On Wednesday, my husband and I will be taking our two youngest children to college to begin their freshman year. Ryan will be going to SUNY Binghamton and Sydney will be going to SUNY Buffalo. Ryan aspires to be a lawyer and Sydney will be entering a five year program from which she will graduate with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

We have been through freshman year twice before with our two older children. Given that we’ve already had the experience of bringing our children to college, I thought this time would be easier. But, I am beginning to realize, that it will not be. I already feel that hole in my heart. And while I promised them both that I would not cry, I know that I will be crying as we say our good-byes. I also know that I’ll be struggling to find the right words to say to them as we leave each of them to start this next phase of their lives. I’m just not sure what the right words are yet.