To some families this may seem a rarity, but it is only new to me this year – the year my eldest daughter (of 4) went away to college. She isn’t too far away – only about 45 minutes to an hour, but she isn’t here, under the same roof, day in and day out like she was for the past 20 years. She isn’t here in the morning to grumble a good morning to (we are NOT morning people around here), she is not here at the dinner table each evening to share in our chaotic banter, and she is not here breathing in and out, so that I can hear her life, every night, all night.
I am very happy and proud for her – she is an amazing young woman and she is just growing, blossoming and succeeding at everything she touches at the university. She worked very hard to get there, she is invigorated with learning and she is experiencing a whole new slew of people and events. She is amazing.
But I do miss her so much. She has gradually grown from my baby, to my little girl, to my friend. We text daily, talk every couple/few days and she comes home every 2 or 3 weekends, and I’m so glad of that – I’d hate to grow apart from her.
The next born daughter is stepping up into her place in the world. She will be off to college before I know it. And the other two, who will still be around for awhile, thank goodness, are transitioning from little girls into little people more and more each day.
There are so many emotions involved, happy and sad, exciting and scary – all wrapped up into this thing known as watching your children grow up. For all of it’s highs and lows, bumps and bruises, fun and games, I wouldn’t trade being their mother for anything.