Anxiety Is Beginning To Set In!

<p>Oh, Chedva, that made me cry -- and my older child is only a HS junior!</p>

<p>I was just telling my daughter who just graduated how I envied two of her friends' parents - their kids will be living in dorms. but in town. Close enough for an occasional weekend home and a hug. This is my first child heading off to college and it is overwhelming at times. </p>

<p>Trying to just think of the logistics of my daughter's move out of state.</p>

<p>My S is soooo excited about going off to college, and we really like the school, so at the moment I'm not upset at all (although we will miss him)...but his grandparents!!!! We have lived in the same little town with my in-laws for 20 years, and understandably they are very close to their grandchildren. They took it upon themselves to go check out his school this week, which is about 7 hours away by car. And then my husband gets a phone call from his mother this evening, asking why did we choose this school, it's so far away, isn't there anywhere else he could go, etc...she'd already been crying for five hours as they headed home.</p>

<p>They're upset because it's so far they can't visit him easily, but he's already told them this his where he wants to be (and it's an improvement over his 1st choice, which is 10 hours away by car). I dread the next several months as they get adjusted to this change in all our lives. I just don't want them making my S upset. Any advice?</p>

<p>Wow Georgia! Very few of us are lucky enough to live in the same town as family. I can see how that is going to be a huge change. (Yes, I am envious of your situation.)</p>

<p>I don't suppose it would help to mention to the grandparents that even if your S was going to school closer to home, he will be BUSY. I wouldn't want my child to think that he had to come home every weekend to visit family, as he'd miss so much of the college experience.</p>

<p>Would it help to give Grandmother a calendar with S's planned home visits on it? Something for her to look forward to?</p>

<p>The school holds a "family weekend" in September, but depending on what other school activities my younger son has going on at that time, I don't know that it's a possibility for us. There is an October break where I expect S1 will come home.</p>

<p>All the grandchildren live here, and my S is the oldest and first to go off to college...they are just having a really hard time with that.</p>

<p>Would the "family weekend" be possible for your in-laws if you can't make it?</p>

<p>Can you enlist your S in this, and have him reassure them that he will call them perhaps once a week?</p>

<p>Our triplets are all heading to different colleges this fall. The closest will 2.5 hours away by plane. I am dreading the silence already!</p>

<p>My parents got this book "Letting Go: A Guide to the College Years"; it appears to have really helped them...</p>

<p>My only child is starting her senior year of high school this fall. She has already picked a college which is a 13 hour drive away!! I am so proud of her but am already looking for ways to cope!</p>

<p>The way to cope for me was finding brand new and very exciting hobby that filled my time after work. Otherwise, I started feeling useless, restless,.......and was afraid for more serious problem like depression. And this was second time around!</p>

<p>It helped to remind myself (often) that this is what I wanted for my child.</p>

<p>I for one am SOOO ready for my second child to go off to college, and most of my lady friends are as well. We have been doing more and more things together as women- shows, shopping, museums, and sometimes I have to contact people (everyone is busy) and if just one friend or five that get together, it doesn't matter.</p>

<p>So, start thinking about all the things you have wanted to do and the plusses of having no kids around- cooking what you want, not worrying about when they get home, having your weekends to check out exhibits, etc.</p>

<p>There are lots of things to do- volunteer, take a class, take walks...filling the time can do wonders</p>