Spawn has decided to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's a pretty big deal. For the next 18 months (yep, we measure it just like baby age), she will be teaching people about the gospel. Hopefully a few of them will be interested.
People can tell you it's tough to see your kids leave the nest, but it doesn't fully prepare you for the pure, animal-level emotion that floods you as they begin the process. She's starting her week of at-home MTC and it already kind of feels like she's gone.
It was hard when she got too grown up to sit on my lap and watch "Survivorman" together as we ate "Survivor snacks" (they were Cheese-its). It was hard when she drove off to Jr. College the first time and we watched her on Maps to make sure she got there okay.
Change is hard for me. This one feels like one of those big, permanent things that you don't ever go back to being the same after. That's probably because that's true. She will come back far less timid and more independent that ever before. Parents know that's what kids need, and ultimately it's the whole purpose of raising them: "Learn to be a person. Go forth and be amazing."
It doesn't make the letting go any easier. Intellectually, I know how good and important this is. Viscerally, all I can feel is that my baby is leaving.
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