Why Nothing Prepares You for Letting Go

As we drop off our oldest child at college this week, we’re having the conversation every family eventually faces. People try to prepare you for this moment. They really do. But I don’t think anything truly prepares you for letting go.

And I want to be honest…we’re not coming at this from a place of having all the answers.

This week, my husband John, our daughter Caroline, and I talk through what this transition actually feels like from both sides. Caroline tells us what she needs from us as parents (it’s probably less than we think… and more than we realize).

John is handling it in his very John way, steady and practical. And me? I’m somewhere between incredibly proud and completely undone.

We also share the best college advice we’ve ever received. 

If you’re sending a child to college or you’ve already been there, I hope this episode feels like a hug and a reminder that this isn’t the end of your relationship. It’s the beginning of a new one.

And if you hear me trying not to cry… just know I didn’t succeed.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

[0:01:42] Dad’s Excitement vs. Mom’s Grief-Wrapped Celebration

[0:03:51] Caroline’s Request for Support and Space

[0:06:21] Dorm Prep, Pinterest Boards, and Move-In Madness