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When Your Kid Goes to College…
By Olivia’s mom






You will remember
her tiny fingers reaching up to find you,
making sure you are still there…
(or to pull your hair).

This will make you cry.

You will marvel
at those little fingers turned lady hands,
as she packs a massive suitcase -
noticing that they look just like yours
on a well rested morning after a yesterday with no salt.

This will make you want to eat less salt.

You will never believe
how (or why) she holds her pencil like that
or grasp the magic she can conjure
with a paint brush or chunk of charcoal.

This will remind you of when she believed in Santa
and make you wonder when she stopped...
(or if she was mad at you for lying).

You will flash back
to all the ways you fed her
while she looked at you with locked eyes,
trusting that there would be enough.

This will make you grateful.

You will hope
that she remembers to eat and continues to find fuel,
wherever she is….or lives….or goes.

This will keep you up at night.

You will miss
smelling her baby head,
but be happy that she can no longer steal your shampoo.

This will both heal and hurt you,
especially because you can still smell
her baby head if you close your eyes
(and you don’t wash your hair very often anyway).

You will worry
that you didn’t teach her everything she will need to know,
even though you did sing her all of those excellent songs.

This will taunt you,
until you remember how many other amazing
people also taught her...(and that you once caught
her singing your songs to her creepy realistic doll).

You will smush
anyone who hurts her.
(Not really - but there might be crying and a lot of swear words.)

This will absolutely happen, so be prepared.

You will let her go,
and hope she knows that you are still holding her hand...
(and eating less salt, forever trying to lead by example).


This will be true.