Daughter's off to college, first weekend without her

[hatredisnotavalue]

I just talked to her on the phone. She is in Boston four hours away. In the city from a tiny central Maine town. She is my first born. She's having a wonderful time and may go to see Kerry's speech at Faniuel Hall tomorrow.

My heart is breaking though. I miss her so much. She is one of those kids that everyone just loves. People ask me about her at the grocery store and gas station. She was a huge star at her small HS, as well as a huge presence in our family. She has taught me more about how to be a caring, giving, compassionate human than anyone else I have ever met.

As a parent, you try to raise a good kid. And then when you get one, I've actually got two, letting go is so unbelievably hard.

I miss her so much....
Anyone else going thru kid withdrawls?

[lizziegrace]

1. I went through it last year

One of the downsides of raising confident, independent children is that you rarely see them. :(

My daughter goes back next week for the year. I found I enjoyed my privacy after a while, but at first, it was terribly lonely. I'm sure I'll have the same problem again.

:hug:

[hatredisnotavalue]

4. I hear you !! Congrats on the raising of the young one though!

[skygazer]

2. Congratulations on your wonderful daughter!

:hug:

I had the strange situation of all three of my children leaving my home in the same summer. :( My oldest (17) moved out on her own, my younger daughter moved in with her dad in Connecticut (she was 16) and my son (11) moved in with his dad.

My god, did my house feel empty!!!!

It took a while to get used to but mine are all good kids, too, and I'm so proud of them. My oldest is now married with two beautiful kids and my younger daughter just got married this past June. My son is 18, just graduated high school and is smart and responsible and wonderful.

You miss them but that's what we raise them for - so they can make it without us. :hug:

[hatredisnotavalue]

3. so true.....n/t

[NC_Nurse]

5. My son just left for college.

He was my youngest. My oldest daughter moved to Brooklyn (the BIG city!) and my middle child is a junior in college.
It's kind of quiet here, but I'm kind of liking it. I really want my kids to be independent and happy on thier own. That was always my goal.
I feel really good about it. You will too, I bet!

[hatredisnotavalue]

6. I do feel good, but on the other side

I wish I had had about ten kids! Congrats on your kids though...!

[NC_Nurse]

8. I think it's harder with the first

you get used to it after a while, and you see them getting out there doing what they want to do.
That feels really good. Congrats to you on raising great kids!!!

[texas1928]

7. My Dad tried to talk me into going to college 30 minutes away.

But I went to UT at Arlington and it was 4 hours away. He did not want me to go that far away.

[mcar]

9. I went through it last year too

My son's 9 hours away in North Carolina (we're in FL). For the first two weeks after we dropped him at school, I was OK. It was like he was at camp, y'know? Then it hit me and I went through serious withdrawal.

It was a bit easier this year because we've had a year to get used to it being a lot quieter around here. I must admit, it's nice to not have to worry about him coming home too late, etc.

It helps to know that they're happy and doing what they should be doing -- it really does help.

[Neoma]

10. That's cute.

And no.

[ZombieNixon]

11. Make her call you every week.

My parents make me do that and they say it alleviates their child withdrawal. :shrug:

[LuckyLib]

12. I'll soon be feeling your pain. Our one and only, a daughter, is

leaving for school 1455 miles away in two weeks. She's ready, we're ready, and we can't begin to know what it will be like without her. A wonderful young woman, she's been a delight and a gift. My favorite quote these days is by Helen Hayes: "Life would give her everything of consequence, life would shape her, not we. All we were good for was to make the introductions."

[bluethruandthru]

13. I feel your pain!

My daughter went off to college a couple of weeks ago and it's awful! Thank goodness she's only a couple of hours away (I've already been to visit once!). She loves it and is having a great time. We e-mail several times a day...but I still have a hard time sleeping knowing that one of my babies isn't home! I have another daughter who is a senior in high school and I'll have to go through this again next year.
(sniff, sniff)

[GalleryGod]

14. Know how you feel.

from her freshman year.

[SoyCat]

15. I miss my niece. She visited me over the summer (2 weeks) and is now with

her father who never even knew her until she was twelve. Nor did he contribute anything to her upbringing. Well, she's thirteen now and he has totally isolated her and won't let her have any contact with the maternal side of her family. I stay up every night worrying about her. He's a racist, sexist, fundy of the worst kind and has put her in a tiny fundy school which she hates with a passion. I just want contact with my niece!