And the dads react

That is a very sweet story! I'd just take a whole box of tissues Thursday and give each other lots of hugs!

That brought tears to my eyes. What a sad and exciting time for your family. Godd luck on Thursday!

We have to start putting a "tearjerker warning" on these kinds of posts. I wasn't prepared!

Good luck on Thursday.....it really is such an emotional time.....like lafmom said.....lots of tissues.....

Redhead ...
Right you are. We can actually identify the 'emotion' of the thread ... at the top of the screen near the space for the title of the thread is a little icon that looks like a piece of paper ... click on it and choose your thread theme emoticon. Then we can all know when to prepare for the 'tough' ones.

OMG ~ That was just BEAUTIFUL! Luckily, I'm three years away from it, but already dreading/rejoicing in it as well!

Good luck to all the moms and dads preparing for this first departure!

Alright I started this thread and now I guess I can bring some closure. Dropped off Justin yesterday at college. Moved him in, went to the dollare store for "stuff" he forgot, took him out to dinner and then gve him $50.00 extra dollars because I was stupid enough to watch Carrie Underwoods new video that says "please remember me" about a girl going off on their own. Now I was prepared to let loose crying...been thinking about this day all summer.

Husband and I told him we loved him, wished him luck, told him to get smart and got in the car. We pulled out of the parking lot...no tears, no conversation yet but no tears. Turned the corner to head home...no tears no conversation but I am singing "I am women hear me roar" in my mind. Hit the freeway and my husband looks at me a says "This is worng. I drove up here and I had a son everyday, now I don't but on weekends. He is my friend and we actually were getting along" I say nothing, turn my head to the window and cry for twenty minutes. Then I look at my husband and say remember when he was in his walker and he took off down the stairs and landed on his feet laughing. We have to trust he has the same instincts...... then I made my husband stop at a store and I bought ice cream and ate the pint. You know it did make me feel better

chocolate?

redhead ...
Does it really matter

Allaboutbaseball,
I'm sitting here now with tears going down my face because I'll be in your place next year. I can't stand the thoughts of my firstborn being out of the house. Everyone always says that the relationship between the child and the parents will never be the same after the child leaves for college. The years just fly by and I think that we take it for granted that they will always be with us. Now, pass that ice cream bucket...

quote:

Everyone always says that the relationship between the child and the parents will never be the same after the child leaves for college.

lovethatbaseball - The relationship does change, but truly in a good way. Graduating HS is I believe the end of one journey and the beginning of another. It is sad for us and may bring some tears, but it brings much more in the way of joy and blessings. When you see the opportunities your child has out there in the big world that they will take and run with, your heart will swell with pride!

FBM - Of course it matters!!! Milk Chocolate is my drug of choice!!

Allaboutbaseball - Again, another great story! Thanks for sharing those well written thoughts with us!!!

Woops. Wrong thread.

quote:

but it brings much more in the way of joy and blessings.

As I sit here passing the time as the last load of laundry dries before we take our son back tomorrow, I read this and a couple of tears start to flow knowing that the patter of feet upstairs as he finishes packing will not be heard tomorrow night.

It's the 3rd time we've embarked on this trek and it is easier each yr. but ya know I will really miss having him around. It gets easier each yr but it's still hard at the same time. You realize it's not hard for them to move on after the first year, in fact they're so excited that you find you're excited for them. I guess what is so hard is realizing that it's getting closer and closer to the day they finally are truly on their own and we'll only get bits and pieces of their everyday life soon enough. Their friends are kids you really don't know well and their everyday life is discussed in short spurts on the phone. They're making decisions on their own and just don't need you as much as they once did. We've managed to raise young adults that are becoming real men and can only hope we've done a good job.

Now, I think I'll go up and hit the Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie to sooth my mood! Good luck to all of us and especially to the first timers out there. We will survive yet again! and actually enjoy our free time for the most part. But it sure is nice when they come home if only for a brief visit.

quote:

It's the 3rd time we've embarked on this trek

...and it might be the last.

Oh no,..cant let Former Observers comment be the last on this page or there will surely be a national need for kleenex!!

Soo yes,..it stinks that our children have to grow up and leave our nest,...how dare they?,..and yes,..the sound of a quiet house is sooo amazingly unappealing, ( who knew,...havent I wished for some peace-n-quiet like a million and one times before? )... I'm just plain tired of having a semi-permanant red nose and blood shot eyeballs from the tears,...
and just between you and me, what gets me most is the change in our family routines and traditions ( ...the traditions are something I have personally held on to for the last 18 years with a death grip!)

But it is what it is,...we have to prove to ourselves no matter how hard the heart strings are tugging, that we can overcome,..that as parents we can adapt and be flexible. Ohhhh but darn it,..that doesnt make it easy,..and the dads on this site have admitted to it too,..validation to the mommas!! ( try living with a career Army Colonel who has been through multiple deployments and not a tear shed,..until he drops his oldest off to basic training this summer,....whoa-nelly that was a shocker!)

So I say we throw this thread into a new direction ( although venting will always be accepted here! ..it helps,..we all know that!)

Lets celebrate our children. Throw a cyber party for them and for us! Gosh dang it,..our kids are on their way!!! Can you believe it??? Their lives are just beginning,...what an amazingly exciting time for them!! There will be bumps in the roads ahead,..but that is when they will need us once again,..and thank goodness for that!!!
Children are blessings,... near or far from us,..I just thank God for the opportunity to have this amazing title of "mother", for without that, those types of tears I could not bare.

To all our children moving away, I lift my glass, or in this case my mocha fudge filled ice cream bowl to them ( extra fudge,..make it smothered!!) and say CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
We are scared, we are proud,..we are your parents,..and we miss ya and love you!

Dont forget to call home!

Cheers and happy tears & hugggzzzzzzzzzz!!!

Hey Shortstopmom - that was beautifully said!!!

I'll bring the ice cream to the party!