Does anyone else have their first/Eldest child going to Uni this year and feeling all the feels.

[Allromanticsmeetthesamefate]

*puts hand up.

Eldest DD is leaving to go to uni in September, her accommodation is booked, she has done the open days, met quite a few friends and we are all very excited but inside I’m an absolute mess.

She is like my right leg, makes me laugh till I'm on my side with tears rolling down my face, is so helpful in the house and I’m just going to miss her so much. The door will of course always be open if things should change, her room will remain the same I just wonder if I will ever feel that peace of having all 3 DC in the house when I love the door at night as I know any visits will likely be temporary.

Id love to chat to anyone that might feel the same.

Hiya,
You're definitely not alone, I did it 5 hrs ago during covid. Always just me and my daughter.
I joined an amazing Facebook group called
WIWIKAU

(What I wish I'd known about university)

It's very good for sharing the feels.

I'm still on it lol.

@Tcateh Thanks for that, I’m going to join that.

Hi OP, yes me. I have a really close relationship with my DD too and it will be just me and my son left when she’s gone. I’ll miss her so much, it’s hard isn’t it.

Mine is at uni two years now and the counterpoint of the stuff you have said is that every visit home feels as exciting as Christmas. So nice to as you say lock the door and have them all home when she visits. I adore this phase it has been wonderful.

When my eldest went to Uni it didn’t affect me too much as I had DD2 at home in her early teens and VERY hard work! But when DD2 went boy oh boy I was massively affected! Suddenly the house was very empty and quiet. I constantly made too much food at meal times. I missed her so much my heart truly ached. So did DH!
However, when she came home at Christmas, after a week I was looking forward to her going back 😂. Truthfully, it was a pretty miserable few months of missing her and forcing myself not to wizz down to where she was living every weekend. Both my DDs didn’t return home to live after Uni, both met their now husbands whilst there and both bought houses within a year of leaving. Both have children, whom I have looked after whilst young. I’m very proud of the women they have become - but really don’t think I could live in the same house as either of them.

I’ve got one back from finishing uni now and the other still in the middle of it. I would say that the anticipation of them going is much worse than the reality. You will soon fall into a new routine and they’ll be back for Christmas before you know it. You may even be counting the days before they leave again 😉.

Mine is off to uni in September. She is my only so it is going to be hard. I am excited for her but I'm going to miss her terribly.