“This, too, shall pass”

Read the comments (or add your own)

1. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 11:58 am #

   Debbi aka Sparkle Chick says:

   Beautiful pick Jeanne…the butterfly is so appropriate.
   The rites of passage are bittersweet indeed. Thank goodness for today’s technology.
   I remember when our son headed to Los Angeles…I wore the colors black & blue for a week…that’s how I felt…bruised.
   Hang in there my friend! This too shall pass. big hugs!

2. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 12:01 pm #

   Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

   Jeanne, this is a beautiful pick!!! The sentiment expressed in your title is so true. Wonderful colors and gold pieces! Love the butterfly, symbolizing Sam spreading her wings to fly. Remember — the two most important things we can give our children are roots and wings…..

   BTW, blue is NOT depressing. LOL Now if you had done an all-black-pick, I’d have been on the first plane to Long Island to cheer you up in person!

3. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 12:03 pm #

   Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

   I have a little pillow that hangs on the door knob in our family room that reads “This, too, shall pass.” It is amazing how comforting those words are. I’m sending you great big Chicky hugs today, Jeanne!!!

4. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 12:06 pm #

   Jeannes Gems - Gem Chick says:

   Thank you, Debbi and Lynn!
   I’ll probably be checking the orientation schedule for the next few days so I know what she’s doing. LOL

5. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 12:11 pm #

   Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

   Sounds pretty normal to me, Jeanne! It’s nice to be able to picture where our children are when they’re not at home.

6. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 12:27 pm #

   Fashion Chick aka SC says:

   Beautiful colors, Jeanne! Give yourself time to adjust to Sam being away. We Chicks will keep you company!

7. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 12:31 pm #

   FaeryGoth Chick says:

   Love this pick Jeanne, hope you are feeling ok. Hugs to you…

8. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 1:09 pm #

   AllureofGemsGlamJulia says:

   Beautiful pick:)

   Know that feeling , been there

   You will get used to it… to the point…

9. 

   On Aug 20, 2009 at 1:26 pm #

   Classy Chick JbyJill says:

   Awwwwww!!!! My thoughts are with you…. I’m sure it is very hard…. Hope you are feeling better. Beautiful pick!

10. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 1:44 pm #

    Jeannes Gems - Gem Chick says:

    I’ve had some phone calls from friends and all of your wishes help. I’m a sharer, so I certainly appreciate your support.

11. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 1:49 pm #

    Chicky Bear-Tara says:

    This is a beautiful pick. A favorite. How far away is the college? It’s so much easier to stay in touch with people now. Do you IM with cameras so you can see each other? I don’t know how you feel yet, but, my son just started Jr. High this week and so know the feeling of growing so fast….

12. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 1:52 pm #

    J Yee smart chick says:

    Jeanne,

    Thanks so much for sharing this very lovely Pick about taking your daughter to college, what a major transition for you… and as others are saying, to give yourself time to adjust to this new chapter in your lives with each other!!! definitely not easy given your comments, sending you and Sam lots of good wishes and hugs!!! Your Pick helps me remember how it was for my parents when my second sister left Hawaii years ago to go to college in St. Louis, MO – she came home and visited during the summer usually, a big adjustment for my parents and the rest of us. And I know my parents have had to undergo similar transitions with several of us moving away from home to take jobs in other states. Wishing you both all the best!!!

13. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 1:55 pm #

    Jeannes Gems - Gem Chick says:

    Tara – the trip can take anywhere from 6 1/2 hrs to almost 9 depending on traffic. I-95 can be brutal through and south of DC. I discovered this morning that Amtrak takes about 5 1/2 hrs from her town into Manhattan. Looks like that’ll be her best bet for travel. We’re still 1 1/2 + from NYC, but I think it’s still better than flying.

    As far as camera’s – Sam is on Skype, so that’s my next download. I’m trying to step back and not contact her too much. But boy – it’s tough.

14. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 2:09 pm #

    Chicky Bear-Tara says:

    That is quite a trip to make often….not too bad though. I know what you mean. I’ve been off this week while my kids went back to school and started out checking on my son at his bus stop two or three times. I was more nervous than he was I think! I’ve since let off checking him. Maybe this weekend you could talk to her on skype longer. When my sister was in Australia, we would talk to her through skype….her, my other three sisters, and my mom. We had a blast doing that!

15. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 5:46 pm #

    Karen H aka Fancy Chick says:

    Very beautiful pick!

16. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 6:55 pm #

    Jeannes Gems - Gem Chick says:

    Thank you so much everyone!
    Joyce, I can’t imagine how your parents felt. At least we can drive. There’s a student from Hawaii at Sam’s school. That’s almost impossible for visiting.

17. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 7:22 pm #

    Happy Chick aka Harriet says:

    Ok Jeanne! Hold on….and then get a good grip and hold on some more.
    Yeah, it’s hard when they go away. My kids only went 2 and 1/2 hours away, but it was a huge adjustment. I missed then so much. But the bonus was spending more time with my husband. We grew even closer with the kids both out of the house, almost like a honeymoon.
    (Only no one got food poisoning-so that beat the original honeymoon. )
    Every time we saw either one of them —after their first semester— it seemed like they were more mature. They still needed us, just not in the same ways. Like Lynn said: Roots and Wings.

    The really hard one for me was Amy moving from West Texas to Kentucky to attend seminary. Thank the good Lord for cell phones and computers to stay in touch.

    Trust me: 5 or 6 hours is OK. If Sam says it is too long of a trip, tell her she is mistaken. Then tell her you carried her for 9 months, spent “X” hours in labor to get her here, raised her, stayed up late nights while she dated, etc…and you definitely expect her home for the Holidays!!!!
    BTW the number of hours in labor can go up every time you tell the story, as well as the number of times you stayed up all night while she was sick and wanted Mommy! And if she looks unconvinced, tell her about the times you cleaned up after projectile vomiting. ROTFLOL

    This is all the stuff you want to say, and probably never will. But it is OK if you think it once in a while. LOL

    Meantime, we are here for you. Some of us have already been there, some are now, and some will be one day. Just let us know if you need a laugh or a friendly shoulder. Chicky hugs headed your way.

18. 

    On Aug 20, 2009 at 7:24 pm #

    Happy Chick aka Harriet says:

    Btw. I really like this pick and have put it in my favs.

19. 

    On Aug 21, 2009 at 6:24 am #

    Jeannes Gems - Gem Chick says:

    Harriet – food poisoning on your honeymoon?! oh my! You’ll have to tell us that story sometime.

    This all would have been easier if Sam had been excited. But she was scared and didn’t want to leave home. (even though it is what she originally wanted) I know – fear of the unknown. But when your usually strong and independent daughter cries herself to sleep, it wrenches your heart.

    Sam “called” on Skype last night! She had a genuine smile and sounded upbeat! She made some contacts during the day and was meeting up with some girls for the night time activities. She’s not exactly bonding with her roommates yet, but is making friends to text and share music with! Yay!

    BTW – sure do wish I had some apatite! But the others are in stock. I’ll have to make something!

    Thanks again to all for being there for me!

20. 

    On Aug 21, 2009 at 10:47 am #

    Happy Chick aka Harriet says:

    I’ so sorry that Sam was having second thoughts about going so far from home. It is such a big transition. She will do fine and settle in…she is still your smart, capable daughter.

    Amy told us that her parents got smarter when she went away to college–all that stuff she took for granted and now had to think about. LOL
    Then she took a job even farther away, as youth director at a Wesley center for college students for a year. We got quite a few calls, about everything from car stuff to plumbing. Amy’s favorite comment was that WE would be geniuses if she moved as far awawy as Alaska. ROTFLOL

21. 

    On Aug 21, 2009 at 10:49 am #

    Happy Chick aka Harriet says:

    Sorry: away

22. 

    On Aug 21, 2009 at 11:12 am #

    Valentine Chick says:

    I’m glad that you can IM with your daughter! That will make it seem like she is very close to home! Best wishes for a good first year in college!!

23. 

    On Aug 22, 2009 at 6:14 am #

    Jeannes Gems - Gem Chick says:

    very funny Harriet!