<p>Getting excited for S#1 & S#2 as they prepare everything they need to head off to MT programs in a few weeks. Want to wish all our fellow HS Class of 2012 folks the best as they make all the final arrangements. For us, this is a cross-country journey times two, so there are a lot of decisions to be made. Much of the shopping will be done near the schools, thankfully. </p>
<p>Anyway, thought I'd start a thread to specifically wish our new Freshman well as they embark on this new chapter! And so that we parents can support each other through this big transition!</p>
<p>Let me be the first to offer all the empty nesting parents big hugs, virtual chocolate and whatever other comfort you need. I came home from dropping her off with the biggest broken heart and sad aching empty nest imaginable - not everyone is as sorry to see them out of the nest as I was, but, some are, and over in the general parent’s forum I got so much non judgemental, just plain old empathy and understanding and hand holding. Nobody thought I was ridiculous or overly attached or anything - they just got it.</p>
<p>A year later, it’s still really hard to see her go, but, I lived, and wow is she ever sweet to me now when she IS home.</p>
<p>I think MT and theater parents are quite often extremely bonded and close to their kids because of all we go through - I don’t know if non theater people really understand what it’s like - I imagine there are other activities that create similar situations, I suppose, but all I know for sure is, we are usually so involved in what they do that it can leave a pretty big gap. </p>
<p>I went “back” to work. (I have been a fairly busy self employed muralist for the past 15 years but I got a regular job job…just to keep busy…and a little bit steadier income for those tuition bills!) It saved me a good deal of laying around on the couch, sobbing. lol.</p>
<p>Best of luck and warm hugs to all freshmen and parents…this forum will be helpful and if you don’t normally go there, you might want to check the general parent’s forum on this topic. Lots of regulars here go there too and there is wisdom and warmth shared there.</p>
<p>Thanks snapdragonfly – i think you make a great point about the empty feeling left after so many stints as ticket-seller/stagehand/costume-sewer/set-painter/hand-holder/post-audition-tear-blotter, etc. “What will I do with my time?” will be a common refrain. (I know my HS drama teacher and a few community theatre directors hope I’ll still show up to help…but…we’ll have to see about that…)</p>
<p>And it must be harder having two go at once, MTTwinsin CA. I’m not sure what I’ll do with all my “spare” time that’s freed up from prop making, set painting, etc! Best of luck to both of your sons…and make sure to come back and let us know how they like their respective schools!</p>
<p>I didn’t have too hard of a time sending my S off to college 3 years ago (he is only 2 hours away so we see him fairly often). It will be a whole different thing as I send my baby girl (and last child) off across the country. Who will go to shows with me, sing show tunes in the car, watch Glee with me, etc (well, I guess my H will, grudgingly)? And I am trying not to think of our first Thanksgiving in 21 years where we will not be an intact family. Uh oh- tearing up…</p>
<p>Thank you snapdragonfly . . . it’s going to be tough for sure - I can barely stand to think about it. What cheers me is the joy of knowing that my D is getting to pursue her goals and dreams . . . I have to remind myself of that when I start to feel the loss. This forum has meant so much to me (the past year especially) and I cannot thank you all enough for your advice, input, knowledge, kindness and support. It’s wonderful feeling to know that I am part of a community with such giving individuals. Thank you all. Tearing up too 4inoregon.:0/</p>
<p>Yes - knowing they are getting to do what so few can, follow their dreams, is a big comfort. It is a sacrifice to have them gone (mine is 6 hours away - only see her at holidays really) but it’s for a wonderful reason.</p>
<p>I can’t even think about it. I don’t know how I am going to drop her off at college and come home without her in 2 1/2 weeks. I am thankful that I have a younger daughter still at home to keep me busy, but I can’t imagine what it will be like with her gone…tearing up also :(</p>
<p>Well - this is a very exciting time!! I remember last year when I posted about getting ready to send our D off to college. What a big step. My D is preparing for her sophomore year - and she did not come home this summer (my only child - sniff). She did Summer stock in Colorado and then a work-shop and general hanging out in NYC (where she is right now). This year was an absolute whirlwind - and before you know it another year has gone by!! Wonderful things lay ahead for all of your kids. I know that this past year has exceeded all expectations for our family - and I wish the same for yours.</p>
<p>4inoregon: I am in the same boat as you, but have one more year left with DD at home.</p>
<p>DS will be a senior in college and it’s only 2 hours away. But even with that, he rarely comes home. Says his home is really his college town now. sigh.</p>
