It has been awhile since my last post. That is because I have been out of state collecting my daughter from college. The whole process of moving your child either in or out of a dorm is sure-fire way to realize the ways she has become an adult…and the ways she has not. I have been reminding my daughter for over a month that she needed to get all of her things packed. Last year, it was a mad dash at the last second. She had waited until finals week to start and was scrambling around trying to finish projects, study for tests, and pack a year’s worth of items in a single week. Not the best plan. This year, I kept telling her that we didn’t want a repeat of last year. She assured me that we wouldn’t. “I’ve got it, Mom.” Famous last words. When I arrived to her dorm this year, she had even less packed than she had last year. On top of that, she owned a lot more to pack than she had last year. So, once again, there was the scramble to get everything done in the allotted time frame. Ultimately, everything was packed, the U-haul cargo van was loaded, and the storage unit was once again filled to the brim. The process was exhausting. However, I had the opportunity to meet her friends and see my daughter in what has become her natural habitat. I listened as she discussed her school and her adventures. I listened as she talked about the ups and downs of living in Michigan. I went with her to see her first apartment – she picked it out and signed the lease. I am amazed and proud that this young woman is my daughter. She is intelligent, capable, and vivacious. Yet, her insecurities and vulnerabilities; her frantic “I need your help” texts; and occasional teary-eyed phone calls also remind me that she is still growing and maturing. I haven’t completely lost my little girl; I have started to gain a cherished friend.
Words from the Long Run 