I was overjoyed when my daughter, the ever-charming Bella, graduated from high school this past spring. Finally, I thought, all the nonsense was behind us. But I was mistaken.
This summer, Bella has been back home, juggling her movie theater job while spending more time with us than I anticipated. As the clock ticks down to August 22nd, when we’ll move her and her belongings to Burlington, Vermont, I can already feel a pang of sadness creeping in. Right now, though? I’m not exactly feeling sentimental.
Currently, I’m navigating her endless requests for egg salad sandwiches and mall trips. She seems perpetually incapable of locating a beach towel—or any towel, for that matter. And let’s not even discuss the mystery of her favorite sandals. I can only hope her future roommates are better at keeping track of her belongings than I am. I also wonder if they have mastered the fine art of boiling an egg. Perhaps there should be a section on the roommate matching forms for culinary skills?
Probably not. This is likely one of the reasons kids go off to college. Beyond the educational aspect, I suspect that learning to manage her own possessions and preparing a simple meal will be as vital to her college experience as organic chemistry.
Knowing Bella’s personality, I’m betting she’ll gather a group of friends who’ll handle these responsibilities for her. She has a knack for attracting followers—over the past 18 years, I’ve been one of them. But I’m counting down the days until August 22nd.
It feels like a release date—like I’m escaping from a long-term confinement. It truly does.
I’ve made every effort to teach Bella self-sufficiency. Some lessons have stuck—she knows her bank balance to the penny, can dress herself, and is remarkably punctual. She gets her assignments done on time, a trait she inherited from me.
However, like her father, she struggles with scheduling appointments, whether it be for car maintenance or a dermatologist visit. Yet, I’ve noticed she has no trouble booking mani-pedis. Thankfully, she won’t have her car on campus next year, but she will need to find a dermatologist—after years and countless dollars spent managing her acne, I hope she can handle it. At least if she neglects her skin, her nails will look fabulous. I’m sure she’s already Yelped the best nail salons in Burlington, VT.
Bella often talks about her desire to become an independent woman. I’ve suggested that mastering her own laundry would be a great first step, along with retrieving her immunization records from the pediatrician. I think she’s completed one load of laundry in her life. As for those records, I know I’ll have to handle that too. They’re just as important for me as they are for her—my release date depends on them.
During one of our many mall outings to gather supplies, we shared a meal together. Bella expressed her concern about global injustices and her hope to make a difference in the world, whether during or after college. I commended her admirable aspirations but cheekily suggested she start by making a difference in my world—like picking up after herself, cooking her own pasta, or purchasing her own strawberries. She rolled her eyes, clearly thinking, “Mom, I’m talking about changing the WORLD!”
I understood her point. She often criticizes my housekeeping skills, so I seized the moment to remind her of Gandhi’s wisdom: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” She looked at me incredulously, questioning whether I was undermining Gandhi’s message by applying it to something as trivial as laundry.
I can’t say for certain, having never met Gandhi myself, but I imagine he would support my efforts. I’m sure he had teenagers who rolled their eyes at him too. I challenged her to find me a picture of Gandhi in a wrinkled or dirty sari. I’m still waiting for that evidence.
Determined to embody the change I wish to see, I’m planning to do some cleaning and organizing today—after all, I want to make Gandhi proud. (Don’t we all?) But first, I need to call the pediatrician’s office and the car dealership to sort out a few things for Bella. Who knows how long that will take?
I can almost hear Gandhi “tsking” at me right now. I’m positive he’s shaking his head. Meanwhile, I’m just repeating to myself, “August 22nd, August 22nd, August 22nd!”
For those interested in exploring home insemination options, check out this at-home intracervical insemination syringe kit. And for more comprehensive information about pregnancy, this resource on IVF is an excellent read.
In summary, while the countdown to August 22nd brings a mix of relief and nostalgia, it also highlights the growth Bella will experience as she embarks on her new journey.
Keyphrase: countdown to college
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]