The tears caught me off guard. As I drove away from my son’s college after our first parents’ weekend, I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. Although he’s a sophomore now, I had missed last year’s event, so I was grateful to have spent the weekend with him. He wouldn’t be coming home for Thanksgiving this year, and while I anticipated feeling a bit sad, I never considered myself to be the emotional type.
When I dropped him off for his freshman year, I shed a few tears during our goodbyes, of course. But I wasn’t the mom who stood staring at his closed door or wandered into his tidy, empty room to cry. I was genuinely thrilled for him; he was where he belonged. During our conversations, he seemed so happy—making friends, playing soccer and tennis, and keeping up with his studies. How could I cry when he was clearly flourishing? I didn’t—I felt nothing but excitement at his perfect school match.
That’s not to say I didn’t miss him; I absolutely did. The house felt too quiet, even with the lively antics of my daughter, Mia, filling it with laughter and kitchen dance parties. Dinner debates were a thing of the past—it was just the three of us now. I overstocked the grocery shelves out of habit, but deep down, I knew we had raised him to be independent and strong, ready to chase his dreams. And he was doing just that.
So, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional shift this year. I didn’t foresee the heartache when he had too much homework and couldn’t meet on Sunday. I underestimated the sting of tears in my eyes as we left. I hadn’t realized that this time, I was leaving a piece of my heart in Connecticut.
Seeing him again on Friday filled my heart with joy as I hugged him tightly. The weekend was wonderful—we relaxed by the water, indulged in lobster and ice cream, took long walks, and even watched a few a cappella performances and soccer games. I found myself at Target, wanting to buy him everything under the sun, but he really didn’t need much.
He’s been busy growing up without me at college, and he’s doing an amazing job. I couldn’t be prouder. He’s still in the right place, doing all the right things—just like last year. Yet, this time, as I drove away, I found myself crying. I choked up multiple times on the drive home and even had tears in my eyes while writing this.
Who would have thought? I may very well be that mom after all.
For more insights on parenthood and navigating these emotional moments, you might be interested in our post about home insemination kits, or check out the Cryobaby home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo for expert advice. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic’s podcast is a fantastic resource for all things related to pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, parenting through college transitions brings unexpected emotions, and it’s perfectly normal to feel them deeply.
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