And Then We Drove Away

Well…we dropped Caroline off at college. And I’m not gonna lie…. it’s been a week. I knew I would be emotional. I just didn’t realize how emotional I’d be after we left. The actual drop-off was surprisingly easy. But then you come home, walk past their empty bedroom, smell their pajamas because they still smell like them (yes, I did that), and it hits you: this chapter of childhood is over. This week, John and I are talking about what it’s really been like: the pride, the sadness, the excitement and the very weird realization that our family dynamic has changed. We’re talking about how the transition affects the siblings, how much we should be checking Life360, and how you let your kid go experience this new life without emotionally hijacking it for them. And I’m also sharing some of the advice I’ve gotten from moms who have done this before, because apparently this is one of those things you just have to go through to understand. I’m learning that you can be incredibly happy for your kid and still really miss them. You can be proud and heartbroken. Cheers and tears can exist at the exact same time. So if you’ve dropped a kid at college or you’re about to—come sit with us for a little bit. We’re figuring this out, too. And maybe the only way through it is…through. Let’s Talk About It. Listen in to learn more: [0:00:00] Empty Nest Transition Hits Home [0:00:46] Coping by Wearing Daughter’s Clothes [0:01:53] Preserving Her Room as a Shrine [0:02:24] Turning College Drop-Off into a Smooth Operation [0:02:45] Clemson’s Hyper-Efficient Move-In System [0:03:20] Dining Hall Discoveries and Cafeteria Bliss In this episode, we are diving into the experience of dropping your first child off at college, navigating college move-in day and the emotions that come with it, how moms and dads experience the transition differently, how a child moving out impacts family dynamics and siblings at home, opinions on Life360 and location tracking for college students, young adults living closer to home after college, and advice from parents who have been there.  LINKS Connect with Paula on Instagram  Paula’s Newsletter is on Substack!!  THE CARRY ALL weekly newsletter  is on Substack!!  Paula’s Book: You Don’t Have To Carry It All Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices