we did it!

what a mix of emotions week!

madi, emi and caroline all headed back to school monday.

10th grade, 9th grade & 5th!

they're all happy

with the exception of an assigned seat issue on the bus for little bit

& a less than stellar language arts teacher for another,

we're ready to roll.

after spending monday with savannah & bailey

i was feeling about as aok as i could be about tuesday.

savannah is miss organization and responsibility.

i've never had to remind her to do homework

turn in papers

register for whatever

so

she was on total autopilot for packing

 

tuesday morning i came downstairs to the image below

& caroline offering a fist pump

& telling me "you're doing great so far mama"

i reminded her it was only 7:30

& the day was long

wish me luck!

 a sweet friend of mine & recent Auburn grad

gave me some great advice.

act like move in day is no big deal

so i chanted that mantra to myself all day long

& to be honest

my goal to be the happy cheerful mom

came to fruition

we did it!

we got her there & sans any snapping or barking or fighting

& i smiled.

alot

savannah is in a HUGE co-ed dorm

& is probably one of the most excited freshman in athens!

while their room wasn't technically ready for photos

i tried to snap a few for ya'll

of what certainly is monogram central!

a fun colored funky pillow from IKEA was their inspiration

(in one of the above images you can see caroline painted her a little canvas

with the matching image for their dorm)

 

savannah's new roomie Mckinley

is awesome!

both her and her mom are awesome!

feels like we've known them forever

yet we only met a few weeks ago.

what a blessing!

they met in the dawghouse which is an online

room mate search thingie sorta like eharmony.

what a riot!

i think they are a perfect match

& will be fantastic together

 

right after i set up this little basket of goodies for them

i realized the emotions were coming.

it was time to for dan & i to head out.

i had promised myself i would not get emotional

it was just a move in

no big deal

no tears in front of her.

well that was the plan.

i stepped out in the hall 

tried to will myself to straighten up

get a grip

counted to ten

watched another couple walk by that most certainly thought i was nuts

they probably got on the elevator, looked at each other 

& said..."first timer for sure"

realized i really couldn't get it together.

walked back in all bloodshot eyed & contorted face

mumbled that "this" was the best i could do....love you....i'm sorry....bye sweetie"

i feel weird

i don't know how to explain it

the last couple of years she & i have grown so close.

we moved from parenting into a wonderful mutual friendship

she & i have shared so much, the last year especially.

& both dan and i have a fantastic relationship with her....

which makes this both happy and sad at the same time.

such conflicting emotions.

i've seen my friends who have traveled this road ahead of me

their eyes aren't all bloodshot from crying anymore

and they can actually talk about it

without falling apart.

gives me hope that i'll be there too....

i'm just not there today