Meredith,

Just maybe you were both sharing your sorrow equally, just one more outward than another, and now sharing your joy together equally. He is a part of you, and the emotions shared, can never be truly separated.

It is kind of funny, in their cribs being able to see them going to college just does not equate, such a little one all we see is the next move. But looking back that crib is so much more.

Blessings,
Linda

I can't begin to think about how I'll cry when my girls go to college. I tear up when I leave my daughter at camp for a week...she's ready for us to leave and takes one look at me and tells her dad to "take mom home".
I'm sure knowing that Ben is settled in and having fun will make the difference for you !

"Something tells me that when it comes to sending your baby to college, there are no crib notes…"

Baby (to college)...crib (notes)

bwahahahahaha Pun intended?

Meredith,
I few days ago I left a comment for you. It said this is what we raise our children to do. Many parents who send their children off to their first year of college are now listening to their children complain that they are homesick and they want to come home. Be happy and be very very proud of the boy you and your husband have raised.

Meredith, isn't motherhood the most guilt-ridden job??!! I laughed when you said were you a crummy mother. Of course not! It's such a new experience having them gone. You don't know what to feel. But I can tell you from experience when my child left(and I only have one) that HER happiness washed away MY sadness at missing her. I think it is the best feeling in the world to hear from them and they are happy. So, no, don't cry by the bedroom door!

As a college student myself, I feel you're reaction is fantastic! When my mom "let me go" my freshman year, there were tears of course, but she kept the distance. It's actually been this year (my senior year) that she's started getting "clingier." Probably because I'm looking for jobs in other timezones. My point? I miss when she would wait for me to call. Seriously, calling me too much is just an added stresser. Once in a while; once a week; that's good. That's enough:) Again, you're doing great, and I feel the key thing to remember is to recognize your emotions, whatever they are, and deal with them in the way that works best for you; everyone's situation is different!

Hi Meredith-- I saw you on Conan O'brien Fri. night, you were so funny, I'm still laughing. I used to chug NyQuil also -- it really knocks you out when you need to get to sleep -- the problem is I also slept through most of the next day. (HA HA), and being 1/2 day late for work did not impress my Boss. I was afraid I'd get fired. Anyway i was in NYC and at the Plaza last week, and I saw you sitting in the studio at your desk, So I waved to you and threw you kisses. You grined and stared at me like I was a crazy person. I hope I did't scare you! But I watch the Today Show everyday, and I always see people waving in that window, so I didn't think you would mind. I think I scared Ann also, because when I shook hands with her I couldn't let go of her hand. I'm always in Awe of her beauty when I see her in person. Most celebrities are better looking on TV than in Person,-- But with Ann it is just the opposite. I am such a Klutz -- She was co-hosting that day, and I hope I didn't make her late.

This has nothing to do with your current blog. Just wanted to let you know your dress today was terrific. You have great legs. Keep showing thiem off!

Oh! Sweety, you are just being a Mom, and we are allowed to feel the way we do, when our babies go off to school and set the agenda, for their own lives. Just remember, what a great kid you've raised, and know he loves you, as much as you love him, or, he wouldn't have called you. It's alright to shed a few tears, I did, and it shows just how much, and what a truely great Mom you are.

Love to you Meredith!!!!

Meredith,

I have 2 small children and am dreading the day that they are off to college as well. It was hard enough when my daughter started Pre K this year! Imagine those who's children are suffering with pediatric cancer and the poor parents who will never get to these milestones that we've been so blessed to receive. Al gave a couple seconds of airtime to some families supporting the Loneliest Road campaign today but these brave fathers who are cycling cross country to raise funds and awareness for the innocent children that are fighting this horrid disease need your help to possibly save these precious children. Please consider having these brave fathers on your show to tell the country about the heroeic efforts these fathers are going through to save their children. You can find more information at www.loneliestroad.org . These are not professional athletes but everyday fathers that would go to the ends of the earth to help their children and many others all over the world.

Would like to congratulate Ann on her award winning reporting, but where is her blog?

