When my son was 5 he cried about going to college and said he didn’t want to leave me. Now that he’s 16 and 2 years away from leaving I’m the one get emotional 😭 lol!!!
I am crying and my kids are 6 and 4. I remember so vividly my first month at college, I cried a lot alone in my room but I also made a lot of new friends. this past weekend my twin sister and I took our 3 kids to my college roommate’s house for the kids’ first sleepover we all have 4 year olds then I have the 6 year old and former roommate has an almost 2 year old. It was complete chaos but it’s pretty amazing to have been friends with someone for 17 years (and her husband entered the picture 16 years ago too!) as I recall we called our parents once a week as college students. I don’t know what I will do with my kids! I can’t picture them as teenagers now. I thank you for sharing your experience. ❤️
I love every age for different reasons but as the ND parents of ND kids who are starting to become more aware of emotional regulation tools, our home is becoming more peaceful and I am enjoying our team mentality in this season. My 6 yo in particular has been blowing me away with his emotional intelligence on a daily basis.
I am smiling with tears and I don't have kids. I love this post so much. Nice job, Mama. And hell yes to a fresh start in the Fall - new shoes, cool fresh air, and new beginnings. September is my New Year's Eve.
I've never thought of it that way but I love it!! The end of summer does feel like the end of the year to me, and I'm much more ready for a fresh start in September than in December. Blech!!
Awwww, I loved this so much. She IS ready, and so are you.
I think when you’ve been dealing with a lot of trauma and then your kid gets to do something as “usual” and exciting as heading off to college—and they’re ready for it—it really changes the parental perspective on the event. I know when my oldest left it felt like all the other parents were sobbing and I couldn’t get that stupid grin off my face because OMG YOU MADE IT and GO LIVE IT UP, KID! That’s also when our relationship really started to change into something more egalitarian, too. (5/5, would watch my kid blossom again!)
Here’s to all the normality and everyday miracles. Your family is due.
It was my dad + my stepmom -- they still laugh at seeing the kitty cat posters and the shirtless firemen calendar on my roommate's side of the room, then looking at my Andy Warhol portraits and NYC drag club posters and thinking, "oh no..." 😂
Love this! So many emotions all at once. I've done the college drop offs, the college graduations, and then the move out for good to your own place. The sheer volume of feelings is insane. There's no chapter for this in the "what to expect " baby book.
Sounds like it went well for all of you. Good luck with the continuing adjustments to new routines. And don't forget to be "selfish as fuck" when you're able.
I felt every word you wrote. Right in the old kishka (Yiddish for solar plexus or something). Your writing is timeless, giving us all the jolt of years past and the joy of knowing that we're going to be alright. I think by telling us your truths you allow us to feel ours. Thank you.
Love the 9/11 Brooklyn rainbow. I hope that you find good ways to fill the quiet moments, especially because there will be more of them now. Remember there are always others that need you, just take a walk and you'll see them. You don't have to know them, hug them or even like them. Just be yourself and you will discover opportunities for sharing. Oh and if you want to challenge your perspective a bit, consider the next phase (four or more years from now) when graduation day comes. All the what now that comes with that. Life is a banquet of many years, just eat what's on your plate each day and remember to be silly sometimes.
xoxo! i'll be there soon. ugh! 🙏🏻
It’s not an ugh! It’s hard, but it’s also wonderful. Just like life can be.
When my son was 5 he cried about going to college and said he didn’t want to leave me. Now that he’s 16 and 2 years away from leaving I’m the one get emotional 😭 lol!!!
Thalia said that until she was about 12 or 13!
She often said, "I'll never leave you. I'm staying right here!"
And I said," well, you may change your mind one day." 🥺
I am crying and my kids are 6 and 4. I remember so vividly my first month at college, I cried a lot alone in my room but I also made a lot of new friends. this past weekend my twin sister and I took our 3 kids to my college roommate’s house for the kids’ first sleepover we all have 4 year olds then I have the 6 year old and former roommate has an almost 2 year old. It was complete chaos but it’s pretty amazing to have been friends with someone for 17 years (and her husband entered the picture 16 years ago too!) as I recall we called our parents once a week as college students. I don’t know what I will do with my kids! I can’t picture them as teenagers now. I thank you for sharing your experience. ❤️
You have so much time! Enjoy all of it (that you can) -- in my experience, it just keeps getting better. Especially after 4 + 6.
I love every age for different reasons but as the ND parents of ND kids who are starting to become more aware of emotional regulation tools, our home is becoming more peaceful and I am enjoying our team mentality in this season. My 6 yo in particular has been blowing me away with his emotional intelligence on a daily basis.
I am smiling with tears and I don't have kids. I love this post so much. Nice job, Mama. And hell yes to a fresh start in the Fall - new shoes, cool fresh air, and new beginnings. September is my New Year's Eve.
Thank you Carolyn. New shoes sounds like a GREAT idea.
I've never thought of it that way but I love it!! The end of summer does feel like the end of the year to me, and I'm much more ready for a fresh start in September than in December. Blech!!
I wrote about that very thing! We are twinning, Aliesha...
https://lgumbinner.substack.com/p/the-august-scaries
Awwww, I loved this so much. She IS ready, and so are you.
I think when you’ve been dealing with a lot of trauma and then your kid gets to do something as “usual” and exciting as heading off to college—and they’re ready for it—it really changes the parental perspective on the event. I know when my oldest left it felt like all the other parents were sobbing and I couldn’t get that stupid grin off my face because OMG YOU MADE IT and GO LIVE IT UP, KID! That’s also when our relationship really started to change into something more egalitarian, too. (5/5, would watch my kid blossom again!)
Here’s to all the normality and everyday miracles. Your family is due.
Thank you Mir. ❤️
I think it's the beginning of a special time for all of us--separately and together.
I'm waiting for your moms thoughts when she dropped you off at BU.
It was my dad + my stepmom -- they still laugh at seeing the kitty cat posters and the shirtless firemen calendar on my roommate's side of the room, then looking at my Andy Warhol portraits and NYC drag club posters and thinking, "oh no..." 😂
It all worked out.
Love this! So many emotions all at once. I've done the college drop offs, the college graduations, and then the move out for good to your own place. The sheer volume of feelings is insane. There's no chapter for this in the "what to expect " baby book.
Sounds like it went well for all of you. Good luck with the continuing adjustments to new routines. And don't forget to be "selfish as fuck" when you're able.
Thank you D! I hope we all get to be selfish as fuck when we're able. It seems like an excellent idea.
Amen. Word. Love. Yes.
Yes.❤️
I felt every word you wrote. Right in the old kishka (Yiddish for solar plexus or something). Your writing is timeless, giving us all the jolt of years past and the joy of knowing that we're going to be alright. I think by telling us your truths you allow us to feel ours. Thank you.
My biggest supporter, always ❤️
Oh, I love this. This captures it all so well. You really are a lovely writer, Liz.
Thank you Lora!
Love the 9/11 Brooklyn rainbow. I hope that you find good ways to fill the quiet moments, especially because there will be more of them now. Remember there are always others that need you, just take a walk and you'll see them. You don't have to know them, hug them or even like them. Just be yourself and you will discover opportunities for sharing. Oh and if you want to challenge your perspective a bit, consider the next phase (four or more years from now) when graduation day comes. All the what now that comes with that. Life is a banquet of many years, just eat what's on your plate each day and remember to be silly sometimes.
Wise advice, Robert. Thank you.