Surviving the First Semester as a College Mom

My first semester as a college mom is almost over. As I helped my oldest daughter set up her dorm room in August, her Thanksgiving break seemed so far away. Now it is almost here, and I don't know where the time went. This first semester has been a rollercoaster of emotions - for both of us.

The nervous freshman that we said goodbye to in Arizona has been replaced with a confident young woman preparing to take on the world. So much has happened since she left, it sometimes seems like she's been gone 3 years instead of 3 months. And, I'm happy to say, our relationship has gotten stronger. My daughter and I have learned that physical distance isn't a barrier to the things you need most from your mom. We've become pros at the virtual hug.

In addition to the usual college life issues - finding classes, homework, football games, and, yes, parties, my daughter and I also had to deal with learning she has a life changing chronic illness. She was just diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Because she is over 2,000 miles away, I wasn't able to be there for all the doctor's appointments, tests, and trials she endured. She doesn't have a car and had to take a bus to all of her appointments, then ride her bicycle another mile to the doctor's office. Thanks to modern technology, I was able to be with her every step of the way. She would call me when she was on her way to the doctor and I would "wait at the bus stop and ride the bus" home with her after she saw the doctor. We cried together all the way home more than once. I can't tell you how many times my heart broke as I listened to her frustrations as they tried test after test with no results.

We still aren't at the end of the road. She has to see a specialist and learn to change the way she eats. And, I have to learn how to incorporate her needs into our family diet when she comes home.

My daughter has grown up a lot because of this. I am filled with pride at how she learned how to negotiate the Tricare website and change her doctor after the one her father had selected for her wasn't able to see her; at how she handled scheduling her appointments, getting her prescriptions, and paying the bills. And, I am most proud of how she didn't let this get her down or affect her goal of becoming a film producer. While all of this was going on, she also found time to run for hall council, join the outdoors club, play intramural volleyball, assist on several senior film projects, and go sandboarding in Mexico.

She won't be coming home for Thanksgiving. Another causalty of her being so far away. The Thanksgiving break marks my "she is almost home" point. I will miss her and anxiously look forward to seeing the young woman who will be coming home in December.