<p>I loved having her at home these 18 years; I will miss her in the fall and will miss her older sister more, too.</p>
<p>rosered, The month before my only graduated from high school, I set aside 15 minutes a day to cry. And I would really cry. It was the only way to get through it with my sanity somewhat intact.</p>
<p>I really miss my son. I am so thankful that he is doing well because that is what helps me focus on the positive and move forward.</p>
<p>Oh boy! I remember my ‘only’ childs last day of high school last year! I could not believe how fast the time went. He is now home for the summer after his first year at college. He had a shaky first semester but managed to pull things together and grow up! He is working this summer (thankfully found a great part-time job!) and is currently spending a few days back in his college town visiting friends. I miss him terribly when he is gone but I am so proud of him and thrilled that he is so happy! I hope that your daughter has a wonderful next year - that will certainly help you get thru the transition!</p>
<p>Not me. It was time to move on. I looked back two years later and realized I had not stepped foot on that high school campus even once since the graduation ceremony of our youngest. This after drivng there countless times for nine years to attend all manner of concerts, sports events, teacher conferences, service projects, etc. It was fun while it lasted, but I’m glad it’s over.</p>
<p>I was in your shoes this time last year and it hurt so bad I could hardly breathe. D’s Graduation night seemed like the end of everything good because we have always been extremely close. There is 10-year gap between her and her next sibling…so the thought of my baby going thousands of miles away was brutal. When she got on the plane in August, I had to take vacation days to recover…cried pretty much non-stop. I found that at Christmas, I was able to put her on the plane and head straight to work with just a few sniffles. I think this August when she leaves again, I will be ok. Try to enjoy this summer together and not dwell on August. My D’s favorite saying is, “One of us has to be the adult in this situation.” The joke is, it’s usually her, not me!</p>
<p>Graduation day was Saturday - no tears at all, just happiness for her and a touch of pride in her accomplishments. I’ll post again when we drop her off 12 hours by car from home. It will be a different story altogether. I pity my youngest daughter who will have to listen to me sob the entire 12 hour ride home. </p>
<p>If you really want a cry check out Suzy Bogguss’ song Letting Go.</p>
<p>She’ll take the painting in the hallway,
The one she did in jr. high
And that old lamp up in the attic,
She’ll need some light to study by.</p>
<p>She’s had 18 years to get ready for this day
She should be past the tears, she cries some anyway</p>
<p>Oh oh letting go
There’s nothing in the way now,
Oh letting go, there’s room enough to fly
And even though, she’s spent her whole life waiting,
It’s never easy letting go.</p>
<p>Mother sits down at the table
So many things she’d like to do
Spend more time out in the garden
Now she can get those books read too.</p>
<p>She’s had 18 years to get ready for this day
She should be past the tears, she cries some anyway.</p>
<p>Oh oh letting go
There’s nothing in the way now,
Oh letting go, there’s room enough to fly
And even though, she’s spent her whole life waiting,
It’s never easy letting go.</p>
<p>Oh oh letting go
There’s nothing in the way now,
Oh letting go, there’s room enough to fly
And even though, she’s spent her whole life waiting,
It’s never easy letting go.</p>
<p>I used to play it when D was a baby and couldn’t really imagine this day coming. All too real now.</p>
<p>I’m weepy at weird times not necessarily last day of school; the gang fell into my house the morning after prom and I could hardly contain myself…</p>
<p>Like I said, weird times…I don’t think I’ll cry at graduation on Saturday but I’m sure there will be tears at some point this weekend…</p>
<p>On graduation day a couple of weeks back, I told another parent (of the 30 seniors) that it was like a wedding and a funeral all-in-one. </p>
<p>The graduation ceremony was just like a wedding: outdoors; rose covered arches for center aisle with paced entrance/exit; girls in all white dresses; guy in navy blazers, white pants and shirts; yellow roses everywhere.</p>
<p>I held it together until the ceremony ended. But when I finally got to hug him, I totally lost it when he whispered in my ear, “I wished Daddy could have been here.” My husband/his Dad died when he was three. My heart ached almost as much as the day of his funeral.</p>
<p>I’m already having nightmares and dreading August but I hide it; he’s on Cloud Nine and I don’t want to rain on his parade. I consciously raised him to be very independent and he’s never shown any separation anxiety but I, on the other hand… </p>
<p>The colleges offer so much for the freshman to help with their transition but I guess we parents just have to ‘deal with it’.</p>
<p>Setting aside daily cry time sounds like a really good idea. Maybe I’ll get bored with the process and be ok by August. :)</p>
<p>Bennnie - That’s a great song. Thanks for sharing - I posted it to my FB wall. My youngest is graduating next week. I’ve got mixed feelings about the empty nest and trying to just think about how exciting my son’s new adventure will be. I’m hoping our next chapter will be somewhat exciting too. Will be packing tissues all summer!</p>
<p>Not yet_–but I did wipe away a couple tears on my youngest’s last day of kindergarten last week. . .</p>
<p>I had a goodbye party for my son with adults/school friends and they had to write down their “words” of advice. And then it was not until about 3 weeks after we dropped him off that I felt really weird, empty, and very sad. It hit me hard and I really did not expect it. I think it would have been easier if he had spent more time communicating with email, skype etc. But when he finally came home at Christmas, he talked and talked and talked. Now he is gone again, off to summer immersion in Germany…and I still wait for even one email…sigh.</p>
<p>I know I will be crying. She was just a baby and now she can drive.</p>
<p>Yes, it is sad. Especially if you have a great kid that you like having around (most of the time, anyway). Try to count your blessings about having a wonderful relationship. I’ve heard about many parents that cannot wait to get their kid out of the house.</p>