Sad Times...first one flying the coop

First son is leaving for college this week (its quarter system), sensitive times with wifey. He's starting his freshman year at UW in Seattle, what a wonderful school and setting. I ricochet between accepting it for what it is, can't stop life, and then reminiscing about his childhood. I asked him to play catch in the backyard yesterday afternoon and it was so sweet hearing the sound of the leather snapping, remembering when we did it 10 years earlier. Mom came out and took a picture and then shed some tears.

 

Shit, I got that way when my youngest went to preschool last month.

It's going to be a loooong 16 more years.

 

Yeah, that cliche is soooo true, cherish these times when you have them because it goes fast. Which means, the problems you think your kid is giving you is really small in the big picture.

 

Is he your only child?

 

No, we have one survivor left (two years left with him).

 

He has no clue what's about to hit him.

BTW ... good friend has a daughter -- her only child -- entering YouDub (does that sound right?) as a freshperson this fall.

 

My kid never catches the ball, so at least I'll be spared that particular gut punch.

 

In all seriousness, I feel for you. I don't know how I'm going to handle it when it happens in a decade, then a few years later for the little one. They are my two best friends. But in particular, there is something about the fleeting nature of boyhood.

 

We're a year away from this. Our oldest would prefer it to happen tomorrow though. It's not bad -- he's ready for the world and we remind ourselves that's a good thing (and a bit rare nowadays).

Last night we had a Family Game Night. For all the challenges of trying to find something that can be played with ages 5 to 46, it was a snapshot moment that I'm sure I'll replay.

 

Man, I miss game night with the 4 of us. Glad you got to do that last night.

 

Jenga.

 

Bananagrams is the game of choice in my household, now.