Would also like to commend all of the women on the fourth hour of Today for demonstrating pride in their heritage and leaving their hair naturally dark. It's significant for young girls with dark hair to see that the look is valued.

It's also nice to see women who are embracing their natural gray, like the lady who was on a couple of weeks ago.

On a different note, when the singing segment came up this morning, we all started to groan and roll our eyes. It took us back to when Katie considered The Today Show her personal stage from which to grace us with her self perceived talents. Please don't go down that road Meredith. Viewers got tired of one of the hosts trying to grab all of the attention for herself and continue to be tired of that personality.

Hope you're all celebrating that Ann is being honored for such substantial reporting.

Our son moved 4 hours away when he married. They now have a 1 year old and another on the way. Do I wish he lived in our city? Of course, but he is HAPPY what more could a Mother ask for.

Our local newspaper has a weekly column written by an amazingly funny woman. Her most recent column dealt with the departure of her twin son and daughter to their respective colleges to begin their freshman year. Her daughter had roommate trouble for the first few days that finally resolved itself. The interesting message conveyed via this particular column was that a mother is only as happy as her most miserable child. When they are miserable - so are we. Consider yourself fortunate that Ben is happy. It most assuredly has put the smile on your face too!

Mer, you are right. There ARE no crib notes. When our only child (daughter) when off to Texas Tech several years ago, I thought my life was over. My whole identity had been wrapped up in being Mom to this child. Surprisingly, I found that after a very short while, the empty nest wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be. I rediscovered date night with my husband, found some new favorite girlfriends to hang with and new movies to watch and books to read. I loved my new life! Did I feel guilty for having fun and doing what I wanted to do - YES, but it didn't last long. ;-) Best regards to Ben and the rest of the Cohen family!

Hurray for you and Ben! You both are feeling exactly like you should - happy. How wonderful for you to feel the joy your son is feeling. Enjoy every minute of it and don't listen to others. Take the journey together. Some will never know the joy of raising a wonderful child and seeing him go out into the world and flourish.

Oh Meredith,
I just love reading your blog. You are so witty. I loved the "no crib notes" comment from this post! I read your blog daily and you give insight and inspiration to a realtivley new mom of a 17 month old. New in comparsion to your baby!! :)But thank you for being just you! Adn thank you fro sharing your life expereinces with me!
Take Care,
Thanksgiving is only 58 days away! :0)
Meg from CT

Hi Meredith,
This is a first for me, but as a mother, I have to respond to your concerns. I think part of the reason we have anxiety when our children leave home for college stems not only from our own sense of loss, but from our concern that our "baby" will be okay without us...that he will still eat, sleep comfortably, have friends, be warm, be happy. You now know that your son is surviving without you...he still needs you, believe me, but this is his first step away from you, and he is doing very well! This allows you the freedom to feel good for him and for yourself...no guilt necessary! From here on in, between his visits home and your visits to him (on suitable occasions of course), you will have fun sharing in his newly expanded world. (For my part, my oldest daughter had very little use for me freshman year, she was still pulling away...but as the years progressed, she came to appreciate me again...and we are wonderfully close.)Be happy...be sad...it's all part of the process!

Hi Meredith,

This is not about parents' thoughts after their children went off to college, but on a similar vein...I completed my doctorate in Special Education at 56 last January (after 6 years) and your thoughts about your son were similar to my older children's thoughts about me as I commuted back and forth to Boston for classes! I just got a job as ab Assistant Professor at the College of New Rochelle and am desperate to find the video you narrated in 1994 called Sean's story. I have called ABC to no avail. Can you help me to locate it? I am teaching an introductory classin Special Education and it would be invaluable to me/ Thank you!

Esta

Don't feel like a crummy mother! By no means. What until the last one goes and you and Richard will find out that you can "party hearty" and not embarass anyone!

We just took our oldest daughter to college, and I too felt the exact same way when I left her. But funny when she called me later that week she was thrilled at everything she was experiencing. She said she felt as though she "belonged there". Thats all I needed to hear.

