Yes, it’s weird being responsible for a human being pretty much 24/7 for 18 years and then having to abdicate that constant responsibility! I think it’s easier for me to do with our youngest (a college sophomore). Our older son with a severe mental illness lives in an apartment with staff onsite, so theoretically I’m not responsible for him, but I WORRY about him all the time. The possibility of getting “that call” about him is very real. So that makes me thankful our younger two are healthy and thriving.
The stupid carmel apples that show up this time of year in the grocery store! Oldest son and I are the only ones in family that like them. I texted him the other day that I had eaten a 4 pack by myself - and I was really missing him.
His favorite gummy bears at the register of the hardware store he used to work at. I bought a bag and ate half of it in the car after checking out! Texted him that it was all his fault.
Our only kid is doing a relatively intense language abroad study during a gap year. My wife and I joke about how we don’t have to stop by boba tea stores now that he’s not here. We used to enjoy going to few restaurants he liked to eat and talk, and then walk over to a boba tea place with both of us with our arms around his shoulders to talk more. Because I grew up with a very distant dad who almost never participated in our daily lives, I wanted to make sure my kid knew and felt his dad really did stuff for and with him. He’s very appreciative of things we have done and the fact he can attend his number one choice college as a full pay. He even applied to many small merit scholarships to help us by winning 4 or 5 thousand dollars of scholarship money which were not exclusively for poor kids.
Honestly, glad he’s done with high school. While I will miss and worry about his well being wherever he is, I am very glad I am done with some stuff I had to do when he was in HS. Looking forward to doing a lot of things with more time left over.
Frankly, I miss more my mom who suddenly passed away 1.5 years ago because I can see and communicate with our kid, whereas my mom is gone forever. Never had any of what could be considered a sign from the beyond from her, which frankly reduced for me the possibility of the after life because I know my mom would have done anything to send me some sign if the after life existed. I am left deducing if the after life exists, it must not be possible to communicate from the beyond.
Will I miss him more when he goes off to college? Not really because he will be only 7 hours drive away from us. I am looking forward to following his new adventures while exercising and traveling more.
@websensation You sound like a really good dad! Congratulations!
I am crying for the 1st time, reading all your posts! Our only child (D) will be starting college next fall. It is just getting real as she has found a great match across the country. Still waiting to hear about a few other options, but the closer-to-home ones are not at the top of her list. 
Today it is seeing the free Rita’s ad for first day of spring. My daughter and I always went together for our free ices. There are no Rita’s where she lives, so we can’t enjoy this together remotely.
Our daughter was only home for a few days on Spring Break then off to visit her friend in college in Alberta for the second half. Our golden retriever looks so depressed, moping around the house without her.
The 2 feet of snow outside. I sure wished my son was home to help us shovel!!
@massmom – yes, we had to updgrade our snowblower after last kid went to college, no way we could do it as 50-60 somethings with that small machine they used for years!
When someone says his name and the dog perks up her ears and looks for him.
My daughter played a spring sport in hs. After they lost the playoff game her senior year, we all (the parents) looked at each other and said “Is that it? four years of games and practices, tailgates and midnight drives home, and this is it?”
Fast forward 4 years. My daughter still plays that sport, and the parents are still looking at each other at games and saying " there are only 8 games left, what will we do next year?"
Our only hope is for grandchildren to play.
Playing golf and watching games with S. Watching Pats and Sox games was the best! Lots of High 5s and yelling. We text during games now which is fun but not the same.
Watching college videos online - my S isn’t even gone yet, and these are making me cry!!! :((