My Bird Has Left the Nest
Last week I flew over 2,000 miles to drop my teen off at college, then hopped on my return flight alone. It was almost unbearable. Now, I consider myself a pretty tough cookie. I am not someone who lives in fantasy land. I like realism and appreciate brutal honesty. In fact, my nickname amongst my girlfriends is Asshole because I tell people like it is. I know that my daughter will be back home for summer and holidays. I know that this would not be our last good memory together. Yet even still, I lost my cool during this drop off process. Several times during the trip, my teen had tears fall. Each time, I felt nothing but parental wisdom flow through me to comfort her. She was going to be fine. Enjoy water polo and have fun with her teammates. She'd be home in just over a few months. THIS WAS NO BIG DEAL. So, when the time came to give her the final hug before I headed out of her dorm, she cried and I didn't. I just hugged her the tightest I have ever hugged anyone in my entir...