It caught me off guard—the tears. The overwhelming emotion I felt while driving away after my son’s first parents’ weekend. Although he’s now a sophomore, I had missed the previous year’s event, and I was grateful for the chance to spend this weekend with him. With Thanksgiving approaching, I knew he wouldn’t be coming home this year, so I expected to feel a twinge of sadness as I left him behind. But honestly, I’m not one to get overly emotional.
During his freshman year, I did tear up a little when it was time to say goodbye, but I wasn’t the kind of mom who stood staring at his closed door or wandered into his impeccably tidy room to cry. I was genuinely happy for him; he had found his place. He was thriving—making friends, playing soccer and tennis, and excelling academically. How could I be sad when he was doing so well? I wasn’t; I was simply thrilled that he had discovered the perfect school for himself.
That said, I did miss him. The house felt eerily quiet, even with my daughter Bella filling it with giggles and impromptu dance parties in the kitchen. Dinner conversations were missing a debater, and my grocery shopping definitely reflected that absence. Yet, I felt a sense of accomplishment—we had raised him to be independent and pursue his passions. And that’s just what he was doing.
I didn’t expect things to change this year. I didn’t foresee the emotional pull when he had too much homework to meet on Sunday. I didn’t anticipate the sting of tears in my eyes as we drove away. I hadn’t realized I was leaving a piece of my heart in Connecticut.
Seeing him on Friday filled my heart with joy; our reunion hug felt like coming home. The weekend was wonderful. We enjoyed the waterfront, indulged in lobster and ice cream, strolled around, and, of course, had more lobster. We caught several a cappella performances and watched a soccer match. While at Target, I found myself wanting to buy everything for him, despite his minimal needs.
He has been busy navigating adulthood at college—without me. And he’s doing remarkably well. I’m incredibly proud of him; he’s in the right environment, engaged in all the right activities—just like last year. However, this time, as I left him behind, I found myself crying. I choked up several times during the drive and even shed tears while writing this.
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In summary, as I navigate my son’s college journey, I’ve come to terms with the emotional ups and downs that accompany this significant transition. While he thrives in his new environment, I am learning to embrace the bittersweet nature of letting go.