^^ THIS. So many times, this. Thank you @twinsmama. I would add, only since my child made us worry how he would ever manage without us on that day in Aug of 10th grade when we watched him with our hearts in our throats walk away from us toward the new student orientation… not just able to live amicably, but live INDEPENDENTLY. To navigate the “adulting” required of college students. To advocate for themselves, to be able to talk confidently with their professors and advisors on their own right from the start, to speak up in class and take the lead in group projects, to do laundry and set an alarm, and write a first draft, and know what foods make them feel good and which (too much sugar/junk) make them feel crappy, and go to the gym and find a pick-up basketball game when you know no one on the court. THAT’S what our son gained, and it is exactly what I had hoped for. And he learned it all at BS.
My wife was the same way on drop-off weekend…hysterical sobbing. But we had a plan in place. Every few weekends for the first year, we would visit him on campus. Quick lunch, sporting event, etc. Plus frequent contact via text message. She eventually got used to it.
Fast forward 4 years, and picture this: about 1800 freshman parents at a college drop off, with a symbolic closing of the gates and start of freshman o-week. Almost all of the parents sobbing hysterically behind the gates except us. All of the boarding school parents were pros at this. It was the parents of the kids who lived at home during high school who had difficulties letting go.
The “what to wear at drop off thread” had me giggling after sobbing reading this thread. I guess it’s becoming more and more real as each day passes.
@FirstTimesACharm and OP. I’m glad I could bring some levity (with the help of @dramakid2 ) to this thread! The what yo wear thread will always be one of my favorites!
And then without warning things can take a very dark turn… 
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/1785396-are-bs-parents-free-range-parents-or-coptering-out-sourcers-p1.html
The entire thread is awesome, but see post # 15 and then read Post # 20 to see what I mean. K2 finally had to grab my computer ( his first and last CC post ) to set the record straight.
@PhotographerMom thanks for that! Again, I swear we are kindred spirits! I read your drive around the block post out loud and DS just sat there nodding his head. Yep. He’s seen it. LOL
@PhotographerMom I would pull the showing up at bs and drive around the block move. Too bad I won’t be able to just show up.
Today on the way to school I stopped the car in the middle of the road when my daughter got snotty with me. It was a side road and I could see that no cars were coming but she could not. We stayed there for a m8nute or so until she apologized. She knows not to screw with me.?
PhotographerMom - that snippet your son wrote was hysterical (no less the move you pulled was 5 star uh-mazing)!!! I can’t help but crack up at all these stories that I’m reading! I’m a first timer with BS and have no idea what I’m getting into, but super excited for my kid as I think the experiences will be pretty great. Ninja parenting … that’s classic!
@PhotographerMom I forgot about that one. I am in awe once again. Ninja Mom. Wow. I am Marshmallow Mom. My kids still laugh at me for having put them in time out once when they were small, just because I thought I was supposed to.
Off topic, but we moved to AZ when ChoatieKid was two and bought a house with these amazing golden barrel cactuses in the front yard that look like round, spikey tuffets:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Golden_Barrel_Cactus_Echinocactus_grusonii.jpg
I told CK that if he misbehaved, he would have to sit on the “timeout cactus.”
=))
@ChoatieMom that made me laugh so much reading that!
Weekly, non-negotiable face time appt. Sundays are really the only day that will always work. It helps, even though you might cry after!
What an amazing gift you have given your only child. With such good advice, humor and fellowship in the prior posts to absorb, your daughter will have that x 1000. I don’t even know you and I’m excited for you. You’ll adjust, I promise. And you will get such joy watching your only child blossom and flourish.
Yup. What @ThacherParent said.
But remember when you dropped off your kid for Pre-K or kindergarten and had to walk away. It’s the same thing, only 10 years later. They’ll be fine. Even if they don’t turn around to wave goodbye.
@Happytimes2001 my kid never turned around in preschool or kindergarten. She has always been super independent. She did acknowledge the other day that she will miss me. I’m smart enough to know that it was probably a lie. ?
@msc3173 My kids don’t always turn around either. Though not completely independent they have been eager to do their own thing.
Your kids will still miss you ( a lot, I’ll bet). Letting them fly is hard but so great for them. It’s hard to see where the years went, I guess I’ve always been pretty sappy.