By Gretchen Leigh

I think I’m entering “my kids might be OK without me after all” stage of parenting. They commute from home to college an hour each way four days a week. They decided commuting was the best option after we spent a soul sucking Sunday looking for apartments to rent. Seems the cards weren’t in their favor, or pocketbook as the case was.

It was really their decision, because I’m their mom and I want what’s easiest for them and lightest on my nerves. I was willing to jump through hoops to figure out how to get them into a living situation nearby the college. My husband was not, because he felt and now I do too, after several lectures from adults who have better senses, that they should be inconvenienced a bit to show how dedicated they are to a college education. But it really was a grown up decision for them to arrive at, with no tantrums (at least from them).

Though society tells us they are technically adults, I always laugh to myself when I think about it. Those commercials with the toddler sitting behind the wheel of a car telling her dad it will be okay, to just give her the keys, is exactly the sort of visions I carry with me on a daily basis. I know I’m too preoccupied over things I can’t control when it comes to my daughters. I’m probably worse than some and better than others, but I can’t seem to quickly slough off my worries.

Time, however, heals anxieties of the unknown. After these last couple months with the girls commuting, I’ve gotten used to the idea. I try to get busy and forget it’s a potential issue. They’ve handled the reality with sound, adult minds.

So Monday, which is today as I write this, I noticed there was supposed to be a snow event for the area. I pulled up the weather app on my phone, where a “weather advisory” was even posted. Then I looked out the window. No snow. Their windshields weren’t even icy.

They left around 7:30, I went about my day, not worried in the least. During my walk it did start to snow big fluffy flakes that didn’t stick. “Weather advisory?” I snorted to myself. By the end of my hour-long stroll I figured it was one of those “just in case” warnings.

However, what was a non-event down here translated to a couple inches of snow up there. The small hill was closed at the approach to the school, so they had to go around the long way and come in from the opposite direction.

They got to school 30 minutes late, then had the wherewithal to check the professor’s online board to make sure class was even in session. He delayed it for a couple hours and it was voluntary attendance due to the snow, which was still heavily coming down. The kids switched drivers, turned around, and came home.

I knew nothing about the hazard until they burst through the door three short hours later. They told me about their minor harrowing ordeal, but were none worse for the wear for it and exclaimed, “We finally got some snow-driving practice.” I think I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Not because the weather was so dramatically different than at home, but because they didn’t even text me to tell me what was going on.

Now that’s a grown-up thing to do and I’m very proud of them. At the same time I’m choking back tears that they drove that drive without me. My babies really are grown ups.

Gretchen Leigh is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Covington. You can read more of her writing and her blog on her website livingwithgleigh.com, on Facebook at “Living with Gleigh” or follow her on Twitter @livewithgleigh. