Sunday, August 19, 2012

Empty Nest

Well, it's done. Yesterday The Boy moved into his dorm. We loaded up the car in the morning and drove it to his new home base. We got him all settled in after a quick trip to Target to buy the last of the things he needed. It seems like there is always something: auxiliary cable, power strips, toilet paper, dorm room snacks, and so on. After all that we spent a little mother-and-son time together, lunch and a movie. If you're a Batman fan, I do recommend Dark Knight Rises. Then I dropped him off at his dorm room for his first night in his new digs.

Then this morning, I took him out to breakfast at the local IHOP and headed home. That was it. Kind of anti-climactic for such a big, new stage in life. You'd think it should come with a big ceremony, or major fanfare, but it is so utilitarian and functional.

I know it is big and life-altering for The Boy. He's nervous and worried and excited about that. But it is big and life-altering for me too. I've always been "a single mom". All of my big life decisions were based around what was best for my son: stability, and new life experiences, and security, and broad horizons. Now, I wonder who I am now. I know "once a mom, always a mom". He's always my one-and-only baby. I'm always going to be there for him, and always going to do my best for him. But can I still define my life around him? And if not, who am I now?

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