DD’s best friend is leaving for college today. Most of the rest of her gang is leaving within a week. DD still has two and a half weeks to go. After a full summer distracted by work at a day camp, she is now weepy, anxious, sad, and to top it all off she has just started seeing a guy (talk about awful timing). The reality of leaving is hitting her hard, and neither she or I are getting much sleep. How to cope?
It’s difficult to be the last one left. (((hugs)))
Time for a "time out’ on college talk and prep. One of my kids (usually the most reserved, self-contained member of the family) had a meltdown in Walmart when I asked if it was better to buy the “under the bed” storage container or buy the stand-up multiple drawer container which would chew up floor space.
We spent the next 48 hours talking about anything but college. We baked, we took a long walk, we took care of a neighbors toddler and blew bubbles in the backyard… it reset the mental clock. No talk about laptops, courses, XL sheets, using an ATM card in a non-bank machine. Worked like a charm.
Maybe you guys need to change the channel for a few days after the intensity of all the good-byes?
Thanks, @Youdon’tsay and @blossom. I guess I’m just a little taken aback because she was so cool and confident all summer. Maybe we’ll drop the college preparations for another week and just have some fun.
The anxiety will melt away when she moves in and starts meeting friends and getting absorbed in classes and activities. Her reaction is perfectly natural and normal. It’s OK to be jittery about a big step like that in your life, and the fact that her friends are going first is driving the reality of the situation home for her. Good advice above, she will come around and be fine. Good luck!
@blossom - Your post reminded me of this Onion story from earlier this week: http://www.theonion.com/article/moms-fears-about-daughter-leaving-college-channele-51060
@lauriejgs, it is hard to be the last one. I finally decided to say yes to whatever activity (lunch, shopping, movie, ice cream!) my D asked me to do with her.
Best wishes on the transition!
I’m a far cry from 18 years old…but even with all the experience and wisdom and knowledge and emotional maturity we parents have, I’d STILL be shaking in my shoes if I had to leave my home next week, say goodbye to the dog, and live in a small room with a stranger six feet away from me for the next four months. It’s fair to say I’d be having some meltdowns myself.
Actually, I’m amazed and proud at how confident and brave our kids really are! A little “time off” from all the college prep for these last few days sounds really good to me.