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To the Man Who Video Taped a Toddler Screaming as Her Mom Overdosed on Heroin

What not to do when you see a helpless child crying for her mother...

This Grandma Waved to These Students Every Day—When She Wasn’t There, They Had to Find Her

One morning, the "grandma in the window" was no longer there...

Take 2 Minutes and Experience Autism Through Carly’s Eyes—It’s Breathtaking

This is breathtaking. See inside the mind of someone with autism, and you’ll never look at people with this condition the same way again.

What No One Told Me About Sending My Firstborn Off to College

We knew it was coming, but did it have to come so fast? With my first child going to university, my whole world changed. Some good, some not-so-good. Just changed.

No One Told Me That My First Child Going to University Would Change Everything.

Everything.

It’s changed the dinner table, the sibling dynamic, even tree decorating (we put up our Christmas tree before Thanksgiving (a first!) because my oldest was home to see her siblings in Les Mis for a hot minute and we had a small window to do it together).

No one told me that our little family unit would never be the same again. It’s not worse in any way — it may be better, but believe me, it’s different.

No one told me that transitioning my beautiful kid out of our home would change the way I parent the rest of the kids left at home. It’s made me a better mom — more patient, more reflective, less uptight, less controlling. It’s made me relax and relish my children more … because I know what’s coming.

No one told me that I would live in this bittersweet intersection of watching my child thrive outside of my care and longing to have her back home at the same time — but knowing that neither of us would be content if I got my way.

No one told me that it would be fun and hilarious watching my kid learn and experience new things away from home. (This week she asked me how long it would take to microwave a turkey. I didn’t hesitate to answer her prank question (2 hours, rotate every 15 minutes) because I totally believed this was a cooking lesson she needed to experience).

No one told me how much easier it was for my newly budget-conscious, work study, college kid to spend my money than hers. If I’m in a 100-mile radius, she wants me to put gas in her car.

Kristen Welch
Kristen Welch
Kristen Welch is a Texas wife and mom of three. She blogs at We Are THAT Family, runs a nonprofit called Mercy House supporting pregnant teens in Kenya and is the author of the book Rhinestone Jesus. You can follow her on Twitter here and read more blogs here!

To the Man Who Video Taped a Toddler Screaming as Her Mom Overdosed on Heroin

What not to do when you see a helpless child crying for her mother...

This Grandma Waved to These Students Every Day—When She Wasn’t There, They Had to Find Her

One morning, the "grandma in the window" was no longer there...

Take 2 Minutes and Experience Autism Through Carly’s Eyes—It’s Breathtaking

This is breathtaking. See inside the mind of someone with autism, and you’ll never look at people with this condition the same way again.