Dear High School Graduate

Dear High School Graduate,

You are having an exciting time. High School is finally over. You're "an adult" now (if you turned 18). You have a bunch of independence. You're planning the next part of your life and it's generally your choice - not just the law saying "you must go to school K-12..."

I'm sure there might be some fear there, too. What do you do next? What if you're not making the right decision? What if everyone hates your choice?

As a mom, I have fear, too. What do I do next? How do I stand by and watch you make your own decisions about what you're going to do next? What if I think you're making the wrong decision? Do I say something and risk hurting you? Do I keep quiet because everyone tells me that you'll learn? That you have to make mistakes.

Your life is changing, and mine is, too. You're off to college, and you're not going to be around me every day. You are going off to a new life and I will be at home trying to figure out how to start this new part of life. I'm excited for you and scared for you. (And I'm scared for me, too.)

I'm going to cling to you these next couple of months until you pack up and head to school. I''ll probably be a little overbearing. I'll want you to go to lunch with me, or to the mall, or just sit with me on the couch and watch TV. But you'll want to hang out with your friends. And I'll understand. I'll hate it, but I'll understand. Because I felt the same way you do now. And I wasn't thinking about how my parents felt at all.

When you leave for college I'll cry a lot, even though I'm happy for you. While you're off having fun with your new friends, learning amazing things in class, I'll stop by your bedroom and sit there and cry for a bit. Because I love you so much and miss you. But I won't tell you that I'm doing that. That's not cool. I don't want you to feel bad. This is my thing that I have to learn to deal with and grow from.

I'm going to text you. Just to say hi, or send a funny meme. Just so I can reach out and feel a connection. I'll hope you'll send something back on occasion, because it will make my heart sing with joy to know that you were thinking about me. (And some phone calls and maybe even a card would be cool, too!)

Have fun in whatever future you are building for yourself. Please remember I'm struggling with you being on your own and being an adult, so if I call too often or want to visit a lot, don't be upset. I have been with you your whole life, and it will take me some time to get used to you not being in the house, not being close. Because I love you.

Mom