Hello Readers…
It has been a few months since I have written a new post.  Sorry for the lull, and thanks to those who commented on past posts.Things have been enormously busy here on the home front and I am sure that is also the case with you. Among the usual family hub bub that comes with summer fun, we just sent our son off to college.  Big change!  I hope that by sharing our experience, we can in some way inspire those embarking on this journey now or in the near future.  Parents who have already gone through this may enjoy recalling bitter sweet memories that came with their own son or daughter college send off.

We all knew that the day was drawing near when our son would begin the next chapter of his life – yes, without the rest of us.  We chose not to think about those final moments on the schedule to give families time to say good-bye. Instead, we kept busy and focused on picking up the last-minute items we thought he “might” need for his dorm room. The truth was he had everything he needed – we just wanted to keep busy. When down time kicked in, we would start talking about how the dinner table was going to feel different, how his sister was going to miss watching television on Saturday mornings snuggled on the sofa, how we might not cook pork and beans because he was the only one who liked it…and the list goes on.  The days passed and yes, it came – the pack up the car moment…the time when it all became really real…the page was turning, one story was ending and a new one – was beginning.

“Okay, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, family members, it is now time to give your son or daughter the biggest hug…wish them well” said Madam College President…huh? this is my son…my world…my life…didn’t I just buy him the Buzz and Andy figures yesterday…didn’t we just make Harry Potter wands out of twigs??

It was time – time for the send off words…I looked up at him and said, “Michael …go for your dreams…your happiness is all I care about…work hard, change lives…make friends …and remember your family …and without thinking…we all formed a family huddle…arms draped around each other in love…forming the one thing that time itself couldn’t change – the bond of our love as a family.

When I came up out of our circle – I was inspired beyond words by what I saw…countless families were connected in the same huddle…all in a wonderful embrace of love.  Tears…watery eyes everywhere..it was an incredible moment and one I will never forget.

Yes, Princess Diana is so right…FAMILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD…and that inspired truth is forever changeless.