Yesterday Bossy and her daughter drove Bossy’s son to his bus stop, where he waits for the discount bus to deliver him into the belly of New York City.
It’s always the same, Bossy feels prepared for the inevitable goodbyes:
But as she watches her son walk away from the car, Bossy is flooded with separation anxiety. The world spins off its axis for a minute as the baby duck leaves the protection of its mother’s wing:
And then the tears come as Bossy drives off in the direction of her day. It never helps when Bossy’s daughter is there to remind Bossy that each song that comes on the radio is beloved by her son, who is no longer in the car to hear it.
It only helps, eventually, as the minutes turn to hours, that he’s happy in his life.
GreatAunt says
November 4, 2009 at 8:50 amAww, Bossy… you got me teary eyed with that one.
jp says
November 4, 2009 at 9:19 amYou’ve done your job as a parent. You are to grow them up and let them loose in the world, not hold them and keep them for only you. He will make a difference in his life and then he will grow his own children up and repeat the process.
(and then when he is 31 and KNOWS everything, he will teach you a thing or 2 cuz you are sooo out of it………….Jeeez!)
WebSavyMom says
November 4, 2009 at 9:35 am–>How sweet and sad all rolled up into one. (sigh)
Amity says
November 4, 2009 at 9:54 amThis brings tears to my eyes. Love Bossy’s family!
monnik says
November 4, 2009 at 9:54 amI will be doing the same thing in a couple of years. I’m so. not. ready.
confused says
November 4, 2009 at 9:58 amAwww, sniff, sigh.
And then in 10 years he’ll move into your basement with his girlfriend and her dog.
corrie says
November 4, 2009 at 10:17 amEven though we KNOW Bossy’s baby boy is all growing up and at a BIG time college, he still looks so sweet and young sitting there with his luggage!
Luckily for Bossy and her DH commenter #6, probably has foreseen the future! 🙂
km says
November 4, 2009 at 10:37 amI see his Phillies hat. I hope he enjoys tonight in NYC:)
Go Yankees !!!
rockle says
November 4, 2009 at 10:38 amif it makes you feel any better, BOSSY, after i graduated from college, i lived with my parents until two months after my wedding. and i didn’t get married until i was almost 25. and by then, my parents wanted me OUT.
L says
November 4, 2009 at 11:02 amMy daughter told me about 2 months ago she was going to move out. She is 24. I have been helping her pack and giving her things for her kitchen I no longer need. The funny thing about the move is that it is 6 minutes away by car. She said that she moved close so that she could come visit the puppies alot.
anne marie in philly says
November 4, 2009 at 11:18 amawwwwwww, cute bossy son and sad bossy…he’ll be OK cause bossy has been a good and thoughtful mom!
Ris says
November 4, 2009 at 12:50 pmOh Bossy…you’re a good mom.
Almudena says
November 4, 2009 at 1:41 pmmy daughter (18 months old today) will not know that the outside world exists. is that bad?
Ms. Cranky Pants says
November 4, 2009 at 1:46 pmSecretly, this is the real reason why I don’t have kids. I could never, ever let them go.
Lisa says
November 4, 2009 at 1:48 pmWwwwwhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reeb says
November 4, 2009 at 2:15 pmWay to go, BD, rubbing it in with all those music comments. Just what the younger child is supposed to do!
reen says
November 4, 2009 at 2:29 pmSnnnnnifffffffff!!!
I’m pretty sure it’s every schoolkid’s dream to graduate and go live in NYC for college…or was that just me? He’s living big dreams and you’ve raised a brilliant, confident, caring and kind young man. Brava, Bossy!
Sallie (FullTime-Life) says
November 4, 2009 at 4:33 pmSo, y’know, you raise the kids to be strong and smart and independent, and then they pay you back by becoming just exactly that! After a while, you’ll be as proud of yourself for doing that as you are of them. But like having them in the first place, the feeling you’re going through right now is one you’ll never forget. (Even when you’re as old as the hills — I know.)
SistaKT says
November 4, 2009 at 4:40 pmbossy’s son is a major stud. just sayin.
Tracy (Oklahoma) says
November 4, 2009 at 4:44 pmI certainly understand these feelings! My baby (our daughter who is 19) is away at OU. It’s a two hour drive from our house. Every time she comes home and then leaves on Sunday evening, I go into my bedroom, throw myself on my bed and bawl like it’s the first time she left. She only makes it home about once a month. I don’t think I will ever get used to it. (I agree with what Sallie #18 said….and I am thankful she is strong, smart and VERY independent. Guess I did my job well, as did you, Dear Bossy!)
JennC says
November 4, 2009 at 7:00 pmI’m wondering how Bossy’s son is surviving as a Phillies fan in a city full of stinkin’ Yankee fans. Keepin’ hope alive, let’s get ’em, Phils!
The Domestic Goddess says
November 4, 2009 at 9:56 pmHe’s brave wearing that hat back to New York.
Texas Susan says
November 4, 2009 at 11:59 pmThis made me especially sad, because I’ll be going through those same emotions next school year. Heck, I’m ALREADY going through those same emotions just thinking about my #1 son going off to college!
claire in AZ says
November 5, 2009 at 12:11 amI’m right there with ya, Bossy! Sometimes I envy those parents who had nasty teenagers who couldn’t wait for them to move out … maybe it would be easier.
Cupcake Murphy says
November 5, 2009 at 2:00 amOnly a good mom would say that.
Lisa says
November 5, 2009 at 2:50 amYour mothering is training me well– for years I am not ready for….thank gawd mines only 12…
tears for you, your greatness of mothering shines through when you talk of those little chicklings of your, georgia girl!
maggie says
November 5, 2009 at 10:46 amThis one made me tear up at my desk just thinking about the day my oldest will leave home and I have 10 years left. So bittersweet.
Audubon Ron says
November 5, 2009 at 12:56 pmUhh, I might not be as completely happy as I could be if I owned an orange suitcase. Now, if I owned a Swiss Army suitcase, that would be completely swell.
Happily Employed Susan says
November 5, 2009 at 8:53 pmI never knew the freedom of waiting for a bus to take me back to sleep away college. I imagine it’s like flinging oneself off a cliff into the waiting world.