September is a universal time of transitions. This post is dedicated to all of those who are sending children and loved-ones off on their next stage of life. Whether we are talking about going back to school or away to the military or whether it is for one day, one week, or even two years we all have our own “so-long-for-now” stories to tell.
Some of these may be when we were doing the leaving and others are when we were the ones being left. One of my favorite songs, “Leaving New York” by R.E.M. has some of the most poignant lyrics on the topic stating:
“It’s easier to leave than to be left behind.”
which any parent who has watched a child hop onto a school bus for the first time or walk away in single file for basic training will tell you is THE TRUTH!
So let's look at both sides and some topics that you can include in your powerful personal stories:
First let’s look at your memories of leaving. You can write about:
First days of school (elementary, middle, high school)
Going to your first sleepover
First trip away from family
Camping at sleepover camp
Starting college
Moving away from home
Next let’s look at some topics that cover sending away a child or loved one:
First day of daycare or school (kinder, middle, high school)
End of high school count down
Sending off someone to the military for basic training or extended duty away
Someone leaving home for the first time
Leaving the town, state, or country.
Please note there are many other “Good-bye Stories” that I have not mentioned in these lists because I am focusing on more traditional send-offs. I have had my fair share of goodbyes that are not mentioned here and are covered in other posts.
But while you are writing these stories, I encourage you to remember some of my writing tips from previous posts. Be sure to share how you were feeling at each step of the way. Use your senses to describe the setting and the event. It is often in these unique moments we have these perfect snapshots of the event burned into our memories. Share those visions in your writing. Add the conversations you remember, locations that were pertinent, and tiny details that bring you right back to the moment.
These special stories are wonderful keepsakes and lovely to look back on as you are missing the person or welcoming them home. The journey of leaving the nest is universal and the reality is that no matter the age, the experience is worth documenting and remembering from both sides. I’d even say this is one of the times when writing the story can be very therapeutic.
When I look back on some of these stories of my own, I remember how challenging it was for me to let go of my children from high school to the next chapter - one son to Boston for college and the other to basic training for the Air Force.
I remember feeling as if it was an ending instead of seeing it as a transition. One of the women I worked with at the time had shared with me that having adult children was one of her greatest joys. She explained how wonderful it was to see the world through their eyes and share in their life adventures.
What a shift that was for me!
If you’re struggling now, I gift this comfort to you!
Transitions are challenging, but seeing them as signs of growth and expansion can help us celebrate them. And, as with all of our life stories, writing them down and commemorating them can help us make meaning of the lessons we learned along the way.