Sometimes It is Harder Than Others...Saying Goodbye to Our College Kids

[BethR]

Ann left for to go back to school this afternoon. It was hard saying goodbye this time because she is not excited about going back herself. She is worried about the coming semester and the extra-curricular activities that she has committed to.
She is chair of the Respect Life committee for the Catholic Campus Ministry and is president of a service fraternity - A Phi O.
And she is not excited about going back to one of her roommates who never called over break to inquire about Ann's surgery.
And, of course, leaving her boyfriend is never easy.
Yesterday she said "I wish that I could come home more often." She is about 200 miles away.
This semester she will probably be home once a month and we will visit her once in February. So I am sure that she should be fine. But it is hard to see our children unhappy - even for a brief time...

 

[pumba]

I think I was so upset the second half of the year .....having our children home for the xmas holidays and then pack them back up and away they go......is this Alpha Phi Omega.....the service frat....one that our x president was in......good frat ......hugs and I can't say it gets easier.....cause I would be fibbing....this sort of prepares us as parents to have our children grow up and move away from home permanantly......although my daughter and son still have as much stuff here as they did when they were in college......and both are married with kids or expecting babies......so cheer up.....they do love to come home and visit......

 

[mamajoan]

Beth.. good moms worry and miss their kids.. so you are a good mom! I hope your dd semester at college goes well.

I am an Alpha Phi Omega Alumni!!! APO gave me the greatest college memories!!! I am sure she will have many too!

 

[luvwinnie]

she is probably going close by (within 2 hours) but it will still be tough for us all...

 

[Beast]

I take it your daughter is going to Bucknell. Our daughter will be going (at least that's the plan, she's been accepted) to Indiana Wesleyan University in September. I know my wife is going to have a hard time of it.

On top of that, I suspect she'll be living in Central or South America once she graduates. She's was on two mission trips to Guatemala in 2002 and wants to spend two months there this summer BEFORE heading off to college.

So, we can deffinitly sympathise. (Hope I spelled that right)

Hang in there. Summer will be here before you know it.

 

[wdw4us]

ok, check out this thread and my reply, must be going around!

denise
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=314106

 

[Lynn CC]

Sorry to hear that Beth. It is hard to be happy when our kids arn't. It's like a heavy weight on our shoulders. Hopefully it won't be as bad as she is predicting. Is your DD a Freshman?

{HUGS}

 

[December99]

Sorry you are sad about your kids going off to school again....please remind them that if they get lonely and depressed, that it's okay for them to go find someone to talk to - even if it's the college counseling center. Sometimes just going once is a good thing - and some centers even offer a group that can help them get through this period in their life....it's hard and I give all parents alot of credit. DD, although she is only 13, has been talking for many years about going to the university that we work at and is only 5 minutes from home but now she's talking about wanting to become a vet and going to another university that is 3 hours away. I know I'll miss her but I know she's also easy to visit if we feel the need.

 

[nativetxn]

It's hard when our children are sad and hurting I hope this semester isn't as difficult as she anticipates.

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie.

Katholyn

 

[Dan Murphy]

Passing on a big {hug}, Beth. And my very best wishes for a good semester (I am sure it will be) for Ann.

 

[CRB#33]

Aww{{HUGS}} to you both.

I really do dread the day...

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I'm going to college in August as a freshman and I am going to be attending DePauw University in Indiana....about 18 hours from home! I am near my grandparents but I don't know how my parents are gonna handle it..

 

[minniecarousel]

I took my older DS back to school today. (He had a doctor's appt and didn't bring his car home on the break) Both boys attend the same college about 3 hours North of us. But - they are both coming home on Saturday for their Grandma's 86th Birthday party! (classes don't start for another 2 weeks for them.)
It's sooo difficult when they don't want to go back! Older DS graduates in May, & he'll come home to live until he finds a job (which might be out-of-state). Hang in there, Beth! (ugh! - roommates! my boys live together because at least they know what to expect from brother!!)

 

[Pooh93]

I really do dread the day...

Me too and I'm a very long ways away from that day! {{{{HUGS}}}

 

[Serena]

I don't know what to do besides to give you a {{{hugs}}}.

 

[EdiePA]

He left to visit his girlfriend and her parents in Michigan. They went back to Asbury College in Kentucky on the 8th of January. Then, last night he called to say that he had just helped his third roommate in four semesters move out. The first two had grade problems, this one had money problems. DS sounded so sad and I just wanted to reach out and hug him -- only he's nine hours away. He did e-mail today that his schedule and first day of classes went well. Hopefully, his life is headed back on an upswing!

Luckily, DS#2 is going to Penn State in the fall -- only two and 1/2 hours from home. Then, though, my nest will be empty. Just me rattling around in this big old house!

(((((Hugs))))))
We'll keep each other going!

Edie

 

[snuggles]

I agree Beth. I told my dh yesterday that after 3 years of this I should be used to it by now. It is getting easier as the years go by though. Hugs...hope its a fast semester for you guys.

 

[BethR]

As usual, you are all so wonderfully supportive.

This is Ann's sophomore year, so it is not exactly 'new' to her - or to us - our oldest is in her fourth year - but lives here in the city.
Ann has had the same boyfriend here at home the whole time. But I do believe that it only gets more difficult each time that she leaves.
The roommate situation is not THAT bad. There are 3 of them. Ann is close to Erin, and likes Jess - but is not exceptionally close to her. And Jess tends to annoy Ann more - but that is the way that it tends to be with three girls. Ann just could not understand why Jess called Erin to go out over break (all three of them are from the Pittsburgh area), but did not even call her to see how her surgery went.
I am sure that the semester will go well for her. And I am sure that she will have more happy times than sad. But sometimes it is just hard...

 

[bsnyder]

Hugs from me, as well, Beth!

I saw Matt off on Sunday and it was hard. He's been homesick too, and came home more often than I would have liked, his first semester. It's hard to see our kids unhappy.