Sending My "Baby" to College Tomorrow

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Well, we have packed up the Budget truck, sweated till we're all completely gross, and now we will wait until morning and pull out bright and early for Murfreesboro, TN. I have very bittersweet feelings about all of this.

It will be nice to have a clean upstairs, and I can actually paint his room and get a new bedspread for the bed he left in there. There will not be anymore fixing muffins at midnight for a hungry boy, buying 3-4 boxes of cereal each shopping trip, listening to strange guitar music at all hours. Everyone left in my house, which is just me and Eddie, will actually be in bed before 11 PM most nights!!

On the other hand, I will miss having him come bounding downstairs asking for waffles or Velveeta & Shells, needing his laundry done at the last minute, his quirky and strange sense of humor and even his guitars (sometimes).

When we were packing up his room, we found all of his childhood things from all the different phases of his life. First there were Beanie Babies, then came the yo-yos, then the skateboards & tech-decks, and then all the music stuff. He has a bass, a keyboard, and about six guitars. Then there are the amps, the "cab" (whatever in the world that is), the "head", all the guitar stands, even a tambourine. As we waded through all his old stuff, we couldn't bear to part with any of it, so it's all packed up neatly in a closet waiting for him to someday take it all away, but not right now.

I just want to know that we have put everything in him that he will need for a future with God. So far, he's been a great kid, very non-conformist and untraditional, but a good kid. He's never given us any trouble at all. I just want to know that he'll find a good church and be faithful to God throughout college. How do you ever know? I just have to believe that we dedicated him to Jesus when he was a few weeks old - actually my brother Scott did it - and now I have to trust Jesus to hold him tightly.

Just the musings of a lonely Mom!

This morning I said goodbye to my baby son as he pulled out moving to Austin, TX to go to college. He should be arriving there around midnight tonight.

[Sister Alvear]

OH my Sherri, you made me cry...I just decided to call my oldest he is in the states doing deputation and that post made me miss him and his family and that grandbaby...Just wait till the grandbabies come and you have to kiss them bye...
Praying for you friend and I know you all have guided him to love God and he will do well in life. Blessings...

[rgcraig]

You will be fine - you really wouldn't want it any other way.

[Coffee99]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Well, we have packed up the Budget truck, sweated till we're all completely gross, and now we will wait until morning and pull out bright and early for Murfreesboro, TN. I have very bittersweet feelings about all of this.

It will be nice to have a clean upstairs, and I can actually paint his room and get a new bedspread for the bed he left in there. There will not be anymore fixing muffins at midnight for a hungry boy, buying 3-4 boxes of cereal each shopping trip, listening to strange guitar music at all hours. Everyone left in my house, which is just me and Eddie, will actually be in bed before 11 PM most nights!!

On the other hand, I will miss having him come bounding downstairs asking for waffles or Velveeta & Shells, needing his laundry done at the last minute, his quirky and strange sense of humor and even his guitars (sometimes).

When we were packing up his room, we found all of his childhood things from all the different phases of his life. First there were Beanie Babies, then came the yo-yos, then the skateboards & tech-decks, and then all the music stuff. He has a bass, a keyboard, and about six guitars. Then there are the amps, the "cab" (whatever in the world that is), the "head", all the guitar stands, even a tambourine. As we waded through all his old stuff, we couldn't bear to part with any of it, so it's all packed up neatly in a closet waiting for him to someday take it all away, but not right now.

I just want to know that we have put everything in him that he will need for a future with God. So far, he's been a great kid, very non-conformist and untraditional, but a good kid. He's never given us any trouble at all. I just want to know that he'll find a good church and be faithful to God throughout college. How do you ever know? I just have to believe that we dedicated him to Jesus when he was a few weeks old - actually my brother Scott did it - and now I have to trust Jesus to hold him tightly.

Just the musings of a lonely Mom!

Sherri,
I went through this for the first time two years ago. I had the cleanest house you could imagine, because when I would be still, I would be sad. We bought a dog to help us transition!

Today, my middle child started college. It was sad, but much easier.
Ask me next year when the baby starts.

