I never realized that there are some people out there who don’t get along with their moms. “Daddy’s girl” isn’t a thing to me, so picturing someone else who doesn’t have a mom isn’t something that’s ever crossed my mind. I’m definitely a “Momma’s girl,” and I know now that I always will be.

A few weeks ago I was packing up my stuff to officially move down to Arizona, versus just going for the school year. As I was packing, my mom came down and just stared at me while I was packing (This is something my mom just does sometimes and it drives me insane). Like I normally do when she does this, I got upset and asked her why she was hovering again. My mom replied, “It’s just different this time.”

The first time I said goodbye for a long time was when I first moved in to my dorm room. I was too high on life and finally being in college on my own to even be sad. Even though I’m so excited to have the best roommates and a picture perfect apartment, this goodbye was different.

It was a goodbye that was a little bit of a letting go. My mom didn’t want to leave because she felt like she couldn’t help me, but really it was just the first time I actually have something all to myself, and I wanted to make it perfect on my own.

Eventually, we all have to grow up, but it’s good to know that there will always be someone there to take care of you, even if they’re 1250 miles away.