PARENTING December 17, 2007 Issue

GOODBYE TO TEARFUL GOODBYES

ANNETTE DUTENHOFFER

AUTUMN IN COLORADO —cooler air, football, leaves red and orange and gold. Who wouldn't love it!

Fall also means the eager expectation of a new school year. I'd always enjoyed helping our daughters get ready for school, taking them supply shopping, meeting their teachers. But I was less than joyful several years ago when it came time for our oldest daughter to head off to college in another state. She was very excited, gearing up for new friends and new adventures. But I dreaded the moment when we'd leave her at the dormitory and drive home without her.

When we finally arrived at the college, it almost seemed as if I was dumping part of my joy right on the campus! And the parent meetings, designed to help moms and dads feel great about leaving their children behind, didn't help me at all. By the time the first day was over, I was in a pit of sorrow and self-pity.

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