As I tell my patients about my ever-aging family, I inform them that this fall, both of my girls will be in college.
Except fall isn’t entirely true. They move in August. And today, on my younger daughter’s 18th birthday, I realized that my husband and I are less than one month away from being empty nesters.
How did we get here?
They were just babies yesterday! I still remember questioning if they would ever make it to kindergarten as we went through the rituals of potty training. I tried to reassure myself that they would not still be in diapers when that happened. But there were days I had my doubts…
I took my younger daughter to orientation at Longwood yesterday. A wonderful little day trip to Farmville, and a ritual that was missing from my older daughter’s college experience because of the pandemic.
My older daughter is now a senior there.
And while the almost college students were doing their thing at orientation, they wrangled the parents into an auditorium for our own presentations. They were more focused on parents who are new to this whole college transition. This is not my first rodeo, however.
It struck me, though, that they kept referring to the new Freshmen as children. How odd. Because they aren’t children anymore. Technically, they are adults. Young adults.
That stage in life where they are exploring a newfound independence. They still need their parents. Or do they? Is it just a thing we tell ourselves to feel better that the very fruit of our labors are leaving our homes?
I will definitely miss my adventure buddy. That’s what my younger daughter and I did a lot of during the pandemic. Taking day trips to the mountains was a way to escape the monotony of the walls of our home.
My older daughter is my thrift store shopping buddy. I’m afraid that I’ve instilled in her the love of the hunt for bargains and treasures, and she is hopelessly addicted to searching for vintage clothes. I love that she has her own unique style that no one else can replicate. It’s the epitome of cool.
I’m thrilled that they will get to experience a year of college together. I know my younger daughter would have been fine on her own at another school, but I also know how comforting it is to have someone you trust to show you the ropes.
And so now what? What do I do with my time once they are gone?
The house will definitely be cleaner. The fridge will be more empty. The animals will sulk without their companions.
I suppose my job as a parent never truly ends, but this is definitely going to be weird.
And I will move one step closer to becoming the other side of the sandwich. I’m not ready.
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Are you working through the transition to empty nester, too? I’d love to hear about it!
As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.
Anne the Vegan 