Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author

Friday, August 19, 2005

My Baby Leaves the Nest

Well, we took our firstborn off to college yesterday. Left at 4:00am, didn't get home until after midnight (she probably didn't either--ha!) This daughter is the designing-type, so we'd given her a budget and I'm hoping to upload a pic of the "finished product."

She and I were both worried what Dad was going to do while we staple gunned and glue gunned and organized and arranged and rearranged. So, I bought three separate items that had to be assembled and wouldn't let him pre-assemble them.

Of course, some parts were missing and some were broken, so the engineer-side of him had to figure out how to make it all work. Kept him well occupied up past lunch. And by then, we had a shopping list of things we'd forgotten.

By 6:00pm, it was time for the freshman kick-off dinner and we had yet to cut the rug her roommate had brought for their floor. (It's an old dorm, so beds, desks, sinks, and chest of drawers are all built-ins. No laying down of a rug, then setting the furniture on top. A cut-out was the only thing to do.)

It was time to say "goodbye." We did really, really well. The hardest part was when she started to tear up. Oh, golly. But even then, the excitement of this new adventure overrode the melancholy of her departure from home. We hugged, we said sweet words, then we told her not to forget the TB test she had scheduled for the next morning. :-)

I think it really helped to have her run off, leaving hubby & I in her room to lay the carpet down. Then, we weren't driving off while our baby stood on a corner and waved. That would have been much worse.

Took us three hours to do that carpet. The engineer had to measure every little thing before making a cut. After about 2 hours into it, I said, "It's just a dorm room. Cut the silly thing and let's go!"

He looks at me, steps back and spreads his arms wide. "Fine. You want me to cut? Just show me where and I'll cut."

Assuming quick command, I begin to point, he begins to cut. We finish up in no time and flip the rug over (we had to cut it from the backside). The part I was in charge of was 14" too narrow on both sides of the room.

He did no more than look at me. We've been married 22 years. That's all he needed to do to communicate what was going on inside him.

I clasped my hands at my waist. "It's only a dorm room, honey. And the good news is ... I brought some carpet tape!!"

Another hour later, we were leaving our baby a note telling her the carpet is patched and taped in some places and she might need to go to the discount store and get a little floor mat for the spot in front of the sink and in front of the chest of drawers.

We prayed over the room, threw a kiss to our baby and walked out to the car. As we pulled out of town, I reached over and grabbed the hubby's hand. "Remember when we were first married and laid that vinyl floor in our kitchen?"

He nodded.

"Well, we just laid a carpet, messed up and didn't get into one single fight. How 'bout that?"

He gave my hand a squeeze. "What do you think our chances are of finding something to eat this late?"

"There's always the gas station if nothing else is open."

So we headed home with hearts full and tummies empty, talking about our own college move-in experiences, our excitement for our daughter and how strange it's going to be to have an empty bedroom in the house.

This morning, I put on an old t-shirt of hers that I found in her closet. Guess what else I found? A laundry basket full of dirty clothes, an unmade bed, and a room that looks like a cyclone went through it. I thought I told that girl to clean her room before she left.

Ah. The joys of parenthood.

posted by Deeanne at 12:12 PM

9 Comments:

Barb said...: So as the dust settles, who's more traumatized--you or dad???
Deeanne said...: Dad. Definitely Dad. He's tough on the outside, mush on the inside. Very much the family man. This will be one rough week.
Susan said...: Sniff... Sniff... It touches my heart just reading how the day went and how strong you both were at seeing her off. I hope that I have half the strength when mine all go off to college.
Meg said...: I still miss my daughter sometimes, but I'm also enjoying this new stage in the mother-daughter relationship. When it's time for our kids to fly the coop, it's time. And it's good.

Dee, your daughter's new nest looks bright and cheerful.
Barb said...: I luv the string lights! I thought dad might have the hardest time. When my sister eloped, we were all surprised that my pa took it the hardest. Wanted to be the one to give his littlest girl away, I guess. Methinx you'll hafta do a little June C role-playing this week to try to help poor Mr Greg out!
Deeanne said...: June Cleaver!! Please. No. Anything but that. *sigh* Okay. I guess I'll cook dinner. But only tonight. No promises about tomorrow and no way am I cookin' it in heels and pearls!! :-)

Meg - I'm like you. Looking forward to this new turning point in our lives. She's just so ... grown up. And it is time. It's her time. (Yeah. I'm lovin' her room. Made it easier to leave her in such a bright spot of sunshine!)

You'll do fine, Susan. It'll be your fella that has a hard time. He's much like his brother. Tough on the outside, mush on the inside. (But don't tell him I said so.)
Barb said...: Chicken! How're the sibs doin'? Sobbing or enjoying their new status in the family?
Deeanne said...: Well, considering she woke them up at 2:00 in the morning to say goodbye, I'm not really certain. The 17 yr old brother got out of bed and gave her a hug and said goodbye. The 16 yr old sister said goodbye and gave her good wishes. The 14 yr old brother said, "Huh? Yeah, okay. Bye." Then rolled over and went back to sleep. Ha!

In the end, it will most likely be the sister that feels the vacancy the most. They share a bathroom and clothes and late night talks. It'll be a little tough, I'm thinkin'.
Valerie Comer said...: Congrats to hubby for not picking a fight over the carpet. Been there, done that with wallpaper -- now THAT's a marriage tester if I ever met one.

Congrats to the daughter. I'm sure your kids will miss each other. Mine are older (23 and 21) and each married, but give them time together and all else will be ignored. It is a wondrous bond.