<p>I've always known that my husband and my second daughter were attached at the waist; from their respective hobbies, to the TV they wouldn't watch without each other......</p>
<p>Now that she has been accepted to her ED school (which will be a 9 hour car drive away), he is not doing well at all; hasn't slept through the night in a week.....</p>
<p>He finally mentioned something to me on Sat night that literally brought me to tears....</p>
<p>any ideas (keep em clean folks) to help him get through the next 9 months......??</p>
<p>Honestly, considering we have been through this before, I think the anticipation of this is going to cause more anxiety than the reality.....(after all, we will be seeing her monthly given the school calendar).....</p>
<p>My H has different relationships with both of our Ds (one in college, one a HS senior). He was on FB long before I was, and I joined for a large reason because he was so much more connected to both of them through it. He went from a dad who couldn’t keep their friends’ names straight to a dad who knew their friends’ first names AND last names, and a whole lot more.</p>
<p>He and college D share recipes on FB and they all send links to each other - while in many ways I’m kind of the glue in this family (mostly because he works long hours and I don’t), I’m pretty out of the loop with the stuff they share, about certain books, movies, video games, jokes, etc. He’s raised two nerds-and-proud-of-it! We’ve also found that the ability to FB chat is a very nice way to keep up with our D who’s far away. Has your H learned to Skype yet?</p>
<p>While my H says regularly that he is so looking forward to the empty nest (for example, he went on a business trip alone this weekend and says “I won’t have to do this again when we don’t have kids at home”), I think he’s going to be very lonely without any girls around. </p>
<p>It sounds like your H is extreme in his anticipatory anxiety - but I bet he’ll adjust once reality hits. We really appreciate having this “new” adult friend in our older D, and I’m sure he’ll build his relationship with yours as she gets older. The lack of contact is very difficult sometimes, but these days we have so many more pathways to communicate. </p>
<p>Actually your H reminds me more of my younger D when D1 was a senior. She was mad all the time that “she’s totally ignoring us” and “it’s like she’s already left.” We had to remind her that it was normal for D1 to have one foot out the door. It isn’t unusual to cling extra hard just before a separation. Best wishes to you all.</p>
<p>He is going to be a mess at the wedding. It is tough - there is no way around it. The kids need to get away to grow. Just try to rejoice in her happiness.</p>
<p>Rodney, I don’t have lots of advice, but much sympathy. There will be skype and cell phones and email…though for fathers it always seems less the talking together than the doing together. Your H can take comfort in knowing that his bond with D will mean the world to her all her life, and have such a strong good effect. And they will find their way to stay close. There’s nothing more poignant than one’s stoical H showing a sudden tenderness!</p>
<p>Such a sweet thread. My own husband has surprised me by wanting my D to be a car ride away. Of course her top choice is 1/2 way across the country. She was very touched by his attachment but not enough to change her mind. </p>
<p>I totally agree with using technology to keep in touch. A quick and easy way to keep connected.</p>