<p>Son is going back today. I think he got the rest he needed and is refreshed. I was fine till today, it is always a bit sad. He is very mellow and goes with the flow. He let me drag him to a friend's party last week. I thought he would hit it off with friend's 21 y.o. son. Wrong, I guess the 21 y.o thought 19 was too young. Son did enjoy speaking w/ the 66 y.o. dad :). Then I dragged him to the postoffice to get a new passport. I am going to miss the sounds of the trumpet and piano. Especially the warm up that reminds me of ducks.</p>
<p>I went back home for christmas, the first time in 5 months and it was definately harder saying goodbye this time. I'm not sure why though, because I love my school and was ready to go back. It seemed like my parents took it harder too</p>
<p>Today D said that some of her classmates' parents had a hard time letting go. Then she said I was great at letting go of the big stuff but not the small stuff. I pondered a moment and then offered to switch. She said, "No thanks."</p>
<p>I just put mine on a plane back east this morning; most of his fellow students, those who are returning for the informal winter session anyway, returned this past weekend, but he had no commitments until tomorrow so elected to stay a few more days.</p>
<p>I am astounded at how upbeat I feel. No tears or big emotions at all this time, except a pride in his growth and an inner assurance that he may be in a tough place, but it's the right place for him and he's doing great. There was one moment over breakfast at a coffee shop this morning when I mentioned how his younger brother had so looked forward to his visit when I felt my voice catch, but it passed right away. </p>
<p>He's looking good, quite healthy although hasn't gained any weight at all (and he could use some). The first 10 days were spent trotting around the country visiting relatives on both sides of the family, which meant not much together-time and more polite-visiting-time, then he went skiing with some friends for 4 days when we returned. He was in and out during the 6 other days, and we tried to make the most of them. He was less "short" with me and more patient than he'd been in the summer when I didn't understand the nuances of something he'd said, and y'know, I just realized: I do believe he's LOST the "SENIOR MUMBLE" he'd developed last year!! I can actually HEAR and understand what he's saying almost all the time. What a pleasant development.</p>
<p>We talked about his opportunities for jobs and internships, his upcoming classes, his first explorations into having a girlfriend, how he's going to re-decorate his dorm room, his new-found abhorance of corn syrup as a sweetener, trends in music over the past 40 years, ideas he has for starting a company with a friend from HS who also happens to be at college in Boston, his youthful exuberance that leads to him thinking he has to do EVERYTHING IMMEDIATELY without rationally realizing he doesn't have to cram EVERY cool class and summer opportunity into his first year ;), how he'd like to follow us to Europe for a couple years in the future (we hope to spend some years there once the kids are both out of the house), and how he is encouraging me to publish my "Mom's Greatest Hits" cookbook eventually. He initiated our old standby, "Family Game Night", more than once: it had been our habit since the boys were little to take a couple hours once every week to ten days and play either a strategy board game or a card game together around the kitchen table. I think this is one of his happier memories, perhaps, since he actually gathered us to play several times.</p>
<p>I was so glad to see him: I truly like him, in addition to loving him with all my heart. Even knowing he won't be spending many more long weeks with us, I was somehow able to get just close enough to reconnect, and not too close that it was hard to separate again. I am so excited about his future, and can't wait to hear what directions he takes next. He knows we will always be there to support him if he needs us, but we won't be hanging over his shoulder watching his every move. I think we've found a good balance. And I'm sort of proud of myself for having learned how to let go in a positive way.</p>
<p>Mootmom, your description sounds wonderful. Along with 'Mom's greatest hits' cookbook. I am very curious as to what's in it. As well, did you bake the cookies you said you would for your younger son's GC for Christmas?</p>