I wasn’t sure at what point my heart would actually detach itself from the rest of my body.
Would it be at the point when we said our goodbyes at the dorm room steps? Or when I drove away from the college to begin the long journey back home by myself? Â Either way, it hurt in my chest. A physical pain.
I knew I would live. That somehow my heart would find its way back into my chest. After all, I’d done this trip four years ago with my older son. But the pain was no less for the knowledge.
My painting today, Leaves of Change, is for all the moms out there (and dads too) who have left their child on the dorm steps this fall to embark on their new lives away from home. Leaves for leaving. Fall leaves for changing times. Colorful leaves for the season that we say goodbye.

It’s not all sad, though. This is a happy time (I remind myself of this every day). We raise our kids to be independent of ourselves. To have a life that is full and interesting. This is just the beginning for them.
Hang in there, moms! Good job raising them and good job caring enough to cry when they leave.
Love to you all.
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