Comments on: Can this be?

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:59:57 +0000

Thanks, dear readers. Early reports from Ian are positive…and let’s not forget, we had an extra grace period with him thanks to the Gap Year. For which I am so grateful.

By: Jeane

Jeane — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:16:24 +0000

I consoled my friend Ann who was very emotional about her son leaving for college. So philosophical was I. 9 months in the womb, 18 years in the womb of home. This is life as it was meant to be. When my daughter left two years later, I cried the whole morning. Not because I didn’t want her to go– she needs to be fully gone at 25 so separation must begin sometime– but because it felt so final.

That was two years ago. Every time we’ve seen Hana since, she is a slightly better version of herself. Seeing her happy and doing well is the point of this exercise. I wish Ian the same.

By: Sarah Buttenwieser

Sarah Buttenwieser — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:35:28 +0000

I have four kids from nearly fifteen down to toddler, & this resonated with me, your lovely post. We work so hard to learn to hold them & to let them go…

Recently, my seven year-old went to overnight camp & I wrote about how I was surprised by something that in retrospect seems very obvious, about missing people: http://www.valleyadvocate.com/blogs/home.cfm?aid=12184

By: Elizabeth@Life in Pencil

Elizabeth@Life in Pencil — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:50:59 +0000

PS: I seem to be surrounded by children leaving home as I’m preparing to welcome mine into the world. Yesterday I saw “The Kids Are Alright,” of which leaving home is a major theme, and I just read this piece on Slow Love Life which I think will resonate with you: http://www.slowlovelife.com/2010/08/goodbye-children.html

By: Elizabeth@Life in Pencil

Elizabeth@Life in Pencil — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:46:43 +0000

Beautiful. Best of luck to Ian as he starts this exciting journey into adulthood. And hugs to mama for letting him go on the journey.

By: MomKat

MomKat — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:46:22 +0000

These passages are awful sometimes. Just get used to the packing of the car thing, as you will pack them up, then pack up again at the end of the year, then again at the beginning of the next. Then because you weren’t thinking clearly 16 years before, you will have a second child needing packing up for school while the first child still needs packing up and toting, usually on the same day. Don’t even think about the first apartment after college. It will make you dizzy, though by that time, grateful.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:00:05 +0000

What a great post Jennifer. As my boys pass milestones I wish they had not yet reached, I keep telling myself, the alternative is them NOT going and that is much worse than our heartache of seeing them grow. Good luck Ian!!!!

By: lindacopy

lindacopy — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:08:19 +0000

Jennifer, that is so touching. Except the cougar — that’s downright scary![Sounds like a babysitter we hired once for our boys. The things we do when desperate....] Much good luck to Ian — he’s going to love it.