Move-In Day

I remember a number of times when parenthood was simply overwhelming. The first time I saw my baby’s face.  The first time I had to take him to the emergency room because he had discovered a yellow jackets nest and we discovered he was allergic to their venom.  The day I realized he was tall enough to look me in the eye. His first day of high school.  And the day we moved him into the residence hall at Messiah College.

But to be honest, we didn’t really move him.  I think I carried one box and the rest of his belongings were carried by all the volunteers who were waiting by the parking lot when we drove up.  Such a kindness, because, honestly, my knees were so weak I’m not sure I could have managed the stairs.

So even while I was being overwhelmed by the reality of my baby starting college, I was overwhelmed by grace by the Messiah College community who knew I would need help to get through the day.

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Ambivalence

Last night I talked with my sister-in-law who is getting ready to send her only child off to Messiah College for the first time. Both women, the older and the younger, are filled with mixed emotions, and things are a bit tense, it seems.

I remember the conflict. Our students are, one moment, ready to flee the house– longing for the greatest adventure of their lives. And the next moment, they are curled up, like helpless children, unable to make themselves order their books or answer emails about their workstudy jobs. So many things that must be done– shopping, packing, goodbye parties. And meanwhile, mom and dad just want a few quiet moments with their children… something to hold onto when they drive away after moving the kids onto campus.

I told my sister-in-law: Just keep breathing. Keep loving. You’ll make it through.

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