Sarah's Move to College

We moved Sarah to college this week and it was as emotional as I expected it to be. It's never easy to let go of your children. She no longer has to report every move, she makes all of her own decisions about eating healthy, she decides when she studies and when she goofs off. And I would be terrified if I wasn't confident of her character.

Mary and Abigail tried out Sarah's bed before she did to make sure it was comfy for reading and sleeping.

From the moment they are born, we are raising our children to leave, to go out into the world to make their own way. I know that looks differently with girls than boys, but for the most part, they will eventually leave our home. We have to spend the time they are with us training, molding, leading them to leave. 

At eighteen, Sarah is not on her own. A man told us yesterday that the day he left for college his dad told him that from that day forward he would always be a visitor in his parent's home. We aren't anywhere close to that, especially with girls. But at this point in her life there comes a level of independence that she hasn't ever known. Yes, she is still under our authority, but it looks differently. Her schedule and life while living at a college dorm is all about what she wants and needs. She has a lot of freedom. 

When Hannah moved to college, we noticed the independence. She, and now Sarah, have to purposefully think of how her decisions affect our family. I am confident that Sarah will be as considerate and thoughtful as Hannah has been and her pulling away to make her own life won't be too painful and sudden.