Ethan Goes To College

Well, it finally happened. Ethan left for college. The night before he left, we had a family dinner at home and Ethan read Macie a bedtime story. The kids all said goodbye the next morning before leaving for school and then we packed up the car. As we were leaving, Fred played the song, "Time of Your Life" by Green Day which made us all cry. 

Since Fred had his hernia surgery a few days prior, I did the driving & most of the moving & lifting with Ethan. Fred booked a hotel so we didn't have to rush & also to stay for the new students introduction ceremony that was happening the next day. We moved Ethan in, ran to Walmart to buy things we still needed or forgot (along with lots of other parents & students) & then went to dinner. Ethan then went to the new student carnival while Fred & I went back to the hotel. The next day we met Ethan at the school & went to the ceremony. I put a pin on Ethan & he put a pin on me, the president of the University spoke, professors spoke & then we took pictures. It was very ceremonial & we were officially labeled "SDSU Parents & Students."

Then the time finally came. Time to say goodbye. The part I didn't want to have happen. I held it together for a few moments while I hugged Ethan & then the tears came for all of us. But I could tell Ethan was more excited than anything. We told him we loved him & were so proud of him.

Then was the long drive home. Fred was a trooper despite having had surgery a few days prior. But as we talked and drove home, we both just cried as we reminisced & let our feelings sink of this monumental occasion. It's such a weird feeling because it feels right dropping him off but at the same time, it felt so weird to actually be at this point in our lives. The sweetest thing was when we stopped for gas, there was a giant rainbow in the sky & it was just what we needed so we stopped to take a picture.

The home is a little less quiet with less music being played. We miss him but know this experience will be so amazing for him. We can't wait to see where life will take him!