Changes in the Ratterman House

Jack officially flew the coop a few weeks ago, moving into his dorm at Northwestern. The whole process has been a whirlwind, so much so that I haven’t had much time to stop and get sad about it. (Okay, maybe a little!)

The truth is, while this is a new chapter for him, me and the rest of the family, I’m really not sad. I’m excited for him. Though I will say that after getting back to the house from the airport, I was a little teary-eyed to see Jack’s car in the driveway and know that he wouldn’t be moving it anytime soon.

Thankfully, Jack’s bedroom isn’t empty. Charlie and Jack had switched rooms a few weeks prior, so I don’t have to walk by an empty bedroom. And though Charlie’s old room is unoccupied, Charlie is still in the house. It’s easier.

Something else that makes Jack leaving a little easier is knowing that I’m going to see him again soon. We’ll be visiting him in a few weeks, to help him finish getting settled. Then we’ll see him on his televised soccer games. We’ll be out to visit him in October, then we’ll be back out for family weekend and he’ll be home for the winter holiday. Knowing when we’ll see him next means we know we’ll just have to wait a few weeks. If we didn’t have that plan in place, I know it would be a much bigger challenge.

Plus, the kids and I have been FaceTiming, SnapChatting and texting him pretty much daily. I wonder what parents did before all this technology was available!?

And as for the other kids? Absence will make the heart grow fonder, all the way around. The time together when Jack is home or when we’re visiting will be that much more precious and appreciated by everyone.

I love that Jack is at a great school, doing what he loves–doing what he’s supposed to be doing. But I think I’ll miss having my extra driver around until Charlie gets his license!