7 Days to Empty Nesting - My Son Leaves for Boot Camp

Until it happens, you can't possibly know how you'll feel when you face an empty nest. Admittedly, my son and I had lived separately for over a year until he moved back in October to spend his final days before boot camp at home.

It's been wonderful to have him here. Our relationship had been volatile after I moved back to Florida without him so I was thrilled when he told me his plans. I quickly moved furniture, added temporary storage, and prepared my home for his return. It was hard knowing he was coming home to leave but it got downright nerve racking very recently.

This Iran situation has me on edge. I went into work jittery today. Like every nerve under my skin was playing the drums. I was so agitated! Any little thing could have caused me to erupt. I tried to focus but walked around foggy. Not even cognizant enough to pray or speak about it. It was too undefined still. I wasn't weepy yet, just jittery. The only way I can describe it is as numb panic.

Fearful questions fueled the jitters. Will he get there safely? Will he be scared? Will he suffer an injury? Will he have everything he needs? Overwhelming, sloppy fear! Then he called. He shared his back to back plans with me and I tried to squeeze myself into his full schedule and it hit hard. Not even an hour later the weepy feeling was swimming under the surface. One little thing could have set me off.

Good grief. It's actually happening and I know this week will zoom by...then I'll have to go on next week as though nothing happened. But it will have happened. As if my life was fed into a shredder and cut into fragments of memories.