“Mom, when are we going to go and get my stuff?”
That was the question in the last dream I had before I woke up. And there I was lying in bed thinking of what a busy day I had today and how guilty I felt that I did not have time to go with him to ‘get his stuff’.
Until I realized that there was no stuff to get (we had surely ‘gotten’ more ‘stuff’ over the past 4 days than humanly possibly). AND there was no Danny.
Yes, kiddies, after a year of ‘lasts’ and goodbyes ad nauseum as each of his friends left for college, my boy finally left too. Taking pride in being a family that is not prone to drama we were about on our last nerve until the moving day finally came. It feels like he has been going for so long I wonder why I felt so shocked this morning that he was actually gone.
So here is the thing; it comes in waves. When you think you have totally got your shit together and you know your kid is ready – and frankly so are you(ish) – it grabs you around the chest and chokes you so can barely breathe. You know it is time for him to move on to start his LIFE (note the caps) and time for you to discover the next phase of yours. Of course you know all this!
And then there is that moment. Like the one in the Starbucks on State Street while I was ordering Shaken Iced Tea Lemonades and they had the nerve to play Cat Stevens Father and Son:
It’s not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You’re still young, that’s your fault,
There’s so much you have to go through…
And there was my boy, sitting in the dim light at the back of the Starbucks with the sunlight streaming in through the window shining an eery glow around his silhouette. There he was with his scruffy beard and his Allman Bros. t-shirt and I realized that I had no choice but to let him go… for real.
And yes, I did start to cry right then and there in the Starbucks on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin. And no he was not all that happy with me but he did get it. Because he knew that by the end of the weekend when we left him and his sister, we would be leaving half our family halfway across the country. And there is simply nothing easy about that.
… Now there’s a way and I know that I have to go away.
i could cry but i don't have time 
Oh Amy…. big big hug… tears along with you.
xo
Thank God it’s Tuesday, because I’m really crying!
don’t play the cat stevens card…..i ALWAYS cry when i hear cat stevens……!
Even though you’re house is empty of teenagers, you have two kids right across the street that would love to come over anytime. They can also stay over anytime too!
haha. you know I love those two. they are my practice grandkids!
You can practice every Friday and Saturday night if you want. but you know only if Mel is there.
whaaaaaaa…… i have a whole nother year.
but let me tell you, this made make my kid an awesome breakfast today.
enjoy every day (even the cranky, bitchy, pms-y ones – oh and hers too ; )
what was for breakfast?
Music can undermine the strongest defences. On the other hand, a good cry now and then is healthy, I think; I usually am exhausted and sleep like a lbaby after a good cry. So I suggest you pick a batch of your favorite, slightly mournful, songs, and go to it.
In a few days you will begin to see distinct advantages sans kinder.
Jenny
Don’t get too comfortable… He’ll be back… 🙂