Today all that strangeness came full circle, I guess. My oldest daughter moved into her own apartment in Cleveland today. So here we were packing the car to take some of her things to her new place (we have more that needs to go) and I am trying to coax the 3 year old into "pooping on the potty". When I stopped to think about it, it gave me pause. I am proud of the fact my daughter felt "ready to launch" and start her life on her own but I do admit it makes me a little sad. I will miss having her around to talk to. My 3 yr old is crushed. She adores her big sisters and now, the last one has moved (my 19 yr old went off to college and never came back home). Poor Lily is left with her two older brothers now.
I have never let my kids growing up bother me. Both girls are about an hour away from me, in different directions. However, when I finally get moved to Colorado, I think I will feel the separation more keenly. I won't be able to just drive over to see them and they won't be able to call up and say they are coming over. It'll be a two-day drive or a hefty ticket price to visit. My younger kids will miss both their sisters too. I have no idea how I am going to handle helping the youngest two to grasp the distance but I know they will adjust.
Skype will get a workout in the future.
I also came to the realization that when I start packing the house up totally for the move to Colorado, I will be doing it alone since the Spousal Unit will already be in Colorado. That is a daunting thought and I have no idea how I am going to manage it. I have a 4-bedroom home with a garage and basement to deal with. I have less than a year to purge and pack. I need a dumpster.