Letting go. My Daughter has gone to university

The journey of her university placement started a year ago with a visit to our first open day. It has been a long journey that has been full of pitfalls and fair amount of stress. 

We left around 8am on Saturday morning for a three hour car journey. Her check-in time was 12.30pm for her accommodation, but I felt it was better to be one hour early than 10 minutes late, but that didn’t matter when we went along, they were quite happy to check her in early so I parked the car at the rear of the building and I have to say there were plenty of people to unload all and they were all incredibly helpful. 

By the time I went and parked the car all of her stuff had been carried upstairs to the flat that was going to be her home for the next year. We unpacked everything and had a look around the kitchen area which was very spacious and everything was brand new as nobody had lived in this accomdation before which was really nice for her. 

We had a walk up to the main university campus and it was certainly lively with loads of things going on. Freshers week was certainly going to be loads of fun for her.

We grabbed a bit of lunch and made our way back to her new home and it was really time to make a move. Two of my other children, her sister and brother were also there to say goodbye. I gave her a big hug, told her I loved her and told her to remember I am always there on the end of the phone, as is all her family.

We had come up in two cars so my daughter and son drove back together and I drove back alone. This gave me two and half hours to reflect on the last 18 years.

It really doesn’t seem like yesterday that she was born and when I was in my own thoughts I started to remember her starting nursery, going to primary school and always having excellent reports about her schoolwork. Academically she was always very bright. 

Growing up E was always my shadow wherever I went. She was always right by my side. When I sat on a sofa she would have to sit next to me. She always sat right behind me in the car too!

As she finished primary school she had taken up football and it was obvious she was good. She had joined her local team and was named footballer of the year in her final year of junior school. I felt so proud. 

As she entered her high school education I knew that she would do well.

I will miss those texts or phone calls from her. ‘Dad I’m late please can I have a lift to school?’ or ‘Can you pick me up from my friends?’ To be totally honest she was very clever at wearing me down and I would always give her lift every time. Soft touch I think you call it!

I spent about eight years travelling the South Wales valleys watching her terrorise defences, scoring goals at times for fun, but I will always remember after she had scored she would look at me on the sidelines. I can tell you now the feeling inside always was the same just one of immense pride. I kept telling her you are good and time would eventually tell as she went on to represent South Wales and joined up with the Wales U17 squad to prove what a very talented player she is. She never failed in every season she played to be top goal scorer. 

My two and half hour drive was filled with so many fantastic memories where my daughter E has made me so proud.

She was always focused on university and she has achieved it. 

Towards the end of my journey as I was entering our home town the reality of the last 18 years dawned upon me. I’m back here and she is not. I will miss her so much, but I also know that she is moving on with her life in such a positive way. A very bittersweet moment. 

It has all been worthwhile because today she starts her three year course and then hopefully, no not hopefully, I know she will leave university as a qualified nurse. 

Good luck and enjoy the experience of university life it will be the making of you and I know you will be totally successful.