On Sending A Child Off To College

Parenthood is joy and ache, joy and ache, ad infinitum

Just like the days and weeks after he was born, when I somehow missed having my little buddy swimming around in my belly while also feeling overjoyed to have him earthside and in my arms, I am grateful for the opportunity to have left my oldest child at such a beautiful, welcoming school for college ... but oh, how my heart misses him.

Motherhood is a strange thing. Your job is to prepare that baby to launch into the world but nature wires you to never want them too far away — not for too long, at least. From the moment you first leave them at preschool, it's a dance, a tightrope walk, trying to find the right balance of close enough to touch but not so close as to smother.

He's already so happy, already thriving and meeting friends. His roommate is lovely and his track coach is one of those people you just want to be around all the time; warm and smart and knowledgeable — and she gets him.

We left our child 19 hours away, on purpose.

He was ready and this is where he belongs. And I'm ready, too. Ready for him to spread his wings, knowing he'll be home soon enough.

No, it's not easy. But it wasn't meant to be. It's meant to be joy and ache, joy and ache. Fortunately, with this kid, it's always way more joy than anything else.