"Instead of rushing off right after graduation, we got bonus dinners, family time together, and the kind of unplanned conversations you can't schedule on FaceTime. When he finally did move, it wasn't so bad. New York is only a three-and-a-half-hour train ride away. I knew I could hop up for a weekend visit if I missed him too much. The distance was manageable - just far enough for him to be independent, but close enough to comfort me."
"After graduating in 2022, my daughter lived nearby for three years. Even though we didn't see each other every day - or even every week -just knowing she was only 30 minutes away felt like a safety net. I could meet her for lunch, she could stop by for dinner, or we could go shopping together. As I flew back from Chicago, I realized that this isn't just about miles; it's about a shift in how our family life looks and feels."
Moving a daughter hundreds of miles to Chicago created simultaneous pride and sorrow. The daughter had lived nearby for three years, providing a felt safety net for lunches, dinners, shopping trips, and spontaneous visits. A son's move to New York felt manageable because a brief train ride allowed weekend visits, bonus dinners, and unplanned conversations that FaceTime cannot replicate. The physical distance changed daily routines and family dynamics, producing an ache at the empty chair and the loss of last-minute moments. Grief appears in ordinary milestones, while pride comes from children’s courage to pursue new cities, knowing they can return home.
Read at Business Insider
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