<p>My D and I REALLY bonded after he left. They are four years apart so his freshman year in college was her freshman year in high school. I knew I had to start her search for an MT school much earlier than we did for DS. And so I googled MT major and discovered CC and joined in Aug 09. So grateful for the wonderful info and care and concern from my fellow CC parents.</p>
<p>It will be much harder when my D goes to college next year as my nest will be empty. My D and I are also pretty close from dance and theatre trips/competitions over the years and the college visits we have already done. Not to mention the numerous audition trips we have planned. </p>
<p>Virtual hugs {[HUGS]} to all of you going watching your chicks leave the nest. The only consolation I can offer is that you will feel proud as you watch them grow into the young adults they were meant to be!!</p>
<p>Now to find the tissues…sniff sniff…</p>
<p>Here’s a quote I thought you guys might like…sniff sniff</p>
<p>“The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.” – Erich Fromm</p>
<p>mom2them, I understand about your DS. When my S says that he wants to go “home”, he is also referring to his college town. It has been wonderful, however, to watch him grow into an intelligent, thoughtful young man who is a delight to have around when he is home. Enjoy this last year with your DD, stressful though it may be. The process will strengthen your bonds.</p>
<p>kksmom5, come over to PTLD sometime and Christie, you and I can drown our empty-nester sorrows in some good Oregon Pinot.</p>
<p>Thanks for starting the thread, MTTwinsinCA. It is an exciting time for S1 and S2 in our household, as well. I’m not sure it will completely sink in until I make that drive back home from Florida to Indiana. Tough on Dads too!</p>
<p>I love reading all these posts knowing we’re all in the same boat. Thankfully, there are so many tasks to finish and things to organize that I don’t have much time to be too sad. I know that time is coming, though! For now, I’m just excited for them to get set up in their new homes/school/cities. I was one of those kids who left for college and never looked back, so I cannot really fault my boys for being that way – but even they are starting to get nervous about this big step! Thinking of all of the CCers going through this transition :)</p>
<p>Sounds good 4inoregon! :)</p>
<p>Frankly, last year after I dropped her off and came home, all I wanted to do was mope and mourn for a few days and hang out on the empty nest threads in this forum so that I would feel I was being understood and could get comfort from all the wise words there. And cry when I felt like it. I mean it was really hard on me. After the first week I installed Skype and when my husband came home that night he noticed how much happier I was - it really made a huge difference. I love the internet. It’s a Godsend for us empty nesters.</p>
<p>4in oregon and Christie - I’d love to join you!!! Senior year offers a more complicated “good bye” at the end of the summer - you have no idea if they will come home again or find (and this is a good thing!) opportunities far from home. Darn. Just when I thought I had the “bye for now” down come September there’s a new wrinkle…</p>
<p>Ooh, don’t want to think about that yet! Hope our girls hook up at school this year :_)</p>
<p>Well I thought I was fine until I went to B, B & B and found myself choking up over the dorm display. But then I visited the CC Drama/Theatre forum, and read “Let’s talk about letters of recommendation” and that certainly took the edge off the sting!! There’s something to be said for not having to do all that again. ;)</p>
<p>My D is headed off to her senior year at Penn State in a few weeks. Believe me, the first year is the hardest! We are in CA, so rarely see her during the year. That first year, she only came home for Christmas, so we went a long time between visits. It has gotten easier each year, and I can’t believe that in only 9 months, she will be done! The one thing that makes it bearable is seeing how far she has come and how much she has matured during college. She has been forced to deal with all different kinds of people from all different backgrounds, to handle every kind of situation imaginable, to travel a huge number of places, to perform under all different kinds of conditions. She is a pleasure to have home when she is here, and I know she will be successful in whatever she chooses to do. Best wishes to all of those who are just starting out in the process and hang in there- you will be amazed by your children. One of our older children just took a job out of state- about 1000 miles away. He is the first of ours to move farther away on a more permanent basis- not just for college or to travel. That is turning out to be more difficult than I had anticipated! He has been out of school for several years, but was working within 40 miles so we saw him often. I will miss him a huge amount, but am so proud of him for all he has accomplished. Just hope the rest of them stay closer so we can continue our frequent family get-togethers!</p>