<p>Our D drives home today. We’ve had a nice visit but I am fine with her going back. Notice I said “home” at this point her school really is her home. Of course, she will be here again in two weeks for a long Christmas break. I’m actually concerned about that one. It’s about five weeks and I’m afraid she will be bored and I will get antsy with her not doing anything productive.
Our S didn’t get home for Thanksgiving and turns 21 today. I had a hard time saying goodbye when he left in August knowing I wouldn’t see him till Christmas and wouldn’t see him on his birthday. He is fine with it and wasn’t dying to spend his 21st with me anyway!</p>
<p>3rd thanksgiving without S, he is too far away to come home. It hasn’t bothered me too much on the other years, but thinking about next year when both of the kids will be away until Christmas makes my heart ache.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for sharing. When I made the original post, I had been keeping that empty feeling to myself, as we all do, so as not to burden my boy or the people around me. I didn’t realize how therapeutic it would be to collectively fess up to these emotions!</p>
<p>My spawn
is gone.
With dawn
and (yawn!)
a new day,
it’s okay.
In three weeks,
with shrieks
and cries,
he’ll be back!</p>
<p>(I definitely need my second cuppa… off to get it now! 
)</p>
<p>Took S1 to the airport yesterday; his choice to go back on Saturday because he just had stuff to do before classes start again on Monday (and its a day-long trip). Not quite relief, but it is reassuring to get back to the routine of having an “only child”. His last final in Dec. 8th, so he’ll be back again soon enough. Since he’s a junior, its not the first time we’ve had to send him off and when he’s with us, he’s hardly here anyways; and when he is in our house, he’s spending the time with his younger brother. The longest conversation we had was on the way to the airport yesterday.</p>
<p>Having had S2 around as an only child for three years now, I’m sure I will be feeling much differently next year, when they are both gone and H & I are empty-nesters.</p>
<p>Great poem, Owlice! Just sent DS back - drove him to a friend’s house, and friend is driving back to school… didn’t see DD at all as she is overseas - hoping to see her this summer! I’m missing the babies and toddlers they once were!!!</p>
<p>huh
My daughter got a ride here & apparently mentioned to her dad Wed that she might need a ride back- no one said anything to me- until last night when she mentioned it to me.</p>
<p>I am not clear on who she came down with or why she can’t go back with them- I expect she will tell me when she is ready.
( It is about a 3-4 hr round trip- but I cannot see well to drive & I don’t like my H driving my car- cause he * beats* itIMO)</p>
<p>I don’treally mind driving her, cause she has been sick in her room most of the time & it will give me a chance to talk to her, but still- I did have other plans today- and the time quoted is if only the traffic is good- there are often bad accidents on that stretch of freeway that close it for hours.</p>
<p>Funny, I just commented to my husband this morning (after we dropped our son off at a friend’s place for his 8-hour drive back to school):</p>
<p>The good-byes were MUCH easier for him (our son) this time around than they were when he initially left in August. That was very difficult and pretty emotional.</p>
<p>For me, however, just the opposite. As hard as it was to leave him in August, when I said good-bye this morning it really hit me - hard.</p>
<p>He had a wonderful visit at home and was genuinely happy to be with us. I am thrilled that he is also so happy at college that he’s excited to get back. Yup - there’s nothing I want more for my kids than happiness and independence. It certainly seems like that’s where we’re heading. But for some reason, that good-bye earlier today was a heartbreaker…</p>
<p>We will be taking D and her friend to the bus dropoff soon. We hardly saw them as they spent a lot of time running around to socialize with everyone else home. I’m hoping we will actually have a chance to talk during winter break.</p>
<p>Son is on his way back. We grabbed a quick lunch with him while we waited for his ride to pick him up. This is his Jr yr and it is actually getting harder to see him leave. He has matured so much and is a pleasure to be with. We had a few visits the first 2 yrs that I was happy to ship him back to school. His younger sister takes it hard.I think she is beginning to realize he is never coming home again for good.
I am extremely happy my son got a ride home and back. He is not the most plan ahead kind of guy. Drives me crazy how he waits till the last minute. I am already thinking about how he is getting home at Christmas. He of course is not.</p>
<p>My S left Friday, had things to do in the big City, and definitely doesn’t want to be down the shore in Nov. I was so sad and He is a Junior and I thought I would be used to this by now. Just before he left, he was sitting on the sofa, and I said something that made him laugh. I saw that wonderful little boy smile that I haven’t seen too much in past years. It was amazing, as if the little boy is still inside this 6 ft, almost 200 pound big person. I will think about that a lot. He is still in there. Meanwhile, on to college countdown for D!</p>
<p>Odessagirl getting ready to go back to school right now. It’s an hour and 15 minutes back. But - - it is dark. That’s all I’m saying. She needs to let me know when she arrives safe and sound - or I can just get on Facebook - because she will be on it, I’m sure.</p>
<p>S1 is in flight right now. His flight was delayed thirty minutes. I’m tracking his flight right now. Will be glad to see that little plane land.</p>
<p>DD left here at 12:30pm for what should be a 5 hour drive. She posted on facebook three hours ago that the traffic was stop and go…called me about that time and told me it was so slow that at one point the car in front of her traded driver and passenger on the middle of the I-5 (large highway in CA). From the point she was at she should have been two hours from school. Was to text me when she arrived and I haven’t heard yet. I texted her but got no answer.<br>
Grr…sometimes I wish she was flying instead of driving. They each have their hassles.</p>
<p>Ebeeee-of course I have not heard from my sonny boy. I would say he was in the same traffic. He was picked up from the Habit at La Cumbre Mall at 11:45 which should have put them passing your area at about 12:30. Par for the course with this kid. It never entered my mind that they might hit traffic basically in the middle of nowhere. I have been delayed on the crossover from Paso to Hwy 5 but that was due to roadwork.</p>
<p>Took my daughter to the airport yesterday only to find out they canceled the flight! Small local airport, no other flights leaving. Quickly called another airline at LaGuardia and they had seats so we jump back in the car (glad both husband and I drove her) drive through moderate traffic (only added 20 minutes to the ride), find parking (yea!!), and bring her in to make sure the phone reservation from 1 hour ago was firm. When we left her she was hugging a bit longer than normal but the truth is, she’s so happy at school I don’t mind the moderately sad good-byes as I know she’ll be thrilled once she lands.</p>
<p>I have an advantage in that I am the youngest of 4 in a very tight family with grown nieces and nephews and I see how they leave but then come back. Yes, it’s not quite the same but in some ways it’s better - more fun when they are home, less day-to-day aggrevation, not to mention the joy of seeing them deal with their toddlers/pre-schoolers. Having 25 people raging in age from 2-86 at my home for 2 days is exhausting and exhilirating, I’m enjoying the calm today.</p>
<p>Oh, my younger daughter said, “You see how much more quiet I am when my sister is home? It’s because I can’t get a word in edgewise, and when I do, she just talks over me.” She’s right you know. I’m enjoying watching my younger daughter blossom without her sister’s shadow.</p>
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<p>lol!! Great typo!!! Poor you, but oh, how funny!</p>