll be much harder on me for him to leave. I didn’t cry on ds1’s first day of kindergarten, but I did on ds2’s. I just "get what he’s feeling, even if he can’t express it. In some ways, my older ds just seems so solid and will always seem capable in ways the younger one isn’t.</p>
<p>WAH!!!</p>
<p>YDS:</p>
<p>Seattle-Tacoma are in a temperate zone, so typically the weather is neither baking nor freezing. This does not mean they don’t occasionally get those days. I was laughing, after living in SoCal since '86, when I visited Seattle one summer and saw people complaining and just melting in weather that was in the mid 90s. People, get a grip, put on the sunscreen and shades, lash that water bottle to your belt and dress accordingly.</p>
<p>Kids I knew who went to WSU complained that the winters in the east, which does get colder, felt less cold because it was a “dry cold.” There is something to that, although learning the technique to dressing in layers helps a whole bunch, really. And since many who thrive in the PNW love outdoor activities anyway, they’ve probably got the assembled clothes to get them through any season the PNW can throw at them.</p>
<p>Let’s put it this way. I had NO idea what winter weather was until I lived in Albany, NY for three winters. I also had NO idea what a summer heat truly was until I visited the Phoenix area in the summer. I also had NO idea about the heat/humidity combo until the sojourn in Albany and a visit one time to St. Louis, MO in July, along with a summer internship in Washington, DC.</p>
<p>Obviously, given the rain, the PNW does get humid weather. It’s just that the temps along with it are rarely high enough to make it umcomfortably stiffling. Shoot, my parents got along just fine having no A/C in their cars.</p>
<p>My friends tell me to watch myself, since my S is an only child, so I’ll be launched into rather instant empty nest syndrome. Of course, if California-centric boy has his way, he may never be really that far away.</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay, I was coming here to warn all you 2010’ers to stay away from the 2009 thread for a while - it’s very emotional over there!! But I see I’m too late for a few of you. Trust me, there’s nothing like seeing your child walk away from you into her new life!</p>
<p>“…there’s nothing like seeing your child walk away from you into her new life” and thinking, finally.</p>
<p>archiemom - LOL. Maybe you need to bring that comment over to the '09 thread just to give them a chuckle.</p>
<p>Thanks for the warning, TOS, but you were too late for me. It already had me in tears. But I can’t say I wasn’t warned. Youdon’tsay tried, but I can’t seem to resist a good cry.</p>
<p>When we dropped off D1, I was in a total fog. I couldn’t believe that these people meant to keep her, but they did. I was outwardly calm through the whole process, organized, efficient. But when we closed the car door to leave, the most gut-wrenching sobs came out of me. I cried, literally, for days. She had orientation for the first few days so we couldn’t speak to her. The first time she called me while walking from one class to another was when I was finally able to breathe again. I really needed to know that I had a place in her life, still, so when she started texting me casually and calling often to chat, I regained my balance. But it was truly one of the hardest things I’ve done. I’m not good at letting go and I know the second time won’t be easier.</p>
<p>Archiemom, I feel the same way. I can’t wait for my nest to be empty.</p>
<p>I was a wreck when I left D at school the first time. It didn’t help that she was having a terrible time and thought she’d never make any friends, and thought she had made a mistake. I didn’t cry when I said goodbye – told her I would see her soon for Parents’ Weekend. Then I drove away and had to pull over a few blocks later because I was crying so hard.</p>
<p>I was somewhat sad to see D go (like others on this thread, she is my twin and soulmate - I call her the improved version of me). But she was so ready to leave, and couldn’t wait to get out of high school and start her new college life. She has been so happy and challenged and fulfilled, and that has made the separation much, much easier to take. Not to mention that she’s home every couple of months for breaks, calls often, and we e-mail back and forth a lot. I think the harder thing will be if she winds up somewhere far away after she graduates.</p>
<p>I don’t know how I’ll feel after S goes. Then we’ll truly be empty-nesters, which I’m looking forward to, but it’s going to be a bit lonely around here!</p>
<p>I guess some people get tearier than others. Don’t get me wrong I sometimes miss my kid, but mostly I’m happy that he’s happy. I see him regularly. Maybe if he were a more social and communicative kid I’d miss him more, but it’s not like he sat around the living room chatting with us anyway. I’ll probably miss S2 more, partly because he’s more sociable and then the house really will be empty!</p>
<p>I’ve said this before, but I’m assuming it’s very different seeing your DD walk away…my only experience has been with S1, and we were good and ready to launch him into the next stage of his life. With S2, I’m sure we will get to the same psychological break point by August of 2010.</p>
<p>I am so excited to see my son’s adult life unfold yet I know this will be a difficult time for my husband and I. </p>
<p>When my S leaves, I’ll be 40. Never did I imagine I’d be done with day to day mothering at this age. We were set on having three kids and then revisiting the issue. Infertility made other decisions for us. And so after years of being in a good space, once again I am keenly feeling the absence of the children that never came. </p>
<p>It took me a long time to work through the sorrow of, to sum it up in a term, having such a quiet house. Now my house will be even quieter still. I am so tired of these emotions coming up. I hope I can process and move on soon.</p>
<p>On a much lighter note, my sister told my parents that she did not want them to drop her off because they would cry too much. My parents had to plead guilty to that and so much sister chose my youngest uncle, who is only ten years older than we are. He’s a big guy who is pretty tough. </p>
<p>After getting my sister all moved in, and having a fun time doing it, my sister walked our uncle down to his van. He hugged her, stepped back and…burst into tears! We still tease him about that and he still gets misty thinking about it. Very sweet.</p>
<p>pugmadkate - I love that story! Thanks so much for sharing it.</p>
<p>Sorry about the other stuff - I can only imagine how difficult that was for you. Something tells me you’ll be fine when your S starts college - you’ll just have to find something that captures your interest.</p>
<p>pugmadkate – both of your stories made me misty-eyed.</p>
<p>There are too many emotions floating around on this thread! (and the '09 thread). Just kidding, but we still have a long way to go until our little '10ers are gone. I’ll either be an emotional wreck by then, or ready to help him pack! Probably a mix of the two.</p>
<p>S attended a BC-UNH hockey game with H the other night. H is a BC alum. Afterwards it seemed he couldn’t get out of the city fast enough. He commented to his father that he was not interested in attending college in an urban area. This is something to start with!
S plays several musical instruments, but would not be the conservatory enrollee.</p>
<p>Has anybody been invited to online chats hosted by schools on their radars? Last night we finally mustered up the courage to do one with U of Richmond. It was easy and informative. One can lurk or participate a little or a lot. </p>
<p>If you’ve ever been to a chat room, you now how it can be rather chaotic. It was in the beginning, but by about 20 minutes in, some order prevailed. I think we’ll do more if other schools invite Son. Colgate is the only other one that has sent invitations. We ignore those b/c it’s his biggest reach. (May not even apply.) But, now that we’ve been through it, why not.</p>
<p>DougBetsy - my D has received invitations to online chats hosted by schools, but she hasn’t participated in any of them. So, what kinds of things were people chatting about? I just can’t see D joining an online chat as she’s usually too busy, but I would consider participating if a school she might be interested in was having one.</p>
<p>SLUMOM - I think knowing you can eliminate urban schools will really help limit your search. Good luck.</p>