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[BallerinaGirl0]

Not sure I have the correct thread but I thought I’d just ask. My daughter is 16 and has been accepted to a ballet school where she will go and live in September. I’m really struggling to come to termed with her leaving home so early and keep getting super emotional. Trying to be brave for her as it’s going to be an amazing experience for her.
Ive been single nearly all her life as have just focused on it being us two. Now she’ll be leaving home and I don’t know how I’m going to cope.
Because she dances nearly every night I’m driving here there and everywhere so that will stop and my evenings will become empty. I feel like I have no purpose anymore. I don’t have many close friends who I can just drop in on. Her dad is remarried so he won’t feel it like me as she sees him on a weekend.
Like most parents my life has literally revolved around her these past 16 years.

Time to plan now and find some hobbies or a course you can sign up to? Maybe a bit of volunteering? Community choirs or am dram are very sociable activities. What do you do every weekend when she is at her dad's? Have you for friends or family in other parts of the country you can visit?

I work quite a lot and on Saturdays. Sundays I don’t mind as it’s my ‘job’ day at home. I think it’s the 7 days a week feeling like I have nothing to do. I used to do a lot of running which I plan to get back into but that’s won’t take up much time. I do work quite a lot so will prob lay end up to rowing myself into more work just to keep busy.

totally understable if you feel this way, but please know that there is always something new to learn, more people to get to know, and places to visit! You should definitely grieve (16 years is a looong time) but please know you're not alone. Think of this as a time to discover new interests, take up dancing, help out a local volunteer organisation, meet new people, or to simply rest. You've done so well I bet to have had your daughter embark on such an amazing opportunity! You deserve to have a whole life of your own and potentially discover a whole new you. Very happy for your daughter and congratulations to her x

Try and see this as an opportunity - don't just work - pick some unusual hobbies? that you would love to try but don't have the nerve?

Make a list of things you would do if you were brave enough?

It's an incredible amount of freedom - don't just give it over to work!

You’re not alone in feeling like this at all, I've had friends who've been through similar situations. It’s such a huge shift, especially when it’s been just the two of you for so long. You’ve done something amazing in raising her to be confident and talented enough to take this next step.
I’ve got a 14-year-old and even the thought of her leaving one day makes my chest ache, so I can only imagine how real it feels now. It’s okay to grieve the change, it doesn’t mean you’re not happy for her. It just means you love her deeply and you’ve built something amazing together.
When you're ready, maybe think about rediscovering little bits of yourself again, hobbies, groups, even just a new routine. And when it comes to parenting, you still completely are her mum and can still be a big part of her life, in fact when you do see her it'll be really special and you can still give her all your advice and wisdom. This is my go-to for parenting advice by the way: https://weareluna.app/parents/guides/

Hope this helps a little bit, but basically you're not alone at all and you're still a brilliant mum!