The final hour before leaving home

geek_mom
Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:28:34 +0000

woody:

Yesterday, we dropped off D for her Soph year. It was also freshman move-in day. My very worldly S who we later dropped off for his senior year just shook his head at all the freshman, saying, “So young, they’re all so young…”

woody, thanks for the laugh! Indeed, my sophomore son has been saying the same thing about the freshmen at the uni I work for. He went back to his college last weekend, and one of the things he said happily is, “I have frosh!”

This summer’s drop-off was harder in a way than last summer’s drop-off. Last time, the novelty of the situation and the logistics of moving consumed and carried us both. This time, I looked back on the summer with regret over all the time we didn’t spend together – and thinking it could be his last summer at home. And he found more ties to the area, so I think leaving was harder for him too, which makes it harder for me. Last time was easier because I knew he was Home whenever he set foot on campus.

The good thing is, we got to talk it over. I know the summer was great from his perspective, and he pointed out all the good times we did have together. I know he’ll be ok and he knows I’ll be ok, and it looks like his home away from here has already claimed him again. And that’s good. He’s where he belongs.

C’mon, Thanksgiving and Christmas.