TABOO TRUTHS

Courtney is settled back at JMU!  She was lucky enough to get a GREAT dorm on campus in the blue stone!  Nice big room, air conditioning and she only has to share her bathroom with 3 girls.  Sweet!

I’m heading to bring her back to Cville for the weekend.  The first few weeks back is always an adjustment for her and I.  She seems to be happy with her classes and hard at work…as usual!  One thing that hasn’t changed that much since her first day of kindergarden is…the colds!  The minute you put a bunch of kids together…sickness abounds.  She is fighting congestion and sinus pressure.  Currently she is seems to be following suit with many people in town.

Lindsay and I head to MI next week.  Courtney can’t come with us due to school demands.  I miss her daily and fight the urge to call her a couple times a day.  Letting go when a child goes off to college is no easy task.  I worry about her safety, her work load, her health…  I have to push it out of my mind or it becomes consuming.  So, just as in the days when I would drop her off at grade school and drive out of the parking lot I close my eyes asking God to watch over her and protect her.  Until Mom can be around to help!  For now, I get to enjoy her in my presence for a couple day!

If you are the Mom of a college student, how to you handle contact with your child?

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Next week my Dad turns 70 years old!  Hard to believe.  I’m heading back to Michigan to celebrate with my family.  The last several weeks have worn on my soul and placing my feet on Michigan soil will do me much good!

My sisters and I have been contemplating how to approach this momentous event.  A roast?  Party?  Trip?  With the date coming closer my Dad expressed, in NO uncertain terms, he wants no party!  A bit disappointing since I don’t have the opportunity to see my extended family very often but it is his birthday.  My siblings and I have come up with a gift idea that I hope he will love and use!  I’ve never been able to call my Dad…my Father.  Our relationship is one of comfort, love, realness and yelling…sometimes.  He is and always will be the rock in my life.  We are far to similar in personality for there never to be challenges.  As with many Dad’s, he is always there for me.  Though his expectations are high, he always wants only my happiness.  After being the care-giver for my Mom before her passing and all he’s done for myself and siblings…all we want is his happiness!  It appears he may have met someone recently!  What a joy it would be to see his heart full again…

He is considered the “Godfather” of our Maino family.  The last of the elders.  So is celebrating expected???  ABSO-FRICKIN-LUTELY!