Is this Normal??

To be in Mourning when your Child leaves for college.

I don't remember going through this when Brittnee left????

this is REALLY hard....

i guess a lot of it has to do with all the uncertainty that we have had with him over the last few months.

He is a procrastinator and his plans seemed to change weekly and then...

all of a sudden, literally,

he was gone!

I was so busy last weekend with the orientation that I did not get to be very involved in his move,

but he really wanted to do it all on his own and in his own way.

He's trying to be very mature....and I admire that.

so....why does it feel like someone died???

I'm sure its not that bad but....???

The kids all decided they wanted to switch rooms

so they planned to do it this weekend

so they have been bugging me to take the things off Hayden's walls,

so we can start moving things.

All his memories of his high school years cover his walls.

I have resisted....

I did not want to take the stuff down.

I like to go in there and just look around.

It makes me not miss him so much...

These walls represent 4+ years of his life and taking it down means its over....

High School and all the fun and memories,

games and meets,

banquets and camps...

its all over!!!

(Rich calls it the "Hayden Shrine")

But today...

I decided it was better to do it today,

when I was alone then tomorrow when everyone is home.

so I could look each thing over and pack it safely away.

Freshman year...

Football, his first cali camp, a broken arm (thanks steel),

baseball, movies, freedom, Snowboarding,

Friends...

its all about the friends you know!

Sophomore year....

Football, cali camp, Favorite Cars, a little history, an academic letter, snowboarding,
skim board from our trip to Hawaii, and more friends....its all about the friends!!

Junior year...

snowboarding trips, Football, track awards(or I should say Field awards since he was not allowed to run, he might loose weight and you cant have your already skinny lineman loosing weight during track season duh!!!) Proms, Homecomings, MORP, Girls...its all about the girls, OH I MEAN FRIENDS.....

Senior year...
Football, Football, Football,
iron man, All region , All State,
Most inspirational player!
Track takes state....
Relays, 800, mile, unexpected 2 mile, medals, Awards, hardest worker,
most improved!
Friends and girls....
hummm....
most of his friends ARE girls.

Graduation....

Two Parents who could not be prouder of their sons accomplishments,

(is it obvious LOL)

his athleticism, his work ethic, his leadership skills,

his kindness to others,

his cookies! LOL

and now....

I have this.....

and this......

and its a good thing I have this.......

makes it all a little easier!