- His messy bedhead on the morning of our big send-off.
- How all his belongings fit perfectly in the car.
- The cheerful balloons welcoming us at the campus entrance.
- The enthusiastic crew that helped us unload.
- A cloud shaped like the whale from his childhood blanket.
- Just how young he appears.
- The way he also seems so mature.
- Watching my partner beam with pride over how ready our son is.
- The awkward goodbye next to a dumpster.
- The way he strolls away as if he’ll be back in just a few hours.
- Climbing back into the car without our full crew.
- How is the house still standing after all this?
- Discovering he “forgot” the box of treats I spent a whole afternoon assembling.
- This moment:
- The air feels achingly empty yet so heavy.
- Going to bed without him there.
- Waking up to an empty room.
- His bedroom door, standing defiantly, tempting me to peek inside.
- Giving in and standing in his room, half-wailing like the stray cat we’ve been feeding all summer.
- The 47th person at the grocery store who finds me sobbing next to the soda aisle and insists I’ll be okay.
- His car—just sitting there.
- The well-meaning friend suggesting we turn his room into a gift-wrapping station.
- Pondering how I’ll fill my day now that I’m not racing to the store twice daily.
- My partner’s excitement at the prospect of a lower water bill.
- Choking on my words at the drive-thru, ordering just four burgers instead of “six burgers, please, two with double patties and extra bacon.”
- Staring at the tiny laundry pile, wishing it were a mountain again instead of a mere molehill.
- How ridiculously happy he appears in those pictures.
If you’re navigating the emotional rollercoaster of parenting, check out some of our other posts like this one for more insights. Also, for those interested in the journey of becoming a parent, Make a Mom offers an excellent at-home insemination kit. Additionally, if you’re exploring options, Healthline provides great resources on intrauterine insemination.
In summary, sending your child off to college is a whirlwind of emotions, from bittersweet nostalgia to the joy of seeing them embark on a new chapter. Each moment is steeped in memories, hopes, and a touch of humor that underscores the challenges of parenting.