Melancholy Mom

Work was a typical hectic Monday so it didn't really hit me until Mike and I came home to an empty house.  As of this morning, all three of our children are moved into their college dorms, and I'm feeling a bit depressed. Our youngest, Aaron, moved out on Saturday, Justin moved out this morning, and Chelsea moved out a week ago for pre-season.  But wait, there's more fueling my melancholy...she's a senior, so this is her last year in college, her last volleyball season, she may not even move back home. And then I have to do it all over again because Justin is just a year behind her! 

I know that I am quite fortunate to work at the college they attend so I will be in contact with them frequently, but it's still not the same. They are all grown up, literally, and all of the sudden I need them so much more than they need me! While I would never pretend to be more than an adequate mother, I've spent more than 20 years focused on them and their needs...what do I do now, how do I let go, how do I switch from active to passive motherhood?

I know there's a lot of great stuff to look forward to and before long I'll be blogging about our new found freedom, but right now I just wish my kids still needed their mommy!