We spent the good part of yesterday unloading, constructing, organizing, and personalizing Jake's dorm room at the University of Missouri - along with endless trips back and forth to stores to fill in what we couldn't load in one suitcase and one carry-on from NJ, navigating serpentine lines at the MU bookstore, and searching for caffeine (haven't been sleeping well this past week!) All during which Jake would jokingly utter, "Only 94 days left until Thanksgiving," or "I'm going to roll myself up in fetal position," or "Be sure to check the trunk of the car when you get to the airport -- I'll be in it."
We all laughed (me just a little) and acknowledged that we knew it was Jake's way of expressing his anxiety. He's on a new adventure, making a new path and not without the normal Freshman trepidation.
I was surprised to find out that, like Jake, the majority of new students had never shared a room with a sibling at home, let alone shared a co-ed floor. No one will ever again have their routine, back to school morning wake-up call from parents, have to hear "Did you finish your homework?" or ignore the "What time will you be home for dinner?"
It's now up to my young adult to be fully responsible - or at least begin the road towards this goal. Scary stuff for an 18 year old. But I have not a doubt that Jake will "rise to the occasion" daily and for the rest of his life.
Bye Jake! Your father and I did a great job raising you - it's been a beautiful journey for us both. Travel well. Watch your steps but take some risks, keep your head up always and look everyone straight in the eye - show the world who you are and what's to expect from Jake Lasofsky.
You are AMAZING, Jakie! We are SO proud of you!
Go Tigers!
Oh, by the way - one doesn't have to be a strict Freudian to know that when the mom (that be me) leaves her cell phone in her son's dorm room on the last night of her stay in Columbia, Missouri that her own anxiety is saying, "I'll be back!" So, if anyone is trying to reach me in the next few hours you'll either get my voice mail - or someone answering, "Mom's temporarily out-of-her-mind. She'll get back to you soon(er or later)."
(Just booked my travel to Parent's Weekend at the end of September! Hope Jake bought an extra Tiger ticket?)
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