And the Next Chapter Begins.

Quote — “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
– Ferris Bueller, Dr Richard Chambers. “

Nothing really prepares you for a child leaving home for college. It’s an emotional experience for the entire family. Regardless of the squabbles and petty irritations, family is family. Invisible, deep bonds are created that are hard to explain until that person isn’t around anymore. In the case of our kids, those bonds have been forming since they came home from the hospital and strengthened with every experience together.

The internet gophers tell me that parents will spend 70-90% of their time with their kids before their kids turn 18. That seems likes one of those internet facts that float around as true but its unclear what real data supports it. Regardless, this feels very true for me. After I left for college, I never returned to the area my parents lived and came back infrequently only for holidays.

I went the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond is about 410 miles from our then home in Connecticut. The drive can take about 6 hours depending on traffic with the exception of one trip back to school one fateful Sunday after Thanksgiving where it took me 18 hours. I thought it was a good idea to stop in Manhattan and Washington DC to drop off many sister and a buddy. What a horrible drive.

This past weekend we brought my older daughter to college in Boston, Massachusetts. Or, 2341 miles from our home in Utah. The two weeks before I left for college was chaos. I was excited to go to college but sad to say goodbye to my friends and family. Packing was the least of my concerns behind making sure to say goodbye to everyone that I could. Molly and I had similar experiences as I was up until midnight helping her pack. Four massive 50+ pound bags later, she was packed. I’m sad to see Molly go but thrilled at this new chapter. Her future is so bright and we couldn’t be more proud of her.

What advice do I have for Molly as she heads to college?

Find your joy and smile. Life is short. Enjoy it.
Make a dent in the universe. It’s waiting for you to make your mark.
Take risks. Don’t let overthinking or public perception stop you from taking a swing.
Work hard. There are no hacks around hard work.
Avoid victimhood mentality. Work your way through problems.
Take care of yourself. No one else is going to.
Enjoy the moment. It’s right in front of you.
Trust the universe. You’ll connect the dots when you’re old. The ups and downs all add up in the end.

We will miss you Molly. Enjoy your time in college and make smart decisions! As I write this on the plane ride back from Boston, my heart is heavy thinking that Molly’s bedroom will be empty when we get home.

The family and I will be frequent fliers between Salt Lake City and Boston over the next few years. If you see a slightly overweight middle aged Filipino man in an MIT Women’s Soccer hat on, its probably me. Say hi!

By the way, go MIT Women’s Soccer!