<p>Me… crying at work… I’m such an idiot.</p>
<p>galwaymom, I did the same a week ago. That drive really was precious time, not only just chatting but also teaching him about navigating and interstate driving. He dropped me at an airport on the way and did the last hour and a half alone. </p>
<p>But many calls so far for directions (I’m on my computer most of the time and can MapQuest), and latest, lost keys. He only took one car key and lost it!</p>
<p>Love Lisa Belkin’s writing. Cried reading it. Youngest d was left 3000 miles away last Sunday. We camped for two days in Sequoia before having one night in a motel before her drop off day. Sharing a small three person tent with her meant I could gaze at her sleeping face and tried to integrate time, growth and change. And, Sequoia was fantastic- great hiking. I laughed about the BB&B, we did not order for pickup but had to get a few things that we did not want to get at the used stuff sale most colleges have these days. BB&B were great, offered me cold, bottled water as I waited in line. I must have looked a bit frazzled after camping for two days. So, kudos to their customer service. The drop off day went well, no tears which is unusual for me. Us parents offered to help in room rearranging but the girls said they had it taken care of so we went for a walk, came back, helped with what they needed, and I did not even make the bed! As with our other ds, we loved meeting the other parents, sharing stories, making new adult connections. At the end of the day, parents went off to a reception at the president’s house and then gathered to see our bunch of joyous freshman along with their energetic group leaders and resident assistants, enter with great enthusiasm the gates of the college. Lots of waving, blowing kisses, smiles, and photos taken as they kept moving along to their next stage of life. In less than four years, we all hope to be gathered watching them leave the gates wiser, braver, smarter, and kinder. Then we left for a red-eye flight home to the empty nest. That has left me teetering a bit but I don’t doubt that I will recover my balance in the coming weeks and months as we move on to the next stage of our lives. Good luck to all the CC’ers who have launched their last child. The forum has been a great source of information and support over the past few years. Thanks to everyone.</p>
<p>That was such a touching piece. Another one tearing up, here.</p>
<p>Dropped my Son off last week. The car ride was very emotional trying to impart wisdom which he had probably heard it a million times before, but pretended that he was hearing it for the first time. After settling him in I realised that I packed very few clothes, the reason being that i didn’t want to empty his room and send him away for good eventhough that is what it is. The finality of the entire thing is hard to accept.</p>
<p>Another one here who found it sweet the way son nodded & pretended to look interested in the ‘last minute advice’ from mom & dad as we walked around campus before leaving (he’d heard it all often, before).</p>
<p>For all of you first timers: believe it or not, it was harder for us the 2nd year…</p>
<p>To Lisa: don’t want to reveal my identity, but you have certainly made Bellmore JFK HS
proud; keep it up; it’s great to see you occasionally on The Today Show also…</p>
<p>THis was so touching, and fun to see how much many of us have in common. Made the bed for DS his freshman year (did it for both ds’s) but this year DS waited to choose beds with roommi and thnthey rearranged the room and switched beds, so its a good ting I didnt do that. Besides. We’d ordered and had shipped one of those foam mattress topper things and had to go pick it up at the mailroom. He LOVED it and thanked me 3 times for that. That was the best gift of all.</p>
<p>galwaymom-
I thought I wouldnt tear up reading this thread-- til I read your post # 18. :(</p>
<p>My friend just dropped off her only son 500 miles away. I called her up today and told her what a great mother she was for her son. The perfect mother for a wonderful kid. She had prepared him for this very moment. This is the crowning moment at being a mother. I’m so very proud of her!! Proud of all. We need all these great kids. GOOD JOB!</p>
<p>artmommy! 4,294,967,295 posts? Do you know how to go in and tinker with the odometer?</p>
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<p>We dropped DS off almost two weeks ago, and I keep reliving the last embrace, and hearing over and over what he whispered in my ear at the same time.</p>
<p>I find myself bursting into tears when I’m at a stoplight, opening the mail, or brushing my teeth.</p>
<p>Why is this still so hard? My S is leaving tomorrow for his junior year. Nothing is in the car yet. Wants no help, says he’ll pack after he gets done work tonight (at 11). His Dad will drive him back, and I don’t know whether to go along or stay home and cleanup the debris left behind. The move-in is hard, 4th floor walk-up to a small single in a frat. He is past the stage of letting me help set up the room. So I am thinking of staying home, but feeling really bad about it all. Why is this still so hard?</p>
<p>My son goes back for his sophomore year in a few days. He’s taking a red-eye flight cross country. That day we’ll all go out for brunch, and then I’ll probably help him get his stuff cleaned, organized, packed. Then we’ll take him to the airport. From there he’s on his own to get back, get checked into his dorm, get his stuff out of storage, do some shopping, and get ready for classes to begin a few days later. It’s been so nice having him home this summer, and I will definitely miss him (like I did all last year), but I would feel a lot worse if he was not going to college and just living at home with no ambition.</p>
<p>Plus, he’ll be back for Christmas! I’ll look forward to that.</p>
<p>Mid-September, however, I go to help my daughter move into her dorm for her first year away from home. She’s the last and youngest… it’ll really be an empty nest then. I think I make a sincere effort to make that empty nest a lovely, interesting, creative place to be. (After I stop moping around, anyway. ;))</p>
<p>This articlue makes me more depressed. :)</p>