But there is a good side. We have become much closer as a family. I watch the kids growing into healthy adults and I'm proud of them. And, it has been great for my husband and I. We are like young sweethearts again.

I just keep thinking this all (hopefully) gets me one step closer to grandchildren, which excites me.

[sis. jill]

:sshhh

I sent my baby to college today! The webby is on his way to becoming a history teacher, along with preaching the gospel. He is in orientation right now. Fun, Fun, Fun. I will start back with him on Monday of next week. Keep us in prayer!!!!

[HADDOCK]

I sent my baby girl off at 21 to Nashville from a little rural west TN town two years ago. New apartment, new school, new job, new church... and she did great. Like you, Sherri I felt I had put everything in her - with the help of her grandparents and a loving church family - to help her survive. It has been beautiful watching her grow, trusting God and spreading her wings and flying. She graduated two weeks ago with her Bachelors, maga cum laude, and starts grad school next week. The past two years MANY times we walked by faith, simply putting situations in God's hands and trusting for everything from finances to broken cars and broken hearts. And He's always come through -- lot of songwriting material for me!

Both of my daughters are out on their own, leaving me home alone with three cocker spaniels. But, when they do come home...it's the same! I love it!

[Trouvere]

I feel for you Sister Sherri.I remember the day my son went into the Navy.
I dropped him off at the station and hugged him and cried.He is a man though and I am so proud of him.That was eight years ago.The next one to graduate will be this year.She is seventeen and wants to go off to bible college and is so excited that the interns get to help with kids camps in the summer time.
I was thinking....wow that will mean gone all summer also.We just have to let
them grow.That bird has to be pushed out of the nest.It can be a good thing.

[Sherri]

Well, last night we loaded the truck and about 11 pm I was ready to go to bed, exhausted. Zac came downstairs and asked if I would make some sweet tea because he was out of Dr. Pepper's. So I made a gallon of tea, and cried the entire time, just because I knew it would be the last time he did that.

I decided that Mom's just need to be needed. When your last one leaves, you suddenly realize that no one needs you anymore. It was a very hard thing for me today. We are in a hotel and Zac and his friend and cousin are spending the first night in his new apartment. Tomorrow we will take the other two boys back to Jackson with us and leave him alone.

Thanks for all the encouraging words!!

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Well, last night we loaded the truck and about 11 pm I was ready to go to bed, exhausted. Zac came downstairs and asked if I would make some sweet tea because he was out of Dr. Pepper's. So I made a gallon of tea, and cried the entire time, just because I knew it would be the last time he did that.

I decided that Mom's just need to be needed. When your last one leaves, you suddenly realize that no one needs you anymore. It was a very hard thing for me today. We are in a hotel and Zac and his friend and cousin are spending the first night in his new apartment. Tomorrow we will take the other two boys back to Jackson with us and leave him alone.

Thanks for all the encouraging words!!

I can't believe you and Eddie came to my town and didn't even call us!!! We could have eaten dinner tonight. My daughter played the guitar and sang at Acoustic night at a local Mexican restaurant. There is a lot of great talent in Nashville of course so we enjoy these acoustic writers gigs around town.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Well, last night we loaded the truck and about 11 pm I was ready to go to bed, exhausted. Zac came downstairs and asked if I would make some sweet tea because he was out of Dr. Pepper's. So I made a gallon of tea, and cried the entire time, just because I knew it would be the last time he did that.

I decided that Mom's just need to be needed. When your last one leaves, you suddenly realize that no one needs you anymore. It was a very hard thing for me today. We are in a hotel and Zac and his friend and cousin are spending the first night in his new apartment. Tomorrow we will take the other two boys back to Jackson with us and leave him alone.

Thanks for all the encouraging words!!

Oh, that won't be the last time he'll ask you to make a gallon of tea - - only the last time before leaving home.

He'll be home for visit, he'll be home for summers (maybe), he could even live back home - - - I just spent a great year with my son living back home and now he's moved in HIS home he bought and will be married in 46 days.

He called me at 11:00 last night and said "mom, I'm sick". They will always need us!