College Life, the Importance of a Snack Box, and How I Couldn’t Possibly Be More Proud

My mind has been disheveled over the past couple of months, anticipating and learning to adjust for my daughter’s big move. She left for college a little over two weeks ago, nearly 700 miles away. I have been worried sick, physically and mentally. She has been busy acclimating and doing her own thing. I’ve called her every couple of days, but she doesn’t always answer. I know she is busy—college life is a whole new world! Today she sent a text asking me to call her when I finished at work. I called as I walked out the door, and she was sobbing. She spilled everything she has been dealing with over the past two weeks, and I was absolutely overcome with peace knowing she felt comfortable enough to share with me. We talked and laughed and cried and talked about life and how nothing ever stops and she kept saying, “I need to think of what else to talk about!” She shared roommate drama and intimidating professors and her very own snack box beside her bed, reminiscent of Jessica Day’s bedside peanut drawer. She told me about all the different events and new friends she has made. The five minute walk to classes on some days and the seven minute walk on others. How she has been getting up with her alarm clock with no trouble and has been keeping her room clean. How she ran out of money to do laundry and all she wanted was Panera Bread for supper. How everything is so expensive and her over the ear headphones have died. How she brought all her vinyls but forgot the record player at home. How she needs a comforter instead of the quilt she has. I told her about the one I found at a store down the road from the house with yellow flowers. Sent her a photo, and she loves it. I told her it was hers, and I’ll either try to ship it to her or she will get it when she comes home for Christmas. She was beautiful and chaotic and emotional and absolutely perfect. It was the best hour of my life. I can see how much she has matured, already, in such short time. How life is throwing itself at her and she is standing tall. I couldn’t possibly be more proud of her. 

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