Transition Time Again

As the summer comes to a close, our home is preparing again for another transition. Like many of you out there, we have college students. The end of August is filled with planning, packing and preparing emotionally and financially for the return to school. I never lived away at college, so I can’t say that I had that “experience”. I imagine it to be all the freedom of adulthood without much of the financial responsibility or house rules. That is, at least until the loans come in and the student moves home. I grew up in a small town just west of Philadelphia. It can be likened to an island unto itself. The grocery store, the doctor’s office, the library and pool, the church and school were all within walking distance. The borough had 3 different ways to get to the city. Seeking a nursing education in Philadelphia, I didn’t need to move away from home. I couldn’t afford it anyway, so it was a moot point. My college experience was stressful from beginning to end. Some nursing instructors like to “eat their young” which is very unfortunate considering it is such a nurturing profession. Anyway, I didn’t get to develop my social skills or discover myself. I have to admit, I am a little envious of my daughters. They are having very different experiences, one in a San Francisco and the other in Bloomsburg, PA. Yet they are enriching their lives and getting to know themselves in ways I never had the opportunity to do. I love to live vicariously through them. I look forward to hearing about their experiences. I usually prefer the non-scholastic highlights; they are much more exciting for me. This year my youngest and I will be taking my daughter “C” to San Francisco to help her to get settled and have some touristy fun. Oh and we will also be visiting my sister who lives in the city. I haven’t had to accompany my oldest to Bloomsburg for the last few years since she has a car and is a very independent woman. I have to admit that I miss the solitary time with her. There is something so special about having uninterrupted time with one child. A parent can really relate to the child in a way that isn’t possible with the pull of other siblings around. The focus can be on solely that child and an appreciation of their uniqueness can be experienced. Adulthood is great for an individual but it can be difficult for parents to accept that their children are adults. The void of that distant childhood is an ache that is felt in the center of a parent’s heart. But life goes on, transitions ebb and flow and all we can do is cope. Here’s to coping….