Well, after five days, six states, and around 2,000 road miles, we successfully dropped off both of our kids at college this past week.  One is relatively close (about a 90 minute drive), but the other is located a bone-crushing twelve-hour drive away (one way) in order for her to attend the college of her dreams (and who’s university is a sprawling mammoth of Southern charm and powerful football heritage).

For our oldest, this trip and move-in process is now well known – like putting on an old, comfortable shirt.  She knows where to go, what to do, and already has a campus job and friends to go back to.  She’s starting to explore her post-graduate options and thinking about what happens after the college hands her a degree and she has to start saying “now what?”

However; she’s the oldest.  Oldest children know what’s up (being the oldest myself – I can relate and remember).  The oldest kid has to be the reliable one – the smart one.  They have to have a plan.  The burden falls on their shoulders to be the “responsible” one of the family.  Oldest kids go to college “in-state” because it’s a better financial decision.  Their dorm room is sparse and frugal – almost like they live in a monastery.

   My wife and I don’t worry about our eldest all that much.  She has the sense to call us if something’s wrong (and we’re close enough to help out in a pinch, as necessary).  For any oldest siblings out there – tell me I’m lying.

Then there is our youngest.  For her, college is still a big unknown.  “Is it like the movie ‘Animal House’”?  (Oh dear Lord).  She’s already changed her major once (before even stepping foot on campus).  For her, the social aspects of the campus were just as important as the academic ones.  While she’s excited for her classes, she crafted a freshman schedule where she can sleep in until 11:00 AM every day.  She’s anxiously awaiting the start of football season, so she can spend her Saturday afternoons in a crowded stadium. 

Still, she’s the youngest, so she gets to be the “wildcard” (and if your family has more than two kids, this still applies to kid #2).  Will her dorm room ever be as clean again as it was when we said ‘goodbye” after move in?  Doubtful.  Her living space is decorated to the hilt, with lights, matching pillows, bedding, and wall decorations.  She had to have her “Alexa” and a TV.  “In-state” tuition?  What’s that?  She’s probably scouring the internet right now in hopes of scoring a fake ID so she can bar-hop on the campus strip by next weekend.  She’ll most likely come home at Christmas sporting a new tattoo.  She’ll bug us for tickets to Cancun for “Spring Break”.

Being twelve hours away, any shenanigans or trouble won’t be able to be responded to in a quick fashion (not that she’ll ever tell us), so we worry a bit more (who am I kidding – a lot more).   Again, for any younger siblings out there – tell me I’m lying.

Still, both of my girls are strong, independent, and confident young women, which is all we ever raised them to be.  They just express it in completely different ways.  I hope they both enjoy their college time this year.

Man, this house sure is quiet.