So what do you do?

I was perusing the University of Chicago parents website this evening and was smacked in the face with the countdown to college.
56 days, 6 hours, 46 minutes, 16 seconds.
I can remember when it was 120 days to go.
This time last year, Jordan and I were traveling all over the East coast visiting colleges and dreaming about what this year would bring.

Now we know.

We know where she'll be.
We know what it's like to watch her agonize over her college essays.
We know what it's like to hear the news, "I got in."
We know what it's like to wait for financial aid packages.
We know what it's like to see her walk across that stage and get her diploma.
We know what it's like to title every activity as "the last time Jordan will get to do this with us."

But what we don't know is what it will be like when she's gone.
We don't know what it will be like to turn around and leave her in Chicago.
We don't know what it will be like to walk past her empty room day after day.

The kids are growing so fast. I feel like it's spinning out of control. I sometimes feel like someone took my little kids and dumped off a bunch of smelly, hormonal imposters.

There are breast buds and deepening voices in our house.
Someone lost their two front teeth this month. My baby has no front teeth!
There are contests between 4 pre-teens to see who has body odor and who's getting armpit hair.
No one has snuck into my room to sleep with me illegally all summer.
There are girls texting my boys.
There are boyfriends and break-ups and drama.
There are little white bras all over the place.

So what do you do when it seems like suddenly your family has grown up?

I guess you just try to enjoy it.

You go floating.
You go swimming.
You sleep in.
You ride roller coasters.
You watch movies you like.
You cry. a little.