In helping your daughter as you did during her college education, you became a part of the community there. As you wrote, it is your daughter’s story to tell herself, but it is clear how deep your love and commitment are for her. Goodbyes for me are difficult. I am not one to cry easily, but when I am saying goodbye to people I love, that’s a different story. It was so difficult for me to say goodbye to both of my children the day my husband and I took them to college. They were both reassuring me that everything was going to be okay. I think I horrified myself. 😉 After my own college graduation, there were so many close friends I was literally sobbing with while saying goodbye, that my mother began to have us pose for more photos to lighten the mood. One of my best friends from college dropped me off at the airport after I had been visiting her and her husband and there we were, all of these years later, crying as we were hugging one another. Just a few examples here, but you get the idea of how goodbyes are for me. Yes, you became a part of your daughter’s college community and it will be hard for you to say goodbye. I always tell my own children, how lucky we are in life, to cry or have difficulty when saying goodbye to others as it means we have loved and been loved. I wish you peace on your daughter’s graduation day! 🎓❤️
I really loved reading how you process "goodbyes" and the stories of your own children and you in college too! Your kindness to me (and to my daughter) are received with open minds and hearts. Yes, we have loved and been loved and the tears will flow!!
This story has touched my heart—I have been lucky enough to have you and Sylvie in my and Meggie’s lives for many years. I know your stories, your joys, your sorrows. And that you have been touched by the pure and sweet joys of beautiful people does my heart good. As for me, and you have witnessed this time and again, I’m the one standing outside (or at the front door) waving my family and good friends “good bye” as they leave. My grandmother would always tell the story of how, when I was no more than age 2, I didn’t want my mom, dad, brother, and sister to leave me to watch a parade in town, so I hurriedly put my coat on backwards to go with them. I cried and cried having been left behind. I’m not at all good with good byes! Instead, I opted for the “See you soon” or some such non committal saying to give me the sense that I’ll see them again.
Dear, Dear Friend of the Heart, this is so lovely, and so sad and so, so devastatingly beautiful. I see you, as a little one, hurrying, little red coat on backwards (was it the red coat?) to catch up so as not to be left behind. Thank you also, for the reason, "See ya, or 'See you soon' rings so true for me. Thank you for your story here and for the hope that I will see you very soon.
Not goodbyes…. But. I know you would not have been there if you didn’t need to. But what a great time to spend around a bunch of young people that age. They still have their enthusiasm for life (not jaded like me), high spirits and are fun and funny. I know you will miss the community you have made. It’s tough. I’m glad you found good people to be around
You know, so many are surprisingly jaded! I was shocked at the hopelessness. Agreed on the "funny" part. Sometimes, I think it's just that I found it funny. Yes, it was good to be around the young people and also the professors (whom they call "Tutors"), etc...just a different environment thus a different perspective. Thank you...yes, the goodbye will be tough. Thank you, my Dear, Dear Friend.
How wonderful that your daughter has had such support - including, most of all, you. I feel your pain in the difficulty of those years, but also the sadness at leaving them behind. Congratulations to your daughter!
In helping your daughter as you did during her college education, you became a part of the community there. As you wrote, it is your daughter’s story to tell herself, but it is clear how deep your love and commitment are for her. Goodbyes for me are difficult. I am not one to cry easily, but when I am saying goodbye to people I love, that’s a different story. It was so difficult for me to say goodbye to both of my children the day my husband and I took them to college. They were both reassuring me that everything was going to be okay. I think I horrified myself. 😉 After my own college graduation, there were so many close friends I was literally sobbing with while saying goodbye, that my mother began to have us pose for more photos to lighten the mood. One of my best friends from college dropped me off at the airport after I had been visiting her and her husband and there we were, all of these years later, crying as we were hugging one another. Just a few examples here, but you get the idea of how goodbyes are for me. Yes, you became a part of your daughter’s college community and it will be hard for you to say goodbye. I always tell my own children, how lucky we are in life, to cry or have difficulty when saying goodbye to others as it means we have loved and been loved. I wish you peace on your daughter’s graduation day! 🎓❤️
I really loved reading how you process "goodbyes" and the stories of your own children and you in college too! Your kindness to me (and to my daughter) are received with open minds and hearts. Yes, we have loved and been loved and the tears will flow!!
This story has touched my heart—I have been lucky enough to have you and Sylvie in my and Meggie’s lives for many years. I know your stories, your joys, your sorrows. And that you have been touched by the pure and sweet joys of beautiful people does my heart good. As for me, and you have witnessed this time and again, I’m the one standing outside (or at the front door) waving my family and good friends “good bye” as they leave. My grandmother would always tell the story of how, when I was no more than age 2, I didn’t want my mom, dad, brother, and sister to leave me to watch a parade in town, so I hurriedly put my coat on backwards to go with them. I cried and cried having been left behind. I’m not at all good with good byes! Instead, I opted for the “See you soon” or some such non committal saying to give me the sense that I’ll see them again.
Dear, Dear Friend of the Heart, this is so lovely, and so sad and so, so devastatingly beautiful. I see you, as a little one, hurrying, little red coat on backwards (was it the red coat?) to catch up so as not to be left behind. Thank you also, for the reason, "See ya, or 'See you soon' rings so true for me. Thank you for your story here and for the hope that I will see you very soon.
Not goodbyes…. But. I know you would not have been there if you didn’t need to. But what a great time to spend around a bunch of young people that age. They still have their enthusiasm for life (not jaded like me), high spirits and are fun and funny. I know you will miss the community you have made. It’s tough. I’m glad you found good people to be around
You know, so many are surprisingly jaded! I was shocked at the hopelessness. Agreed on the "funny" part. Sometimes, I think it's just that I found it funny. Yes, it was good to be around the young people and also the professors (whom they call "Tutors"), etc...just a different environment thus a different perspective. Thank you...yes, the goodbye will be tough. Thank you, my Dear, Dear Friend.
How wonderful that your daughter has had such support - including, most of all, you. I feel your pain in the difficulty of those years, but also the sadness at leaving them behind. Congratulations to your daughter!
Thank you, Wendy! I will need your "Happy Tales," to keep me balanced. I'm sure there will be days of pendulating emotions for me.