I Thought it Would Take Longer For My Kids to Leave Home

She did it. My newly minted college graduate got the job she’s been looking for, less than a month after finishing school. It’s in her field, and includes responsibilities other than getting coffee for the rest of the office. I should be patting myself on the back for my successful parenting skills at this point, but somehow, that sense of self-congratulation seems lost amidst the swirl of conflicting emotions, with an inexplicable sense of loss rising to the top.

I made it through her gradua...