What few prepare you for regarding the sophomore send-off is that it can be just as challenging as the freshman drop-off—perhaps even more so. No one mentions that the child you tearfully left at college just last spring will return home transformed into a young adult—one who relies on you even less than he did a year prior.
It’s not something he’ll share, but your son might feel somewhat disheartened about returning home for the summer. He may not be eagerly anticipating sharing space with his siblings again or adhering to your household rules. The independence he’s enjoyed makes this familiar town feel less like home.
No one tells you that, despite his growing independence, you’ll still find yourself cooking, cleaning, and doing his laundry all summer long. Yet, you won’t mind it because it signifies your beloved boy is back.
What you might not expect is that this nearly grown man will occupy your entire couch in the first days after his return—exhausted from finals, packing, and celebrating. You’ll walk past and pause, just for a moment, to watch him sleep like you did when he was little, and you’ll marvel at how swiftly time has flown.
No one warns you that this young adult will still bicker with his younger brother, and that you’ll find yourselves arguing over curfews, wet towels on the floor, and the last of the milk, just as you did when he was 15.
What’s hard to admit, but true, is that you might feel a sense of relief when he heads back to school in August—just a little.
No one tells you that as you scroll through social media and see others’ photos of their freshmen drop-offs, you’ll feel a mix of relief and a tinge of sadness. That day was significant—another milestone passed.
When it’s time for him to leave again, your son will casually wave goodbye as he drives away. It’s no big deal for him. He’s got this. In that moment, your heart will swell with pride while simultaneously breaking with sadness.
What few acknowledge is that everything you wished for—new friends, fresh experiences, independence, and growth—are the very things that draw him away from you, and he’s already begun to drift.
Deep down, you know he’ll come home less frequently during his sophomore year, continuing to mature. Perhaps next summer or the one after, an internship or study abroad opportunity will claim his time.
You understand that you may have just spent your last summer with your boy.
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Summary
The sophomore send-off can be just as challenging, if not more so, than the freshman drop-off. As your son returns home, you’ll notice he’s grown more independent and may not quite feel at home anymore. Despite the adjustments and the familiar arguments, you’ll cherish the moments together, even if it means a little relief when he goes back to college.