How Rude, It Turns Out He Can Survive Without Me!

I can't believe that we are moving into sophomore year in college. New dorm, same major, same campus job, new classes, and mixed emotions.

I surprisingly survived first year drop off unless you count the moment the next day that I woke up and realized that my baby was in college and started bawling.

Even with that, I handled his first year better than anticipated given the anxiety attack I suffered at the end of his high school graduation where I ended the sacred ritual in the back of an ambulance. Still not sure how that happened because I managed my emotions so well the weeks leading up to graduation. My mom said it's because instead of dealing with my emotions, I created spreadsheets, menus, and timelines to distract me and establish a sense of control.

It all came crashing down once those caps were thrown in the air. It was time to crowd the football field and take pictures with our graduate because that's what I had scheduled. My body did not care! I felt a sharp pain on my right side and physically could not move. The pain intensified, then my head started to hurt, then my vision became blurry. Fortunately the ceremony was over and everyone was focused on their graduate so the only attention I received was from the EMTs and my family. Again, I could not see, but could hear my mom distracting the boys - telling Brice to go take pictures with his friends and that I would be okay. She was also very firm with the EMT who was preparing to take my vitals. "Do not put anything on her right arm", was her clear command. Needless to say, I was fine and the running joke in my family became that "Bri passed out at graduation."

So given all of that, I was fully prepared to "pass out" after I left my child on that college campus!

Hearing about his days and celebrating passing test scores or positive feedback on essays became what I looked forward to. I found joy in doing his laundry when he came home and receiving random 8:30pm phone calls that would un-nerve me only to hear him say "hey mom, I know you're probably half asleep, but I just wanted to hear your voice."

My baby boy had created routines that worked for him academically and socially.

He earned recognition on the Dean's List and Honor Roll.

He found a community and his room had apparently become the hub for Sunday night football because of our YouTube TV account. Lol

He made me proud. I got to see what it looks like for God to answer prayers that I prayed for him.

Our family and friends who have become family rallied together to make sure his needs were met. He never lacked!

And most importantly, he proved that he can survive without me... how rude!