Oh, Lisa, I read this and got tears in my eyes ... not because my kids are ANYWHERE close to going to college (or even first grade, for that matter!) but because I can already imagine how much I’ll miss them when they do go.  It must be a mom thing. 

If it helps, just think about how much he’ll flourish in this new environment.  I remember being soooo ready to leave high school for new pastures.  Maybe Eric is the same way.  You’ll get the fun of seeing him grow in so many new ways and become more fully “himself,” if that makes sense.

Hugs.  You will never be very far away from him in your prayers.

Thanks Ginny - you are very right, he is absolutely ready.  Honestly, being in Boston last week for CNMC was good for me, since it helped me to see what a great city Eric will enjoy for the next few years.  I think it will be fun to watch him explore his new world - I’m trying to dwell on that, and not on my own selfish feelings… as for prayers, there will be plenty of them!

I’m with Ginny;  it will be years before my son leaves home, but I’m already dreading it.

Lisa, after swallowing my own lump in my throat, my offering is to try and let it happen one day at a time. He’s ready. There may still come phone calls about strange room mate problems, books that are unavailable, you know the drill. Your parenting will change from hands on to advice from a distance. But you will still be his Mom and he will never be out of touch for long. And you still get to set clear expectations about Mass, about drinking, and you get to repeat yourself. He will welcome it because as you know, even we adults need to hear what our parents believe. It keeps the universe stable. Hugs for both you and Greg.

I’m at the other end of this—my youngest (of six) flies off for college in less than two weeks.  ALL the rooms will be tidy.  And it doesn’t feel any better at this end, only familiar in a bittersweet way

My oldest aren’t close to college yet either. They are 9 year old twins, but your post made me remember the day we dropped them off for Pre-K. We hadn’t been blessed with more children yet, so there were my only boys walking hand in hand with great big smiles on their face ready to conquer the world. They were so excited and I managed to hold back the tears until I got back to the car. Congratulations on coming to such an amazing milestone in both yours and your son’s lives. And I pray for a wonderful year for both of you.

Oh Lisa, the motherly pangs you have been going through, have been weighing on my own heart and mind.  Not because my kids are anywhere near college bound!  But my oldest is faarrrrrrrr away, for the very first time.  She was given a ‘full scholarship’ (God-willing, not the first in her life ; ), to a 4 day Catholic leadership retreat program.  Watching her pack up all week, all of us making the long drive to her retreat house, making her little bed and helping her settle in her simple little monk-style room, and leaving her there, felt all too much like the experiences that lie ahead of me when my kids go off to college.  It’s hard, and I don’t like it!  She has called a couple of times, and she is having a wonderful time.  But I’m looking forward to going to get her!  I know she’ll be flying high on the Holy Spirit.

Like your son, I went to school in Boston after high school too.  Not quite Harvard!  But an art school, for 3 years full time.  I can tell you it is a wonderful city to spread your wings and flourish in the experiences of independence, education, and life.  I am filled with memories from those years.  It’s also the time frame I met my husband to be, and we ‘courted’ for 5 1/2 years before marrying. 

May God bless you all, in your family respective roles, as well as this new school year ahead of you all.  It is always exciting to see God’s plans unfold, even if we do feel a little anxious about it sometimes!

My oldest is starting her senoir year in high school in a few weeks. We are just about to enter the throes of college apps and award packages and financial aid. We are so focused on getting her in where she wants to go and getting someone to pay for it that I’ve only thought a little about what will happen when she actually leaves. It’s going to be hard but hopefully she’ll go to her first choice which is only 6 hours away by car which will make it a bit more bearable. Her little sisters and baby brothers are going to miss her desperately, I’ll be so wrapped up in helping them cope I don’t know how much time I’ll have to miss my girl myself:(

Lisa,
We are also sending a daughter off for the very first time. We also live on the West Coast and she is off to the East Coast….only a phone call away. But, letting the young adult fly for the first time out of the nest so far for so long is “bitter sweet” as stated by Salome. I am finding consolation in my trust in God and lots of prayer and support from immediate family and dear friends. It will be an adventure and a grounding experience for all of us, but, especially for our daughter. God BLess your son and you and your family,
we shall keep you in our prayers. My the good Lord bless our children in their future vocations and/or spouses.
Blessings!

