College Drop Off After Freshman Year

I have seen three sons off to college and each time my heart broke and I beat myself up for feeling this way. As each college drop offapproached I listened to the chorus of those who reminded me that this was college, a good thing, a great thing, and that my pride in my son’s next step should minimize the pain I was feeling.

I told myself that grieving was selfish, I should be happy for my kid and even happy for myself. I reminded myself that wallowing in sadness was self-indulgent, the prero...