Today marks 8 days, 11 hours, and 54 minutes until my oldest will be dropped off in her dorm room. But hey, who’s counting? She’s still here in her room, so I can just walk right upstairs and find her there. More than likely, she’s sitting at her desk, in front of her beveled mirror with the bright lights, doing her make-up, or curled up on her bed with our finicky cat by her side.
Now, in all sincerity, it hasn’t been an easy road. The last couple of years have been, how do I say – wild, but she’s here. Home. I can hear her voice echoing down the hall, despite her bold claims to extend her curfew time or come alongside her with high-pitched squeals when another package arrives for her dorm room. Her presence is in this place, just as it has been for the last eighteen years. At this very moment, I can hug her, talk to her, give her that side smile that tells her I may not always understand, but I love her no matter what.
Yet here we are! The countdown has begun, and pretty soon she’ll be spreading her wings and flying off to start the next chapter in her life. A chapter that comes with a “new home” and the freedom to live without crazy boundaries and strict rules that have been enforced on her by us, her loving, but doing the best we can, parents.
What now? What’s next? Maybe you find yourself in this season too? Trying to gently hold on, while being forced to joyfully (sniff, sniff) let go. How are we to prepare for all of this?
Well, as much as I wish I had the answers, what I do know is that this “right of passage” is not for the faint of heart and comes with a massive surge of big emotions. So, let’s all collectively take a deep breath and realize it’s okay to wallow a bit in the sadness of it all. It’s real. It’s sad. And it’s a lot, my friend. However, while flashbacks may come with vengeance, let’s also try to take every thought captive and place our conflicted hearts at His feet (Psalm 55:22). Then let’s lean into a few truths that will allow us to send our babies (I mean, teenagers) off into this world with confidence!
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/XiXinXing