Lisa, dropped off my oldest son at college today, for his sophomore year. He couldn’t wait to go…decidedly unemotional (true engineer…all logical and methodical). Guys..don’t seem to care about the details…his biggest concern was getting a surge protector/electrical strip large enough to accomodate all his electronics…and I bought him milk and cereal. Even though he’s one of 5, it does leave a big hole in our home when he’s gone (which his younger siblings refuse to admit). I can only imagine what it will be like for you (we will see our son several times this semester—he’s only a couple hours away). Will keep you in prayer as you make this transition!

I am sending my older son off to college in 9 days.  Fortunately he will only be 45 minutes away, separated by a river and some tough-to-navigate city streets.  So we’ll be doing the “load the car” thing and bringing it all with us.  Same selection of instruments too (plus some harmonicas and probably at least one homemade didgeridoo.)  I think, though, they said there is a banjo there he can use, so he wouldn’t have to bring that.
It’s getting tough.  He and his friends are getting together a lot to say their goodbyes and have one last fun day together—and we hardly see him at all.
I have the feeling, though, that I did the same to my parents.  Just walked out with my stuff, and didn’t think of how THEY were feeling!

I will be driving my oldest child to college in the morning. It is her sophomore year, and while it won’t be as heart-wrending as last year, I still feel a lump in my throat when I think of it. She is such a joy to have here at home, and I will miss her. But, I am so happy that she is an adult now, and I love watching the woman she has become.  Number two (a son) goes off to college next year. To keep me from getting too sad, I have a few others still at home, including a six-month old baby I can snuggle.   

We just dropped off our oldest son yesterday for his freshman year, first year collegian at our diocesan seminary. Although he’s only 35 minutes away, he’s still gone and that’s the hardest part, the part that makes you realize that your child is an adult and out of the house. Reading these comments make me realize that the emotions that I’m feeling are being felt by mothers everywhere at this time of the year. I don’t think that I’ll ever view late August the same again knowing that there are mothers somewhere saying goodbye.

Reading this makes me tear up, even being somewhat experienced in the college send off - (3 now!).  As for those incidentals, it seems after the initial move-in, at least in the smaller college towns (not sure what the Boston area equivalent would be) you will find yourself and many of the other moms wandering around the local WalMart like teary eyed zombies sharing knowing smiles, picking up the odd power cord and laundry basket.  It’s become a tradition.  All the best to you and your family!

Pretty much everyone here is speaking of a sad or bittersweet experience.  But I was chatting with a mom the other day who couldn’t wait for her daughter to go off to college this month.  Apparently her daughter was pretty strong-willed/independent and was driving her mom crazy.  I think in some families it’s a transition that is actually over-due.  After all, in the olden days kids made the break a lot sooner (not just college but marriage and kids).  So it can be a relief for everyone for nature to take its course.

Lisa, I am with you in spirit and in prayer. My youngest (the BABY!) will be leaving for her second year of college in a few short weeks. She’s my fifth, and I have to tell ya, it doesn’t really get any easier no matter howmany you have sent forth. But, I know that you are a strong and faithful prayin’ woman! You will get through with many prayers and all of that geeky stuff you’re so good at using to keep in touch with your son!

Here’s a snippet from my book “Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering” in which I touch upon kids leaving the nest and one of my experiences…

“To me, it doesn’t feel right after a child has left the nest. I don’t like sitting down to dinner with that empty chair across the table from me reminding me of my child’s absence. I am very proud of my son Joseph, who left for college just last year. He’s worked very hard at his studies and has been greatly involved in community service. But why does he have to grow up so fast? I wondered. The day we brought him to his dorm at college and helped him get set up is a day I’ll never forget. The entire two-hour car ride home I wore my sunglasses to hide the tears that continued to well up in my eyes. I was happy for Joseph to begin his college career, but my mother’s heart was feeling a great loss. My little boy had grown up far too fast for my liking…”

It’s so bittersweet, Lisa. But, you have the support of everyone here and thank God you have your faith!

God bless you Sister Friend!

You know anything that we can do to help…  prayers a-coming!

My alma mater!  I can’t believe it’s been three years since I left Cambridge, and now it’s only three months until I have a son of my own and we start down the road that will sometime lead to sending him off somewhere on his own.

I just want to let him (and you) know that it’s a great place.  Certainly full of potential difficulties, but also full of great experiences.  My husband (also ‘07) and I will be praying for your son!