My 19-year-old moved across the country with 4 days' notice. What he packed made it easier to let him go.
My 19-year-old packed lightly before moving across the country. I didn't realize he'd taken one sentimental childhood possession until I visited.
On a Monday, a young son declared to his mother that he would be moving 3,000 miles away by Thursday. The mother, who had experienced a similar transition at the same age, understood his need to leave. Upon visiting his new home, the mother found that he had brought with him a teddy bear he had owned since childhood. This oldest son was the author's only child for three years, and his departure taught her how to let go when the time came.
Despite the emotional challenges, the mother willingly supported her son's decision to move. The son, who was the first of five children to depart home, was riding with three other 19-year-olds across the country. Surprisingly, he packed even less than the author had when she moved. The mother, who had converted part of their small house into separate bedrooms for each child, was nervous about what she might find when clearing out the son's room.
Fortunately, she did not discover any illegal items in the small safe. The remaining belongings consisted mostly of clothes the son had outgrown, such as a hidden Playboy magazine. The most surprising item the son took with him was his childhood teddy bear, which he had carried since toddlerhood. Despite the significant distance between the mother and her son, the presence of the beloved teddy bear reminded the mother of their close bond.
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