You should be happy you didn't send him to Iraq like so many other mothers have done.

Meredith,
Tell Ben good luck at college this year for me. I love your blog. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Rachael S.

I still miss my daughter and she has been away at college for 6 years. We are close enough (50 miles apart) that we are able to schedule either a breakfast, lunch or dinner at least three times a month. It is so much fun. I will always miss her living with me at home but it is so good to see her happy and full of life. It is nice, though, to not have to worry so much about what she is doing all the time and not having to see all the mess she creates! It's a mixed blessing. I'm happy with it and with her.
Kim

meredith,
I've been a fan of yours ever since your WJAR days, and you really won me over when you took a stand on 60 minutes!
Anyway, we took our youngest off to Hofstra a few weeks ago, and it was really hard. I was basically in denial all summer about it, but reality set in when he went to orientation. He now has a new girfriend, who seems quite nice, and I feel like I've been pushed entirely out of his world. I guess that's the way it's supposed to be. We left our parents after all!
One thing that really got to me when we were helping him move in was that so many boys his age are off to the military instead, and I totally respect their decision, but sympathize so much with their mothers. At least I'm fairly confident that he'll be home for the holidays!
So, if you're really missing having an 18 year-old around for dinner, feel free to let me know and I'll send you his phone number - LOL!

Your happy for him, and that makes you the best mother in the world. You will forget or set aside any pain or discomfort to you for your children. And thats the way it's suppose to be. Don't change for a moment.

Joy to you..
Dorothy from grammoloyg
call your grandma

My son is 2000 miles away, too - and I'm not as sad as I was when we dropped him off last week either. Part of the sadness is that they've moved on, I think. I have found out that you get much more than 1 word answers when they call you. But now with e-mail and text messaging, it's a lot easier to stay in touch. We used to buy those phone cards when my daughter went to school.

Oh Meredith......I can feel your anguish. I have two daughters that are living away and attending college. One is in Chicago and the other in Minneapolis. I am so happy that they have matured and turned into such great young ladies. But I must say that every time they fly home I cry (good tears) and every time I say good bye I cry again. It has become a joke in the family. Enjoy the phone calls and hope that he continues to call and fill you in on his life.

Meredith, I remember dropping off my daughter at college only 2 hours away, and holding my tears till I got in the car. I was so proud of myself. In July, I dropped her off at the airport for her to do her last semester in South Africa. That was just as hard, but as you say, to hear the joy and amazing (as she puts it) experiences she is having has made it easy for me to be soooooo Happy for her. She even wants me to join her and experience this adventure with her once she is out of school. I seriously have been thinking about it, but something is keeping me from going. I am learning to listen to my intuition, so I am hoping that in the near future both of my daughters and I can do this travel experience together. Watching our kids grow into Happy and Healthy and Responsible young adults is all we can hope for them and know we did a great job raising them. Even South Africa is just a phone call away, and to hear that happy voice on the other end is AMAZING.

merideth the ist years my daughter went to college i could not watch her get in her car and leave she is now a junior and I walk her to the car it will get easier I'm very ill and have the luxury of seeing her once every week or two she takes me to the dr or sees me in the hospital just hold on and cherish every moment you have with ben when he comes in

I absolutely love you. You have made watching Today more enjoyable. You have such a nice way with everyone. In particular, I love the chemistry you have with everyone, especially with Ann Curry. It even appears like you are dear friends and have a mutual respect for each other. She is lovely and a brilliant reporter. It really used to upset me the way Katie would treat her. She could be very fake and cold to her.

Ann is an ace and I loved how you stated that she was one of the nicest women on tv. You have brought such an energy to the show and I can tell how much Ann loves working with you as well as Matt and Al.

I loved how the ladies on the View welcomed you back and the wonderful relationship you developed, but more importantly maintained with him versus the two that left it in the past year.

You are a doll and you pump me up everyday as I get ready for work and take my 3 and 5 year old son and daughter to school. You are a class act and very funny and energizing. Thank you for making my morning.