From the time you first take a child to school, you know that one day you'll really have to take him to school. If all goes according to plan, you know that some day he'll want to go to college. God willing, he'll have that opportunity, and you'll be happy for him.
But you still have to take him.
And so we took Preston to college on Friday. It was a lovely day, all in all. The weather was fairly mild by North Carolina standards. We moved all his stuff into his room and then we all went to downtown Chapel Hill, ate lunch at a cool pizza place, and did a little shopping. Then we drove around the campus and Preston pointed out several UNC landmarks to us. Finally, though, it was time to leave him at his dorm.
But then a wonderful thing happened. A door in the hallway opened and out stepped a couple of really nice guys. They introduced themselves. Then another door opened, and another. All the guys in the suite came out to the hallway to meet one another.
"Hey, you guys want a cookie?" Preston asked them.
"What kind?" one of them queried.
"Chocolate chip," answered Preston. "She made them," he said, pointing to me.
Just like that, the ice was broken. There they were, brand new to UNC, but already they were together, sharing cookies and stories and life. And I knew it was going to be okay.
Thank you, God, for the privilege of having a son like Preston. Thank you for giving him the opportunity to go to college. And thank you for prompting me to make those cookies.
college! we will be there in two years....glad it went well. i am new to your blog - are you from NC? i am from teh northwestern portion of the state!
ReplyDeleteOh, Richella, reading this really gave me a sense of what it must be like to take a child to college. Like dropping them off on the first day of preschool, but times 100! How wonderful that the suitemates are good guys and that you can break the ice with cookies. It's definitely not that easy with girls.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Go 'Heels! ;)
Such a sweet story, Richella -- and I hope you are doing okay, recovering from the college drop-off!
ReplyDeleteI remember the ice breaker on my first day of college. It was raining hard. I had an umbrella. "Do you want to share?" I asked a girl sitting next to me, before we were about to traipse across the quad in the downpour. We are still friends to this day.
What a bittersweet day! I'm sure your boy will settle in just fine and make lots of friends.
ReplyDeleteOh my! I'm having a hard enough time thinking about my youngest going off to pre-k this year let alone college. :-( I know I will blink and be there before I realize it and I'm grateful for so many going before me who are showing me how to let go with grace and a lot of prayer...oh and cookies! :-)
ReplyDeleteVanessa
This one is breaking my heart....I know it's a good thing, but still. Love you so...
ReplyDeleteLook at the power of cookies! I can't imagine what it feels like to take your babies to college! He will do great though, how proud you must be.
ReplyDeleteI'll be taking my oldest to preschool for the first time next week. I know in a blink of an eye it will be college. Tears. Somedays I can't wait, but I know it will be harder than I can imagine.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post Richella! It is so hard to let our kids grow up huh? Bless your heart! I am so glad you made those cookies! Your son will be just fine...because I know you have raised him right!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a sweet lady!
Love, Linda
This is just so sweet. Makes me wish I had made cookies for my daughter and her friends. There's always tomorrow! :)
ReplyDeleteHope the adjustment goes o.k. for you, my friend.
I just want to tell you how much I enjoy your blog and your posting. And the whole Grace Imparted is what my blog, "Unwrapping the Gifts of God" is all about! So fun to see how God repeats Himself when He wants His people to really get it...
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for allowing me to link up! I tried to use your button, but for some reason it wouldn't copy and paste. so I just did a manual link up.
Wow! You have raised such a wonderful young man. I just love all of your posts lately. :)
ReplyDeleteI see many care packages full of cookies in his future. :)
ReplyDeleteGo Tarheels!
I had so many friends sending their kids off to college this week . . . I just had a lump in my throat all week long.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda
oh dear friend... kleenex for you & me BOTH! i think the love that is packed into a home-made chocolate chip cookie is almost as good as it gets :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteOH My that gave me goose bumps just thinking about. My boy wants to go to UNC big time. What an awesome school. Big time partying goings on there on the weekends LOL!~ I have a post on it somewhere on my blog. You should go check it out. Your son is so handsome and so very fortunate to be going to an awesome school. Love the entire area. Loved the break the ice story.
ReplyDeleteRichella, I will bake your cookies when I take Lacey & Reid to college some day! Such a sweet story. I will definitely remember this. Remind me when the time comes, okay?
ReplyDeleteI bet you were at Pepper's!=) That is our favorite! I started following your blog awhile back and THEN realized you were in my neck of the woods! We live in Chapel Hill and my husband is getting his PHD in Chapel Hill but I work at a Christian school in Durham! Small world=)
ReplyDelete