[beatnavy]

My oldest daughter fought my wife and me all through high school. It was a relief to drop her off at college. Going from 3 kids to 2 wasn't bad. Incidentally, she's a total joy to have around now at age 27.

Dropping my son off was harder, and when we gave him the "final hug" before leaving down in Blacksburg, he had a tear on his face, which almost made my wife start bawling, but she held it together. The 4 hour drive home was hard, and it felt really quiet at home now with only 1 kid there.

Dropping my youngest off a couple years later, also in Blacksburg, was weird. It was the "now we are alone" moment. Kind of joy, kind of sad. House felt REALLY empty.

But that goes away in a few days, and you and your wife will move on to other priorities. You've probably focused on him SO much over the last 18 years your life feels empty without him. You'll get over it in a few days and it will all be good. In the end it's totally rewarding.