Originally posted by iheartbb:
I definately had a harder time dropping him off in August. My younger son and I drove him over. We were surprised at how helpful everyone was, one trip from the car to the dorm room with about five students helping - just said "do you need some help?" grabbed our stuff and headed to the elevator.
That was a nice start, after meeting the only other roomate that was there already, son was ready for us to leave and start his journey. I toured younger son around campus, and of course there was a DJ playing music, some were dancing, kind of a party atmosphere. Really fun just watching all these wide eye young adults so ready for more freedom, you could actually feel the energy. It was facinating to watch. Younger son and I had lunch taking it all in, when we got up to head to the car, we took one last look back and there was older son with all the roomates in tow, his baseball brothers, you could tell by the body language they were instant friends. I can't imagine eight young ladies bonding instantly like this, but maybe they do too.
It didn't hit me until I was grocery shopping the next day and I caught myself putting "his stuff" in the cart. I had to catch myself from crying right there in the store. This really empty feeling came over me, and it took a couple of weeks to get over. I really felt bad when he called to say he was terribly ill, and for the first time I couldn't help heal him with my magical 'only known to moms' wellness voodoo. But, guess who took him to the hospital, stayed with him and took care of him....his baseball brothers. All on their own (with a few cell calls for good measure) they handled it, and I was very impressed.
When he and one roomate came home for 3 days at Thanksgiving, I really pampered them. It was soooo good to reconnect in person. When he went back it was a lot easier. He only got two weeks for Christmas, and our home became "IheartBB's Home for players and friends that wanted something to do"....I was kind of ready for them all to go (not son), but collectively
Now I struggle with the fact that for the first time, I will not be able to attend every game and all that it entails. We will be able to go to a good number of them, but of course who knows if he will get much playing time...and the fact that as soon as season ends he will go off to play summer baseball and then right back to school. It is a big transition for moms! I miss him.
I do like the fact that when I walk by his room it is always clean!
Playbaseball- I hear your concern, some tough times with all your guys, Yikes! As for sending son off to drive 16 hours to address unknown....I am thinking about when my family was growing up oldest sis took off after high school after being admitted to the Chicago Art Institute, parents were not even involved, she did everything, got a ride there, who knows where she lived (I'm sure my parents knew, but the rest of us sure didn't) Next sis marries high school sweetheart and he joins the Marines and off they go to points unknown (they are still together), next brother gets football scholarship and takes off, parents were not involved in process at all, as a matter of fact when my brother was looking through my sons scrapbook of letters, NLI, stuff like that, he was sad he didn't have any of that. Second brother also gets football scholarship - but goes out of state- again, he did it all, drove there by himself. Me, I was number five, landed a job right out of high school at a big corporation at the tender age of 17 (pays to know somebody), full time with benefits, moved out and got my own apartment, had my own car, paid for by me, and went to school at night.
Youngest sis, got everything done for her, was spoiled, parents paid for all her education which now borders on professional student with five different degrees - lives in peace and harmony on a vineyard with her dog, third husband, and no kids
Love you sis!
My point in this babbeling post is that in my family (generation) we did everything for ourselves, took risks with the unknown, figured stuff out for ourselves, made mistakes, and don't seem to be too damaged by it
Heck, on our street alone, when we were kids, we had over 60 kids at any one time of all ages, all sent out to play. No organized anything, no adults - just olders teaching the youngers, your age never mattered, if you were good, you got to play more, no shoes, helmets, padding - just pure sport, pure fun. Young people are so capable, I never give mine enough credit...I'm learning though.
, and stop cooking and doing laundry 24/7. 