Hello Northwestern! It’s Elizabeth’s Mom here – guest blogging in honor of Mother’s Day coming up this weekend. I’ve been thinking for days about what to write – I wanted to be relatable and current, but given that I went to college 20 something years ago…how current can I be?? So, I’m going back a bit and just telling a story:
I was the youngest in my family with all older brothers. Everyone protected me, everyone took care of me and I led a pretty sheltered life. We didn’t go on vacations much – we had a pool in our backyard and my parents used to say that that was our vacation! And it worked – our house was the one everyone came to and the one that always had the parties. Even better than that – I had a huge built in #1 fan – my Dad. My father thought I was fabulous no matter what I did (perhaps a byproduct of being a girl who didn’t get in trouble after all those boys??). Disgusting, burnt dessert I made – delicious! 4th grade poem about the American Revolution I wrote – award winning! A ‘C’ in Economics junior year of college – at least you understood some of it! It was a really nice way to grow up!
When it was time for me to go off to college, I applied to 4 schools – all in Connecticut where I lived. I went to Fairfield University – a mere 45 minutes from home. I arrived and found that I had a roommate from Chicago, IL (irony?)- where was this crazy place Chicago?? How could this girl, who only went home for Christmas and the end of the year, who had to FLY to get there for God’s sake, not be crying her eyes out like I was??? How could she be so happy all the time?? Well, she didn’t cry at all and she taught me a lot about myself that year. I learned that you could be adventurous and still have a connection. I learned that home was always there if you needed it – if only by phone or letter (OK, I’m dating myself with that reference). College and Jeanie taught me that there was a world beyond your hometown and it was OK to go out and find it.
Then…
Later, when I had kids, I always knew that I wanted to encourage them to go out and see what was out there. I loved that Elizabeth wanted to go to sleep away camp when she was 8 years old (and it’s OK that she only stayed for one of the two weeks…she did it!!). I loved that she went to Italy for a month one summer in high school to take classes. She was doing all the things that I was too timid to do! Then, when she was just starting to look at colleges, Northwestern came into her view and I was just so excited. Not only did NU offer all she was looking for, but it was in one of my favorite cities in the country, and it was home to 2 of my favorite people (shout out to Jeanie and SJFG!) who I knew would be there for her. This was great – and that’s what I told every single person who kept saying to me “aren’t you sad that Elizabeth is going so far away?” NO! Thrilled! And I kept it up too!
Until…that fateful day in September of 2009. We did the Wildcat Welcome stuff, we moved more things than really fit into a dorm room, we carried the little fridge up the stairs to 3rd floor Willard and it was time to say goodbye. I held it together, we had our last hugs and we left. We were in our hotel room picking up our luggage to go to the airport and I couldn’t move – we were going to FLY AWAY FROM OUR DAUGHTER! I turned to my husband and told him to stop what he was doing, and go get her. This was 100% unnatural and I had been wrong for years! She should come home, go to college in our town and it would all be OK!
Well, obviously, I came to my senses, we got on the plane and Elizabeth is doing just fine (me too!). We love that she is at NU – we watch the Big 10 network all the time, we wear our purple Wildcat sweatshirts with pride and we are hooked!
This was her adventure and she is making the most of it. She is involved in her sorority, writes this blog among other things, has changed her entire lifestyle to be healthy and I couldn’t be prouder. I don’t know where it will all take her, but I know one thing that won’t change– I am her #1 fan!
…and now.
I’m just one Mom telling this story, but I bet you all have someone who thinks the world of you too.
Here’s my feel good tip of the week: Be someone’s fan! Tell someone you think they’re great – it will be good for both of you!
PS: Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom and to all the Moms out there!
Hey look down here! Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. Thanks for teaching me how to make cookies and thanks for teaching me how not to eat them all at once. I love you!
—Elizabeth