Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Ain’t No Pain Like This

I am still swamped and will be until later this week.

But I just have to say this:

Carrie (our oldest), just left for college.

I watched from the middle of the street as the van turned the corner.

And wept. Tears of sorrow and joy at the same time. It’s awful and wonderful and crazy-making.

More later. (I have a fair amount to say about this, as you can imagine.)

1. It can be hard watching our children grow up into the adults we raise them to be (that is what our job description is).  If all goes well, they will be equipped to live on their own, have relationships, families, work and so on.  But we need to learn how to change with it all.

   Hope it isn’t too hard.  And we get to be friends with our adult children.  What more could we want?  (Other than grandchildren we can spoil and hand back, maybe.)

   Posted by Michelle  on  08/27/08  at  02:46 AM

2. One of the first times I saw my dad cry was when the car was pulling out to take me to school for the first time. After that, it got a lot easier - drive me into NYC to drop me at the bus; then take me to the bus stop in NJ that takes me to Port Authority in NY; then “What! You’re still here? You’ll miss your bus!”

   Posted by Mary Beth  on  08/27/08  at  05:36 AM

3. I’m sure you’re experiencing the perfect combination of pride and sadness. You guys are doing such a great job with The Raising of the Awesome Kids. It’s just sad that the time has come for her to move out and share her Awesome with a new crowd. And I feel like I’m totally talking in weird cliches, because I almost just typed something about new chapters and looking forward to Harry Potter books and it seemed like the perfect analogy, but now it seems that I should simply submit the word I see below and go start a load of towels… Congratulations to all of you.

   Posted by Angela  on  08/27/08  at  08:51 AM

4. My oldest isn’t too far behind yours. I am dreading it.

   Posted by Jerilyn  on  08/27/08  at  09:35 AM

5. If you’re lucky, maybe she’ll come back and live with you again in fourteen years when she does school a second time?

   Posted by Pants  on  08/27/08  at  12:38 PM

6. wow.

   Posted by Aimee Greeblemonkey  on  08/27/08  at  03:23 PM

7. I’m sorry.  My father cried as he and Mom drove away after leaving me at the University of Texas.  I cried too.

   Posted by Csquaredplus3  on  08/27/08  at  04:46 PM

8. Jon, I wholeheartedly feel your joy and pain.  As a mother of a 19 year old firecracker I have experienced my fair share of joyous/yet painful moments and shed the same tears.  I feel for you!  Cannot wait to read your next thoughts on the subject.

   Posted by NerdGirl  on  08/27/08  at  09:06 PM

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Holy Crap! Look at all this STUFF down here. It's awesome!

 

Really, I'm glad you made it down here. Almost no one ever comes down here. I'm like in a freaking dungeon down here. I get lonely. But not you. YOU made it all the way to the end of the page. For this I think I've a little crush on you. I don't know, is "love" to strong a word to use in this situation? Well, if it's not "love," then it's very strong "like." I'm totally in like with you for coming down here. You are awesome. Please love me back! I know, I know, I shouldn't be all needy, it's not attractive at all, but you don't know how it is to be stuck down here. Who scrolls all the way to the end of a page anymore these days? Anyway, thanks for shedding some light down here in the depths. I appreciate it. Shoot me an email and I'll send you a dollar, OK?

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