It's Good To Be Needed!

In September 2009 our oldest son Austin moved out of our house and into his college apartment.

Now, I know what you're thinking, "you look too young to have a child old enough to be in College"... hahaha

When Jim and I began our family we planned it so we would still be relatively young when the empty nest happened. So I was not surprised except that it was a year earlier than planned.
Austin was scheduled to graduate High School in 2010. This meant I had another year to prepare my mind and emotions for the big 'move out' day.

However, when we relocated to a new city in Dec '08 the kids started new schools after the holiday break. In Austins' new school he would graduate in '09 rather than '10.

Aaaahhhhh!!! Oh NO, this was not the plan!! I am not ready!!

So it happened.. he graduated in May '09 and moved to College in September.
This is uncharted territory! Why didn't anyone tell me how this would feel? Are there books about your child going to college? I didn't find any. Suddenly I feel, left.

He moved out and must be having an amazing time because I don't hear from him. When he lived here, he was mine. I could call him and he would call back, I could text him and he would text back but now I'm beginning to think that was just to keep getting allowance or avoid any sort of lecture. He's on his own now and he has forgotten.

Well, here it is, 4 months later. He's been home nearly every week to wash his laundry and eat a meal that was not served out a window. When we talk about things he tells me the whole story in some detail and not the usual teenager conversations where I have to guess most of what happened. He's affectionate, even in public, and when we talk on the phone he always tells me "I love you mom."

But Today, today was the best! He needs me to buy him long johns. Yep, long johns! Maybe because he doesn't know where those are sold, or maybe he's embarrassed to buy them, or maybe he wants me to spend my money so he can keep his.... whatever the reason is... He called and asked me to pick up long johns for him...And of course I'm gonna do it! Why? Because they are always your babies and it's good to be needed :)