Move In Day

I’ve been watching parents drop their children off at college on social media for the last few days. It’s all so emotional and it brings back such memories. Not just about dropping my own children off, but memories of when my mom did this for me.

Fifty years ago, this month I chose to attend college in a city about 600 miles from my hometown. I knew what I was doing. I wanted to get away from home, and I wanted to go south. I remember spending the final hours with my mom and sister at the nearby hotel they were staying in. When it came time for me to go back to campus she put me in a cab, and they watched it drive away.

I watched them through the rear window and cried. My mom told me she cried as the plane taking her back home lifted off. My sister was sick for days after. We didn’t have parting ceremonies back then. No FaceTime calls. No texting. Just letters and long-distance calls.

So, now I sit here and tear up as I watch other parents go through this. Both of my children attended colleges about 100 miles away from home; a few hours drive back home. It didn’t matter. I cried when I dropped them off, too. When I got home, I sat in their rooms. We had FaceTime and texting, but it was still a lot.

I know there is a time when you must let go as a parent. Whether they’re off to college or moving out on their own. When I left home, I felt it was time and I wanted something new. Never mind that I wanted to go back home for the first few weeks, but when Thanksgiving came around you couldn’t pull me away.  

As a parent, I do believe you raise them to leave you. Is that the “circle of life”? I can only hope they are happy and healthy and that they are kind and independent adults who make themselves and me proud.

Have you had a move in day? How did it go for you?