To all of my people sending their kids off to college:
I don’t have kids, but I was once an 18-year-old excited to go off to college from a mother who had no intention of gracefully letting me go. I write from that perspective.
Let them go with your blessing. The way you handle this first, major separation will lay the foundation for their adult relationship with you.
You have poured into them over the years, and though they may not say so, they have learned a lot from you (for better or worse). Now they have a responsibility to figure out for themselves who they want to be as they start their journey into young adulthood. Be there for them when they ask for your guidance; they still need you, and if you have nurtured your relationship with them, they will definitely call on you when they need help. They know where home is, trust.
It’s okay to miss them and even worry about them. Find support amongst your peers so your young adult can freely explore this new phase of life guilt free and with the assurance you are there for them, mistakes and all.
It’s okay to be glad to get more of your life back. The past has been a LOT of work for you. Now you can step back and let them carry this age-appropriate, much larger chunk of responsibility for their own lives. Do your best to rest and find fulfilling ways to fill the time and spend the energy you used to have to devote to them.
This is an exciting time. Treat it as such. You ought to be proud of them and of yourselves for getting this far.