Oh man....

sassy · 08-25-2009, 03:40 PM

My son left for college today..... and I'm running the gamut of emotions. So sad that he won't be in the house--I'll miss him terribly cause he's my buddy...but so happy that he is eager and ready to move onto where he wants to go in his life. Strange mix of emotions.

Why is it that when we succeed at something so important---its so sad!

As my husband says,"He's ready to go." I know this and I would be sadder still if he wasn't ready to go.

But....I'll have to go thru this again next year!

I'll stop crying at some point.

I'm glad I'm here to cry.

Bill · 08-25-2009, 05:52 PM

Oh, Sassy, I know the feeling. Everything flashes back to their first day of kindergarten, first day of middle school high school, first dates, first everything,...taking the next step in their lives. Honestly, you have me crying now, thinking of my own kids and how we still want to be there daily and try to protect them from life's "hard lessons?", but we can't. You're a wonderful Mom, and I'm sure you've raised wonderful kids. They'll do well on their own, thanks to your nurturing, but I know, it's still hard to let them go. Quit crying, dammit, I'm the biggest "sympathy-crier" there is.

Mary Jo · 08-25-2009, 06:10 PM

Been their too Sassy....I know! Sending you huge hugs.

I'm a grandma now - it's awesome! Life goes forward and gets better and better.

Love to you....

Mary Jo

Laurel · 08-25-2009, 08:10 PM

Oh, Rhonda, I know what you are going through. I have another one off to college next year. That will make two fledglings out in the world. New beginnings for you after you come to terms with the emptiness. You'll fill it with good things, I know.

lexigirl · 08-25-2009, 09:39 PM

Sweet Sassy,

I can imagine how bittersweet it is. You are a good momma and be proud that he is ready to begin a new adventure.

Sending you a big hug,
Lexi

juanita · 08-26-2009, 06:32 AM

i know what you are going thru so sending you a BIG hug. hang in there!

vickie h · 08-26-2009, 09:02 AM

Oh, Sassy, I sat and cried next to my bed, curled up on the rug like a fetus when our youngest daughter left home. It was probably one of the lonliest times I remember. That "empty nest" syndrome is very real and one cannot imagine how that feels until you go there.
He will shine in college and you will probably call him everday (until you drive him crazy with MOM calls) but it does get better with time and they do grow up and actually call you and send you letters (oops, I mean texts and emails, these days). You've been a great Mama and you reap sll the good things the future holds by 100 fold.
Sending you my empathy and love today,
Vickie

suzan w · 08-26-2009, 02:02 PM

Yes, Rhonda! Ditto to everything everyone else has said! My 2 boys, now 31 and 34, flew off and just about broke my heart while making my so joyful all at the same time! Now they are both happily married, both dads of 9 month olds...and that makes me Grammie...I well remember how hard it was though on day one...I called every day...letters...mailed care packages...and managed to remember between the tears how proud I was that they got to GO to college, and flutter off on their own! Thanks for sharing and get a big box of tissues!! XO Suzan

Jackie07 · 08-26-2009, 04:12 PM

Sassy,

In our 'Chinese family' in Taiwan, there's not a clear cut of separation when children reach adulthood. All young men participate in some form of military training for 1-2 years when they reach 20 years of age. And most of them came back a 'man' - attending college (if they haven't been graduated - college students delay their training until after receiving their diploma), getting a job, raising a family. Both young men (and young women) usually continue to live in their parents' house until they are married or out of town working/ going to college - because housing is extremely expensive there.

I went to college in the Capital city and stayed in my Oldest Brother's apartment at the very beginning before I moved to the dorm on campus. It's only 30-50 minutes bus ride from home, so I was home quite frequently during holidays or any long period of breaks.

My parents had tears in their eyes when seeing me off at the airport in 1984 - I was headed for Texas for my graduate study. I never thought I would be staying here, but they seemed to have known it. So far I've only been home three times (spending 2 weeks with them each time) and 2 of my 5 siblings (Oldest Brother and 2nd Sister) had been here a total of three times, including taking care of me after my brain surgery in 1990 and double mastectomy in 2007.

I would like to go home visit more often, but my 'empty head' does not take the cabin pressure well - suffered very much the three times I flew home and back. It's been understood that I might not be able to go 'home' to visit them ever in my life time.

One of my two Sisters calls me every weekend. I call my parents at least once a month just to let them know that I am OK. - I did not do that until after my recurrence... Remember 'no news is good news' - you might want to give your son a phone card and tell him to call home regularly...

Even though I don't have children of my own, I wanted to share with y'all my point of view from the other side...