Saying Good-Bye at College Drop Off: 3 Sacred Rules
Thank goodness for second chances.
Moving my first daughter into college was a nasty, bumbling mess. It’s an entertaining story that I would love to tell you, but I don’t come off looking very good. Let’s just leave it at that.
I’ve had three years in timeout to think about my bad behavior, and to plan a different kind of day when I drive my second daughter to college in a few weeks. You can learn from my mistakes. Here are three sacred rules for the day you’re dreading.
1. Keep it short.
All the things they say in the movies about long good-byes are true. What do they say? “Everyone hates them.”
Get on with it. When your moving task is done, get going. Even if you planned to have dinner together, if you finish early, don’t make your kid spend the two extra hours entertaining you. The most exciting time of her life is waiting. Swallow hard and get out of Dodge.
2. Keep it sweet.
Moving large boxes and marking dreaded stressful milestones in the same day is a recipe for bickering. Remember, you’re the grown up. Keep the smile on your face. Keep idle chatter upbeat, not critical. Meet stress with calm. Bring candy. When you’re tempted to give a lecture, give a wink instead. You can’t necessarily set the tone (remember . . . boxes), but don’t sour it.
3. Keep it real.
Yes, after feeding and sheltering a person for 18 years, you are entitled to a little storybook sentimentality.
But today is not the day. Today is moving day. What’s really happening is two different stories – yours and your child’s. You each have different expectations, and neither of you knows the details of the other’s happy ending. Not really. Even if you do, mom, yours matters less. Try to be in the moment. Observe and remember what is really happening. You can’t do that if you’re looking for your tiara and magic wand.
I’m not saying it’s easy. Letting go of my first daughter was so difficult that I journaled for a year (which turned into an entire book) as self therapy.
I learned that letting go is a learned skill. I do best when I remember that the student in this process is not the person that is staying behind in the dorm room.
Leave behind a motherly hug with the sweet, sassy little book Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone. See it HERE.
8 Comments
Ahhh….the joy of hindsight (or insight)!!! I too needed to do these things with my youngest son…..thought I handled it quite well until I got 40 minutes out of town and saw a sign for his college……Yeah, those [3] extra boxes of tissues sure go fast!! Thank goodness for 1800 miles of road, sappy songs on the radio and an understanding State Trooper for getting me to Denver where my other half flew in to save my broken heart!! LOL Great advice to all us loving (sometimes over involved) parents who will be doing this soon! Hang in there….it is all worth it watching them bloom!! <3
August 8, 2016
I will never be good at this. I said goodbye to my 4 children a thousand times and every time I was terrible. These are great ideas, wish I had followed them.
August 18, 2014
It’s so hard. Someone needs to invent a parental coaching/babysitting program to save us from ourselves.
August 18, 2014
Nicely, and concisely, put. I can remember this! xoxo
August 18, 2014
Hindsight is always 20 20. Isn’t it? Great advise for those who will be experiencing this rite of passage . Thanks for sharing. Kath
August 17, 2014
I handled it well enough when we dropped off my daughter for college, but completely blew it when we moved her into her new apartment in a different new city much further away than college had been. Great essay, you nailed it for college and for first job as well.
August 17, 2014
Love these rules.
Can’t wait to see your book
about weddings and grandbabies!!!!!
We learn as we go don’t we. But
it’s good to be aware of the moment
and don’t sweat the small stuff, at least
not in front of the kids. They say it’s
ALL small stuff. But I say, it starts out
big and gets small! Good to know.
August 17, 2014
Awesome! As always!
August 17, 2014