With prom and graduation are right around the corner there was a list about a mile long of odds and ends we needed to take care of this past weekend. At the end of it all we {The Girl and I} stopped by Starbucks on our way home.
The line was long, so while we were waiting for our drinks to be made I dashed into the restroom while The Girl waited at the counter for our beverages.
And when I came out, she had written all over my cup.
I had no idea something as simple as a paper cup could bring me to tears. It’s the little things I don’t even know I’m going to miss when she leaves for college that make this whole moving on process so hard.
I know I’m going to be a total wreck when she leaves. 🙁
~Mavis
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jestjack says
….And I thought it was just me.My DD’s used to do that kind of thing…I loved it… My youngest used to go with me on errands to “keep me straight”…at 7 years old she was all business and would make a list and check things off as we completed our tasks…along with little comments. I found a pack of these “lists” the other day…and it brought a tear to my eye…She’ll be a senior at College next year. I still have on my desk a “paper-weight” that my oldest daughter made in 1st grade out of a rock, some scrap felt and string to become a “mouse”. Oldest is in her 30’s now and that mouse and I have been thru a lot. Good Luck with DD going away to school…
Mavis says
I love this!
Kristina Z says
Sweet girl. My oldest is off to college in the fall, and I am having similar moments. She is actually leaving the day after graduation to work at a high Sierras wilderness camp for the summer. So I have two weeks to fret and sigh, and then I need to pull up my big girl panties and stiffen the upper lip, and other metaphors for sucking it up. Don’t quite know how yet, though…..
Mavis says
If you figure it out, let me know.
Beth says
Yup….know what y’all mean…..
Rosaleen says
Hey, Mavis!
Try changing your perspective. You are actually PLANNING TO BE MISERABLE! Really?
How about looking at your daughter’s going off to college as a major step forward in her life worth celebrating? You have brought up an independent human being who is on her way to self-sufficiency. The Girl can come home on at least some breaks which you can plan to savor and have some fun with her as well as the rest of the family. Is she going to college on Mars or some mountain top in Nepal? No! You can communicate electronically, maybe even via Skype. Think of this as a weaning process for both of you. You are still connected. Some day she may need to move far away for a job or with a husband. You are both getting ready for her life as an adult. Start enjoying it!
Hugs,
Rosaleen
Melissa says
Since she made it one of her yearly goals to NOT spend a week in bed crying when her daughter leaves, I think Mavis gets it – of course this is huge and exciting, but it’s ok to be thrown by such a BIG change too, and it sounds like this was one of those moments where it just hit.
Mavis, of course we don’t know where your daughter will be for college, but I’m sure it will affect your dream travel destinations for the next few years! It was always a blast to have family come visit and get to show off the college town to them and all the places I was getting to know. My mom and I are super close (practically share a brain) and we were both super excited when I left for college (of course I was only a couple hours away) but still a big transition. If it’s any consolation, those years are the closest I felt to my mom until becoming a mom myself. Something about not getting into any little daily squabbles once we weren’t living together brought us more to a friend type relationship than ever before, and I called her practically daily – and that was when we had to use long distance calling cards instead of unlimited cell minutes/texts! Yay for technology!
Mavis says
Melissa is spot on. I am so thrilled she is going to school, it’s just going to be really hard on me to not have her here everyday. I know I’ll survive, but I also know it will be a tough transition!
RobininSoCal says
Mavis she may be having similar feelings about going away and the separation. I have a senior too.
Mavis says
I suspect she does, but I’m sure she won’t fall apart near as badly as I will.
Beth from Idaho says
Oh Mavis- I am feeling for you…my daughter is 16 and finishing her sophomore year so we still have a couple of years but she is my constant companion and I will miss her like crazy when she leaves! My son is alot older (28) and he was a totally different kind of teenager- definitely more social with his friends and hardly around so the transition was easier. I know you will be fine but I think you better stock up on Kleenex if you haven’t already!
Mavis says
I think I have a years supply of Kleenex, but I’m not sure that will be enough!
Diana says
We encouraged all three of our children to go back east for college as we live in Southern California so they could have new experiences. When my oldest left I tried not to cry too much, but little things set me off like seeing bananas (her favorite fruit) in the grocery store. I swear on each college drop off trip my nose was red the whole time even when I didn’t cry! The things I didn’t expect were that grad school would also be far away, they would fall in love with people from other areas (and countries!), and that their careers would take them far from home. One time when I was sad my youngest said, Mom you don’t want us living at home we are supposed to move away. I have adjusted fine now, love to face time with my first grandchild, and spend a lot of time traveling to visit them. I am so proud of their success and I have realized you don’t have to live close geographically to be a close and loving family.
Robin in SoCal says
Diana and that is exactly the reason I will not be picking a retirement destination until I see where my kiddos land! I’ve already told them they need to have a grandma suite or Casita close by.
Linda says
AHHH Mavis!! I know EXACTLY what you are going through! My daughter just graduated and although I am EXTREMELY proud of her and excited about her future plans, I still get weepy at times. Just yesterday she came in from her last private art lesson from a teacher she has had for six years. I honestly have been so busy, I didn’t realize it. Well, her sweet and precious art teacher gave her a very thoughtful gift and a sweet letter that made me just “fall apart” on the spot. Really?! How in the world did that happen? One minute I was fine, the next, crying!! Just thinking of all the years I dropped her off, the art exhibits, the many pictures I have in my house, and her precious art teacher and what she has meant to us – just made me cry. But I did the same thing with the oldest boy too – crazy what would make me sad….all of the sudden too. But it’s nice to have others comment so we know we’re not alone!!! : )
Lesley says
This brought tears to my eyes. To give you encouragement, my twin girls are 31 now and we are closer than ever. We talk on the phone twice a day and I see them quite often and are very close to my grandchildren. You have planted the seeds(!) for a strong life long relationship with your daughter!
Donna says
Almost cried myself when I read your post. So sweet, but a sad reminder of what you will be losing.
Of course you will be fine. It’s getting to the ‘fine’ part that will be tough. You will be suffering a loss; not a loss in the traditional sense, but a loss in her childhood, a loss in the day to day bond you share.
Keep the Kleenex handy. Hey, have you thought about investing in some Kleenex stock? LOL Have a feeling its value might rise in a few months.