Soon To Be Empty Nester!

Over the past couple of months, there has been a buzz of excitement in our household with prom, Senior Week, and graduation. The next couple of months should be equally busy as our daughter prepares for and settles in to college life.

I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like packing her up and beginning the journey. She is already ordering items for her dorm and is excited about getting it organized. How will we ever get all of her "stuff" in her dorm room is beyond me.

I am not sure what the proper protocol is for leaving your child at college or even if there is one. When you only have one child, everything is a first and only. My husband will probably have to drag me kicking and screaming out of her dorm and bring in an auxiliary team to get me to the car. He probably even has a straight jacket and a secret plan to drop me off at a facility on the way home for the first few months. Ahhhh, he is thinking, "quiet at last."

What is the best way to drop them off and say goodbye? Oh, I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I think about it. Granted, YES, I will be fine, but it is a rite of passage we must all go through. I am a project person and I always have to have something to do. Keeping busy will be my medicine of choice to get me through the first few months. Thank goodness for Savings With Sadie -- I will be able to devote more time to this site. I also have an arsenal of girl friends that are just waiting on the sidelines to catch me when I fall.

I truly dread the moment when we walk back into the house for the first time. So, instead of coming right home after the "drop off," we are planning an out of the way detour to visit a brother-in-law in Tennessee. Well, at least I am planning it and my husband at this point will probably do anything to keep me happy. It will be a good diversion for both of us. This should help ease the pain a little bit.

We have another issue in our home and that is "Princess Run Run" -- she is our daughter's shadow. She will not be handling this departure well at all. For spring break, our daughter went to the Andros Islands for field studies. As she was packing up, the dog spent the next three hours throwing up on just about every carpet in the house. She was sick with anxiety about our daughter leaving. Oh yes, I have already been to the vet and it is recommended that we start a "Prozac" type of medication for the princess" about ten days prior to our daughter's departure. Who knew they made a type of Prozac for dogs.

I will survive by keeping busy and making plans and anticipating visits from our daughter. I also think it is time my mother came and spent a few weeks with me -- wonder what she will think about that!

If you have any encouraging words or ideas regarding getting through the first few months, I am ready to hear how you coped. I also have tons of general questions...

• Your child's favorite dorm room item?
  
• Best items that help with organization in small spaces?
• Do you need a fridge/microwave?
• Do you know of any helpful websites?
• Do schools typically provide bed and mattress?
• Can you nail things on the wall? (you know we want to decorate)
• If you can't put nails in the wall, what did you use to hang items?

Special Note: Oh Yes -- We will still be playing the savings game -- I am packing up all kinds of care packages on all the goodies I have gotten great deals on for my daughter to use at college. I am also teaching a few of her girl friends how to save money on their personal items and get them for FREE -- they are eager to learn.

Did I mention my husband and how he will be handling all of this? Oh, he says he will be fine. You know I will be looking to see if he sheds a tear.

Carnival of Family Life