How do you feel when you drop your kids off for University?

Over the last two weekends, I've had the pleasure of dropping both of my daughters off at their respective Universities in the north of England to start a new phase in their lives. This morning we awoke to a far tidier and quieter house. It is probably the biggest change in our household since they started school. Both journeys involved a round journey of 7-8 hours. Going up a car full of gear and a child in the back and coming back, the baby is gone with all their junk.

For our kids it is hopefully a new, rewarding and exciting phase of their lives. For us, things just got considerably quieter. For us as parents, we have the pride that both of the daughters have been able to continue their education at the college of their choice, doing subjects they want. There is however a twinge of sadness that we will not have them around. Who knows what the future will hold for them. Will they settle in? Will they be happy? For me I think it is great that they have a fantastic opportunity to be eased into an independent life. They are surrounded by opportunity and hopefully a great opportunity to meet new friends.

For us, we have a bit more time on our hands, a bit less mess to clean up, a few less meals to make. We won't be coming home to quite so many friends of our offspring dropping in, eating us out of house and home. Mind you we still have our teenage son, who is doing his GCSE's this year, so its  not completely dead in the house. Who will he argue with? He doesn't have his big sisters to comfort him when I tell him off. It is a big change.

It is all a bit strange at the moment. Exciting and a bit scary. Life is a funny old thing.