Leaving the dorm.
I don’t do goodbyes well.
When we left Atlanta to move to our small town — I couldn’t tell people. The For Sale sign in our front yard was the first clue to our neighbors.
I couldn’t tell my minister at our church. He came up to my a week before we moved saying, “I heard you were leaving next week — when did you think you’d get around to tell me?”
So when we left our son off at college two weeks ago, I didn’t make a big deal about it blogwise.
For one thing, I’d written enough on the subject that people surely would yawn, and heaven forbid, he’s certainly not the first or last child to ever leave home.
But even now, I don’t want to write about it.
Thought I might.
But I don’t.
Linking up this month with Galit and Alison
Oh Jamie. I can tell that it’s hurting you. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with us.
He’ll be okay, you know that right? And so will you.
Thanks Alison. It’s good and they get to the point when they are ready. But you think it will get easier the older they get —
I don’t know how I will leave Max. He’s not even 7 yet…
I had an ache reading this.
I hope your momma’s heart is ok.
I don’t either. And it doesn’t get easier the older they get. 🙁 Taking my daughter on Sunday to start her senior year. And I don’t know if I’ll be able to write about it either. Instead, right now while I still have her home, we’ll spend a lot of time together laughing and making cookies and watching movies. Then we’ll have a wonderful Mother-Daughter road trip and then on the long quiet way home I’ll cry …
Thanks for your sweet words Lisa. In some ways, it’s nice that I have much younger children. Now I know that it does end and to enjoy these days — even though the struggles of homework and ortho appointments are frustrating.
I love that image Julia. Now with the very tangible knowledge that it does end, I’m trying to cultivate that friendship with my daughter. (Within boundaries she is still only 11 — going on 19.)
Oh, I don’t even want to think about my boy leaving for college. My mother’s heart truly hopes that when his time comes he will stick close to home. Plenty of universities around here.
Oh, my heart 🙁
Oh how my heart is totally and completely with yours.
{I don’t do good byes well either.}
Hi Jamie, I’ve been reading your blog since you sent the Christmas card with the website. It makes me miss my neighbor so much! Those days of us sitting on my front porch while Ben rode his bike to the cul-de-sac and Elizabeth and Jake played in the yard will always be a wonderful memory. Now, that cute baby boy of yours is off to school! Ben graduated from University of South Carolina and now lives in Boston! Elizabeth is back at USC as a sophomore. They do grow up, and even though it’s a wonderful thing, it “hurts” your heart! Enjoy those left at home and be grateful that Jake is off sprouting his own wings! Miss you lots, Judy
I get it. The picture says it all. Nobody (mercifully) told us one of the hardest parts is watching them part with their younger siblings. This sick hollow feeling will surely pass. Hugs.
Judy, how wonderful to hear from you. Ben is living in Boston? That is amazing — it is one of my favorite places. And I do remember Elizabeth and Jake playing in the afternoons. How I would see your car pulling in the drive. We did have such fun. So great to hear from you.
Yes, Ruth. Your children load was cut in half with Emily and James leaving together. Trish told me that there will be a whole new dynamic when Jake leaves and the two children that remain. A hug back.
What a tough send-off. Love your posts, as always.
I remember taking my oldest daughter to college for the first time. She was only going to be an hour away from home, but the thoughts of her living away from home and that she had really grown up overwhelmed me. As we were driving down the freeway, I burst into a wail of a cry. I sobbed out loud, uncontrollably. You would have thought she was moving out of the country never to be seen again. One really good thing came out of it. It was re-affirmed to her just how much her mother loved her, cared for her, worried over her. It was good for both of us.
Carol — I think that was the hardest part for me..especially leading up to drop off day. The realization that time had passed and things were never going to be the same. Seems pretty universal. The day you never think will get here — does.
When my parents left me at college, oh it was so hard. I remember it vividly. Add that to the thought of my kids one day going off on their own? Oy vey.
Hugs to you, Jamie…because there aren’t any words.
xo
It was crazy hard to walk out of my son’s Kindergarten class yesterday and leave him there for the FIRST time!! I can only imagine this… but someday…
xo
Hugs to you! Just did this yesterday. It is just plain hard. Even when you know it is a good thing, it is hard.