<p>For me, I think what made it “real” was the two-day student/parent orientation that I attended with S. We had both only seen the campus (we live 1500 miles away) once before ,after he had been accepted, but even that visit was a shared experience and much like any other college visit since he had not yet decided to attend. </p>
<p>During orientation, students and parents were separated and I barely saw S the entire time - that’s when it really hit me, that THIS PLACE would be HIS new home (and that I would NOT be a part of it). But, at least I got some comfort by visiting and familiarizing myself with his “new home”, and so felt much less sad/anxious when the real good-by came at the end of the summer!</p>