Laundry Baskets & Letting Go: Dropping Our Son Off at College

Yesterday we packed up our cars and drove our son to college. The back was loaded with bins, bedding, and an odd mix of must-have dorm essentials and comfort items from home. We hauled everything to his dorm room, made the bed, helped him tuck clothes into drawers and the wardrobe, and checked to make sure he had the basics covered.

And then we left.

It was one of those moments that feels both monumental and ordinary. We hugged him goodbye, gave the usual reminders, and walked back to the car with a lump in our throats. Just like that, the torch passes—time for him to take the lead in his own life, to make choices, to stumble and rise, and to carry with him the foundation we’ve tried to give.

Finding Distraction After College Drop-Off

Instead of heading straight home, we’re spending the weekend with family. A built-in distraction, maybe, but also a reminder that life is still full of connection, laughter, and shared meals.

Being with people we love softens the edges of the silence that’s waiting for us back home. It gives us space to process—without rushing straight into the emptiness of the house.

The Parenting Paradox: Preparing Them to Leave

What no one tells you when you first hold your child is that your role is to slowly work yourself out of a job.

We pour ourselves into the details—lunches packed, rides given, piles (and piles) of laundry washed, late-night talks—and then suddenly, the details belong to them.

It feels both like a loss and a win. Because if they’re ready to step out on their own, it means we’ve done something right.

Entering the Empty Nest Season

The truth is, our home won’t look or feel the same. And maybe it’s not supposed to. This is a new season of parenting, one that calls us to rediscover parts of ourselves that have been tucked away while raising children.

It’s an invitation to shift, to reimagine, to create new rhythms in a quieter house.

The laundry piles may be smaller now, but the love that built them hasn’t gone anywhere.

To Parents Dropping a Child Off at College

If you’ve recently dropped your child at college—or are preparing to—you’re not alone in the swirl of emotions.

It’s okay to cry in the car.

It’s okay to walk past their room and feel the ache.

And it’s okay to also feel relief when you find small distractions or moments of joy.

This transition is both an ending and a beginning. And we’re all learning how to carry both at the same time.