Missing my DS

[kpdad2015]

I've been thinking about how much I miss him since we dropped him off at Indoc. I understand you have to let go and they will have all these wonderful opportunities ahead of them.

At the same time we're preparing to drop his twin sister off at a state school about an hour from our house. Although she hasn't gone yet, I know I'll miss her too. I'm not sure I'll miss her as much. Yes some of that lessened anxiety maybe because she's 4+ hours closer, or she'll have her cell phone for ready contact.

The conclusion I've come to, is you miss your academy kid differently. My DS and I became closer than ever this year. He wrote, we (my wife and I) read and made suggestions on his application and nomination essays. We took multiple road trips to 2 of the academies. We reviewed completed forms for accuracy. We drove 2 hours each way to both apply for and pickup a TWIC, We stalked the mailman for each and every letter. We worked out together to get ready for the CFA/PFE's. We scheduled the DODMERB physical and all the others for shots and dental appointments for wisdom teeth etc. We shopped for everything on the list he was to bring. We worked out together to get ready for football and indoc. We talked through the anxiety in the days before he reported in.

I am truly happy for him, he will have opportunities that others can't even dream of.

But for me the process is so completely draining that all I'm left with is a giant hole where my DS used to be.