To the Moms dropping off kids at college...

Are you feeling disconnected from yourself in the busyness of everyday life? It's time to rediscover your inner self through the joyful world of art. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to lose touch with our creative side and forget the simple pleasure of playful expression. That's why Creative Calm is here to guide you on a colorful journey back to yourself.

This week, my feed is full of proud but tearful moms standing in dorm rooms, hugging kids who suddenly look so much older, or driving home with an empty seat in the back.

If that’s you, first, I want to say: you’re not alone. 💙

Letting go of a child at this stage is one of the bravest things a parent does. For 18 years, your daily rhythm has been wrapped around their presence: making meals, driving to sports or part-time jobs, knowing their voice would pop in the room at any moment. And now, you’re asked to trust that they can take it from here. That’s both beautiful and excruciating.

Here’s what I hope you hold onto as you drive away from campus:

1. You’ve done your job well.

If they are at this point, navigating move-in day, schedules, and independence... it’s because you’ve guided them here. Every packed lunch, every boundary set, every late-night pep talk has mattered.

2. Pride and grief can live together.

You can be bursting with pride and aching with loss in the same breath. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or “too attached"...it means you’ve loved deeply.

3. The relationship isn’t ending, it’s changing.

Yes, the daily presence is gone. But you’re stepping into a new season where your child will often surprise you—calling with real conversations, showing you who they’re becoming, and inviting you into their grown-up world.

4. Now, it’s your turn, too.

Their next chapter has begun, and so has yours. This might be the season to rediscover old dreams, try new hobbies, or finally do the things you’ve postponed. Your identity is still unfolding, just like theirs.

5. You will adjust, slowly.

The silence at home may feel loud at first. You might cry in the grocery aisle or in the car. That’s okay. Over time, you’ll find a new rhythm, and that ache will soften into pride and gratitude.

So, to all the moms standing in dorm parking lots or quietly folding the last load of laundry at home, know this: your love has carried your child this far, and that love will continue to hold you both as you step into this next season.