I know how you feel.
Four years ago, we took my eldest to college 3 hours away. Other than a church mission trip for a week, my children have never been away for more than a night. I have had plenty of their friends here, but my kids just like being around the family, so my house was the "hang-out house". I was happy, even if I was buying truckloads of Sunchips and Doritos!
Then college came, and all the changes for the future hit me. Where had the time gone? We all knew I would cry, because I was the mom that never even liked summer to be over and hated seeing my children walk into school the first day. What can I say, I had a lot of fun with my kids, we have wonderful memories together, and they are really great kids!
I don't know if it is the European culture of family being most important, but I was raised with family being more important than the individual, and that is how I raised my children. I know it goes against the general American (not knocking this, just stating a general difference from a non-American perspective) ideal of individuality, but a strong family tie can never be a bad thing for children, and as hard as it is to send them off, knowing that family will always be important and welcoming helps to make it easier, at least I hope so!
Be prepared for the first time you set the table without a place for your child in college, the first time you see their room empty, the first time you do laundry and it isn't as full due to their clothing absence!
All tear producers for me. I just missed my daughter so much, and hated not hearing her voice. But, you will get through it.
A previous poster said to start making that care box, and I second that. As soon as I came home from dropping my daughter, I started that box. In fact, I had sent her a funny card the day we left home, so she would have it soon after she moved in, for I knew my daughter was also going to be missing us tremendously. Doing little things for them does help us, in a way. After all, we have spent all these years "doing little things" for our kids, it doesn't have to stop when they leave. For, while I have my own life and friends, my greatest job was always being "just mom". Doing mom things helped me.
One thing that was a great positive about my eldest leaving, which no one told me about, was the time I got to spend with my youngest! With almost 5 years between my girls, it was an eye opener getting to know my youngest apart from her big sister's shadow, and though she was also very sad to be apart from her sister (they are very close, despite the age difference), there were times when big sister came home from college and little sister couldn't wait for her to go back!
These last 4 years with my youngest have been so precious to me and my husband, and though I am always happiest when both my children are home, I was still grateful to have one here. But even that time comes to an end, if we are lucky.
For, in 5 days, I drive my youngest off to college. As hard as it was to have the eldest leave, this is going to be even worse. My husband and I have been this happy little family for over 23 years! And now my eldest is heading off to graduate school and planning her wedding as my youngest is heading off to college 3.5 hours away. I am shopping for wedding dresses and spending money to outift a dorm room! Now this I am not ready for!
I suggest everyone buy stock in Kleenex, as I shall be needing a lot of it over the next year and driving up their profits.
PrincessVija, this is not an easy stage in your life, but take comfort in knowing that even if you are the lone parent that is tearing up, whilst others are jumping for joy over leaving their child, you have done a great job instilling the important value of family connections to your child, so do not feel self-conscious over those tears. Our kids will always be our kids, and we their parents, no matter how old they get (we don't age, so I don't say we will get old
), who they bring home to share a life with, nor when they become parents themselves. We knew when we first held them that our job was to raise them to leave us. Those 18 years have flown by, and tears for the memories passed and the experiences yet to be will happen, but we all get through it eventually, though some of us do it kicking and screaming more than others!
Hugs to you, and all who are sending off their children for the first time. And one more time I suggest, buy stock in Kleenex.
OP, I feel your pain, but just remember, you've done a great job raising him... especially if he still seeks you out to hug you at night!
We need a support group 
At least my second, DD will be with us for a few more years and has tons of activities to which I can drive her and watch her perform/compete - distraction is good! 
