Right now, our home is filled with emotions: my eldest is off to college, while my youngest is stepping into high school. It feels like a whirlwind, and I find myself grappling with a lack of control over these changes. I’m not alone in this, of course. Stress has a way of spreading through the household like wildfire.
Just the other day, my younger son was a nervous wreck about trying out for the high school soccer team. I felt like I was tiptoeing around, unsure of how to be the supportive parent. Should I engage him in conversation about his tryouts, or would silence be better? Perhaps we needed a distraction? After he finished his tryouts, I attempted to lighten the mood with some humor, but if he wasn’t in the mood, I’d be met with a glare. Nothing like a little family bonding!
To add to the chaos, my sleep schedule has been a disaster. I’ve been staying up late waiting for my oldest to return from saying goodbye to friends, only to rise at dawn to drive my youngest to his tryouts. Lack of sleep combined with my emotional state equals an overreacting mom, which is never fun for anyone involved.
And now, the countdown is on—my son leaves in just three days (or three days, 11 hours, and 26 minutes, according to the college website I obsessively check). Three days! Why couldn’t he have left last year when he was being a total handful? Back then, I would have happily shipped him off to a dorm far away with hardly a second thought. But now? He’s turned into this lovely young man who actually gets along with his brother! What’s happening here?
So yes, I’m feeling a bit fragile and find myself tearing up at the smallest things. Yesterday, I received a delivery notification for a table I purchased, set to arrive on August 25, and I cried. Why? Because my oldest won’t be here to see it. I know it sounds silly.
Am I sounding a little frantic? I guess I am. With everything feeling out of my hands, I’ve turned to organizing as my coping mechanism. While I may have no control over the changes happening around me, I can certainly take charge of my junk drawer and the state of my fridge.
Fortunately, my tendency to organize often kicks in during times of chaos. Moving after I got married felt overwhelming, but I channeled my energy into finding the perfect storage solutions at the Container Store. When my first child was born, I dove headfirst into organizing nursery items. Even during tough times, like when my father was ill, I found comfort in helping my mom arrange their new home.
Now, as I prepare to send my son off to college, my obsession with plastic storage bins has reached new heights. I’ve discovered a treasure trove of bins in every imaginable size, shape, and color, and I can find a use for all of them! That blue three-drawer unit? Perfect for school supplies! The long, hinged bin? Just right for sporting equipment. And that little red container? Ideal for first-aid items (I mean, it’s red—how could it not be?).
Rest assured, I haven’t gone so far as to purchase color-coded bins…yet. And I’ve resisted the urge to label everything, much to my son’s relief. My husband thinks I’m a bit over the top, and my son just rolls his eyes, but I don’t mind.
While I might not have control over what’s in store for my son, I can guarantee he’ll be the most organized freshman on campus…at least until I drive away.
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Summary
As I navigate the emotional journey of sending my son to college while my youngest transitions to high school, I find myself feeling fragile yet determined to create order in the chaos. My coping mechanism? A newfound obsession with organizing plastic bins!