<p>Well, D is FINALLY packing! We leave at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow but I know she plans to spend most of the day with her boyfriend so I guess she’ll spend all night packing. They are going to break up but I think they just plan to treat it like she’s going on vacation or something without actually breaking up but knowing they are going their separate ways. Maybe that will make it easier on both of them but I think it will actually make it harder (I hope I’m wrong).</p>
<p>Keeping my fingers crossed that I wake up in the morning and she’s packed and that a miracle happens overnight and her room is clean. Unfortunately, I assume I’m the one who is going to have to clean it after she leaves :(.</p>
<p>@my3gr8boyz - I do think the kids take it harder than we think they will. I was shocked when DS said to me with tears in his eyes a couple days before I dropped him off. “I want to spend as much time as possible with my friends because we will never all be together again like this.” It will get better though and I 'm pretty sure their childhood is not over yet it just seems that way right now. Good luck today!</p>
<p>my3gr8boyz—I know my kid is feeling the same way. It is so tough for them…this is a big transition…exciting, but at the same time, “scary”…it is really good that he was able to talk to you about it. Don’t worry, though, the texting and phone is really a much bigger connection than any of us ever had going away to school! (of course, I say this now…and she still has a week until departure!)</p>
<p>It has been at least 6 weeks since I have been her. Been out of the country for most of summer. I have tried to catch up and wondering about all the launches about to happen and already happened. The twins and triplets have been on my mind. Hugs to all. Love the Pooh quote.</p>
<p>Move in Day is August 21 at USC. Many fun activities planned this week. So happy for D!</p>
<p>Launch starts tomorrow morning. Car is packed. D has been sentimental, going on familiar walks, had her launching BBQ, goodbye to boyfriend who already launched and is ready.</p>
<p>How did we get from essay questions being released on the Common App to launching so quickly. DS15 is getting into his SAT prep, round two begins…</p>
<p>Good luck to all. Love all the stories and advice.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading through many pages, as we were away for a week on a family vacation. Junior S goes back tomorrow (actually I guess it is this morning now). He didn’t unpack most of his apartment boxes, and all his clothes fit in one large suitcase! No packing for D’13 yet, but I hope all her stuff fits in the 6 suitcases we are flying with! She has some sports equipment that will end up getting shipped if it doesn’t fit. Wow, LizzieT, I can’t believe your D’s clothes are packed 10 days ahead of time! We’ve got 4 days left and still some shopping to do.</p>
<p>Lizzie - definitely it’s great to see them happy!</p>
<p>oh, my3gr8, that’s so much how I feel. S13 has tried so hard to immerse himself in the end of his old life and not miss a beat – and I’m glad he did – but I think it makes the parting a little harder. I guess embracing the moment has it’s ups and downs.</p>
<p>MSNDIS - that seems to be what S13 and re-GF did. They are no longer committed but didn’t really talk about it or have an “ending scene.” I’m also hoping that it’s easier.</p>
<p>LOL tougis :D. I’m at least as happy and excited as I am sad. It’s just that I try to show all the happy at home and I need somewhere to let the sad sneak out…</p>
<p>It’s packing day here - we launch tomorrow. We were leaving early am but now it’s looking more like 10-11 am (so we can pack the car in the morning). Mount “ready to go in the car” (compiled of reassembled items from Mount Dorm) is being built on the old Sesame Street blanket (now the bottom-of-the-tent blanket).</p>
<p>I will come home to not only two bedrooms to clean out, but D15’s stuff in half of the office and S13’s paperwork and graduation things all over the bookshelf in the living room. I’m treating cleaning the rooms and scattered fallout as my first new “hobby” to keep me busy in the empty nest… ;)</p>
<p>Oh YDS, what a great quote!! That’s exactly how I feel.</p>
<p>Just in case I don’t get back on tonight or tomorrow, here’s the song I’ve been saving for launch day…</p>
<p>I can’t believe we’re leaving in a little while. DS has preorientation from today until Sunday. Then, move in day is on Monday. It’s great because we live about twenty minutes from Harvard so the back and forth is no problem for us. But, it’s a very weird feeling for my DS to be leaving. He’s the baby and the other two are recently out of college and out on their own. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the last twenty five years and will miss it terribly. I’m trying to be Zen about it and look at all the positives of the situation. Maybe, this will be a good time to start a new chapter in my life, get in shape, get the house perfectly organized etc.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting that, YDS. D is in China with her brother until next Thursday, then we have a week to get ready for launch 1 on September 8th and launch 2 on September 16th. She said good-bye to all her friends before she left to go to China, because they will all be gone by the time she gets back next Thursday. The Landslide song made me cry.</p>
<p>Thanks YDS for the link to the Gerson article - it was just beautiful and brought tears to my eyes (once again). Dropped DS off at USC yesterday. He went through similar feelings as above… sad to leave friends, girlfriend, etc. But so excited to be finally starting his new adventure. I couldnt resist texting last night to see how his first evening was going and the response was “SO WELL!!! Hanging with the people on my floor!” I am so happy for him… but there is a big void at home… I am told it gets better!</p>
<p>okay…I still have a week and a day to go…with all the past carrying-on (and not knowing and then finally knowing) and “waiting”…she’s wearing the sweatshirt, meeting with last minute friends…will barely be home until the night before…and now you all have me reading these good-bye articles and listening to these tear-jerking songs…I am going to be a blathering mess all week!!!</p>
<p>Hi everyone! I dropped D off last weekend! I fought back tears a few times, but we were rushed - she had appointments to get to, so the actual goodbye was quick and kept back the tears. About 20 minutes into the drive home they started flowing… And this song kept running through my head:
[Howard</a> Jones Soon You’ll Go - YouTube](<a href=“Howard Jones Soon You'll Go - YouTube”>Howard Jones Soon You'll Go - YouTube)</p>
<p>Lots of emotions - I’m happy for her, and proud of her, and anxious for her… and then there are all the empty nest feelings on my end!) We will get through this, right?</p>
<p>Today is the first day of actual classes for DS. He has called/texted me pretty regularly since we dropped him off on Saturday and is doing well:) So far he loves the food and the gym;) They let the students watch football practice yesterday (a big deal at UF) and have had a bunch of welcome week activities to keep them busy and help them learn their way around the massive campus. So far, so good!</p>