On the Threshold of Pain: Sending a Son Into the World

You spend 18 years preparing them to leave the nest, but what about you?

Over the weekend, my son Mathew performed for the very last time at the Puget Sound Festival of Bands in Everett.

He had a solo performance during the marching band competition.

They have performed twice before this at Cavalcade of Bands in Pasco and at Harvest Marching Festival in Yakima. With each performance I cry, but during the Everett performance I REALLY cried. I'm talking the ugly face cry!

This is the first of many lasts. The last first day of school, the last school dance and very last day of school.

Mathew is the oldest of our four kids, so this is my first experience with a child leaving the nest.

We've raised him to be independent, caring and responsible. He'll do just fine out in the real world on his own.

But ... what about me? I've not prepared myself for this and can only imagine what a basket case I'll be by the time graduation rolls around!

How do you prepare yourself for a child to leave the nest?