Like pulling off a bandaid quickly...

...that's what it's like when your child leaves home...and that's the best way...because to do it slowly hurts.

Rustown Art

 

And even though it hurts, too, to do it quickly, you'll have more time to recover and come to an understanding of the "new order" - you're no longer in charge of that life, but you can still be the parent and give encouragement and advice.  And even though it might hurt you both (after all, the band-aid suffers, too!) it will be easier if it isn't prolonged.

And that's how I wish it had been.

But now I know.  And there are three more band-aids to go...