Exactly. Sums up what I am going through right now. My daughter’s senior year. To her it’s magical and fun, creating those memories she’ll look back on in 20 years and gasp at the dress she chose to wear to prom and how could she ever do her hair like that!
We drove to her college for orientation, have to come back in June with her to get dorm assignment and course schedule, etc. She’ll turn 18 ten days before her first day of college. We will drive her to her college, get her settled in and then drive 20 hours back home. I am confident that my husband knows I’ll cry quite a bit on the drive home.
I too wanted to raise a confident, socially responsible child. I have succeeded. She is in a program that will allow her to graduate with her doctorate in genetic and cell biology in 7 years. I would share all the wonderful things about her, but I’ll save that for another day. She can’t wait to leave and begin this new chapter of her life. I too want her to leave knowing that I did do my job, she is prepared to face the challenges that will come. I still can’t finish her scrapbook, as every completed page represents one more step towards independence. Sometimes I tear up when I stand at the door to her bedroom(while she is at school) and my eyes swell with tears. In a few short months, her room will be clean. The carpet visible. No longer covered with a sea of dirty and clean clothes strewn around.
Letting go is the hardest thing I have had to do as a mom. I have not once stood in the way, she has taken each step towards adulthood with me in the background cheering her on. If she were to look back, she’d see the tiny little tears in my eyes.
Sorry the post is so long.

Wow, truly amazing. I sent this to my mom and my mommy friends. You’re an amazing writer and I love this post and it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for this!