<p>Anyone else dealing with a (or is a) crying mother as move-in date approaches? </p>
<p>My move in is a week away, and tears have been springing up ever since graduation at rather unexpected moments. I think it's kind of sweet, but sad at the same time. </p>
<p>Anyone have stories to share (parents or kids)?</p>
<p>I found your opening question a little odd for the parents forum - I’m not dealing with a crying mother, but I was one 2 years ago. You just have to accept it that some of us are very emotional when our kids go off to college. I still shed a few tears when my D leaves home for school, especially this year as she went to Europe. Once she’s gone I am fine, it’s the anticipation and then saying good-bye that gets to me.</p>
<p>I find myself tearing up lately because my youngest kid is leaving home for good. It didn’t bother me when my kids went to college, as I knew that our home was still their home, and they’d be back for holidays. Now that oldest has her own place, and youngest will soon have his own place, it’s really hitting me.<br>
Be sweet to your mom. It was probably fun being your mom, and now she feels she’s not really needed anymore.</p>
<p>Oh sorry for the awkward wording. To be quite honest, I’m sure I’ll cry a little once it’s actually time to say goodbye. Especially so since as this is my last week at home, my mom is being extra nice to me–making me all my favorite foods, spending more time with me, packing me lots of food/snacks to take to college with me, etc. </p>
<p>As excited as I am for college, the whole goodbye process is quite sad.</p>
<p>Whenever my mom cries in front of me it kind of feels like being kicked in the stomach repeatedly, I hate watching her cry. But she generally puts on a smile and makes them look like happy tears, so it is tolerable.</p>
<p>Most tears are just intentional manipulation</p>
<p>My older daughter gave us a present of a photo album from Kodak when we left her. It had pictures from birth to all the trips we took together as a family. She told me not to open it until I got in the car. I cried all the way home - 4 hours. H was driving, but he looked straight ahead and didn’t say a word to me. I think he wanted to cry too.</p>
<p>Emaheevul07 - Those are happy tears. Deep down your mother knows the only thing worse than packing your kid off to college is Not Packing Your Kid Off to College! The alternative would mean either lack of resources to send a talented child or lack of initiative in much loved child that creates fear of “failure to launch” - neither of those is a good option so both of you should “cry happy” as needed until the new order of things settles in.</p>
<p>No. Thank goodness.</p>
<p>I am sending my youngest off to college in two weeks. Many of my friends are doing the same. Some are crying at odd times, some are drinking a little more than usual; some are working out like they have never worked out before; others are really cranky (said one friend about his wife). </p>
<p>I have found that we all deal differently. DD is spending almost every waking moment with her friends. (It’s ok). I am working a lot…entirely too much. We all deal differently; it’s a part of life. When the tears start they will happy tears; they will be sad tears. They will be happy because we did a good job raising an amazing kid and her hard work is paying off. They will be sad tears, because life as we know it is changing. It won’t be bad, it may be good, but it will be different.</p>
<p>bchan1, In a year and a half, I will (hopefully) send my youngest to college. I hope I remember your words.</p>
<p>I was teary and stressed as the leaving date approached last year but managed to keep my composure on drop off day. My daughter told me later how grateful she was for that. Remember whatever emotion you are feeling as parents, they are nervous as heck. Support them by keeping it together. Don’t replay sentimental thoughts in your head that might trigger tears. End on a practical note, maybe giving them some emergency cash or a reminder of something mundane, and don’t reflect on how proud you are. Then get in the car and go.</p>
<p>I got lucky – got a few quick tears dropping me off last year, and I’ve seen so little of my mother this summer that there have been no tears. Add to that the fact that no one is helping me move in this year, and I should avoid them for the rest of the year.</p>