Mizzou.... RAH!

 

Much has changed in 33 years since I left home for my freshman year at Mizzou in 1986. 

First & foremost... perms are no longer in style.  Thank goodness.

Prince music is still pretty cool, although I can't imagine anyone would hang a poster of him in their dorm anymore.  Also fairly confident no one has a land line phone with a cord hanging from their loft either.  In fact, speaking of lofts... you don't even have to buy lumber & build your own... the rooms already come with loftable beds. 

Oh and air conditioning too.   No box fan for the window necessary. 

In fact, much of the decor is now coordinated months ahead of time if you're lucky enough to know your roommate in advance of moving in.  And while I did know my roommate from high school, I think it's safe to say we both just brought whatever we could find at home for our bedding and decor. 

I mean... I needed every cent I had saved for clothes, Sunday night dinners when the dining halls weren't open, and well hairspray, obviously.

 

 

I also took off for school knowing my high school boyfriend would also be arriving to school when I got there.  That made leaving home a lot easier for me because my world pretty much revolved around him.   Of course by the time the holidays were rolling around, I was beyond ready for home.  And at one point I called my mom and said how much I was looking forward to some family time.   Things of course changed when my boyfriend ended up dropping out of school at semester, but by that time I'd met enough people that I survived without his daily existence in my life.  I imagine it gave me more time to study too.  LOL

Bryn on the other hand has 2 main people she's closest to... her best friend, who's going to another state university, and me.  And at the last minute she said to me, "I don't want to go." 

One thing I said to her though is that you're never stuck...  whatever or wherever it is.  Whether it's school, a relationship, a job... there's always a way out.  You always have options.  And if you decide this isn't for you, it's changeable.  There are other schools.  And not every successful person out there has a college degree. 

But with that... I also told her that while she may not realize it right now... she was going to meet a lot of new people, make new friends, enjoy this new independence, enjoy most of her classes, enjoy a different social life... and to give it a little time before she decided she didn't want to be there because we all feel like that when we're heading into new territory.

I also said that it's during our most uncomfortable times in life, that we're in a period of growth.  And that getting out of our comfort zone was a good thing, even if we don't usually realize that until we have hindsight. 

 

It's been 2 weeks since I dropped her off.  The longest time period I've gone without seeing her prior to this is a week.   So... let's just say I've had moments of really missing her. 

But this is what we raise our kids to do. 

We raise them to be independent of us.  We raise them to ultimately leave home & lead self-sufficient lives. 

These are things I know in my head... and I've certainly done my best to prepare her for... but once it's here, it's still hard.   And I'm sure it's safe to say we  all wish we could go back & slow time down a bit... because you're never really prepared in your heart for the next stage of life when you wave goodbye.

 

Part of me sees this prepared 18-year old adult and the other part of me still sees this sweet little girl with her backpack & her baby doll...

In fact, after we had a bit of a tearful goodbye in her dorm room, I nervously walked out of the building feeling like my legs were going to collapse underneath me.   Cried part of the way home.  And then cried again after posting pictures on Facebook & friends started commenting such sweet responses for us. 

 

She stays in pretty close touch with me though and seems very happy, and also very busy!  Between school starting and activities with her new sorority, Kappa Delta, I'm quite sure she's not getting a whole lot of sleep.  But therein lies college life.  And we all get to a point where we start saying no to fun, and yes to studying & going to bed early. 

 

I had someone ask the other day what made her decide on Mizzou.  I said, "Uh... she's pretty much been groomed since birth."  LOL

I ended up graduating from Missouri State University.  But her dad is alum.  My dad is alum.  My mom went to Mizzou before graduating at another school.  And while my sisters also graduated from Missouri State... we're all lifelong Mizzou fans.  Suffice it to say, it's been in her blood. 

And well... she's been going to football, basketball and volleyball games all her life.  So... while the choice was hers... she was determined to get into Mizzou.  And that she did.

Proud mom here... who's slightly envious of all the Interior Design classes she's taking.

 

 

And also REALLY glad she asked me to come visit tomorrow & grab lunch/shopping!  Can't wait to hug my girl...

Comments

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

I feel ya mama!! You know Adam moved away to Texas four years ago to have time with his Dad, since they lived apart when he was growing up, but I am happy to report that he is moving BACK here in November to go to school here! YAY!! Of course that means I am losing my now craft room, but it is worth it!! Big hugs Mama ... I know that girl of yours will make you proud!!!!!!!!!!