My oldest is a sophomore. His break was earlier and he was only home for 2 weeks this time, 1 week of which he worked also. He brought his girlfriend home for break this time, which was nice.<br><br>
This year, I've really seen a shift in our relationship. He struggled his freshman year with grades and figuring out how to plan out his own time. This year, he's taken a much more adult and proactive role. He has a great internship, a lovely girlfriend, some great roommates, and he did much better this last term grade wise.<br><br>
It's so fun for me to hear about his classes and his friends, and all their activities. When I went to college he was a tiny nursling toddler when I started, so his experience is a lot different than mine so far and it's like I get the chance to enjoy the college experience in a way I didn't when I was there as a single parent.<br><br>
Our relationship is really developing into more of an adult relationship and I really enjoy that. We talk about our days, and our plans, and what have you the way I do with my friends, not how I do with my littler kids. He has grown into such an adult, complete with extensive plans for the future. We have the kind of relationship I hope to have with all my kids as they grow up, and yet I am wistful a bit still for his childhood. This year was the first year we've had of taking into account another family's Christmas plans (the girlfriend's family) and while this year I could certainly have just insisted that we do it our way and he be there, it made me realize how much he doesn't belong to me any more. In just a short time he'll be calling all his own shots. I don't mean to make this sound negative - he's such a loving, caring, enjoyable person to be with and we have a great relationship that is stronger since he left for college if anything, but I feel that this year we've crossed some invisible line and left childhood behind and things will never quite be the same.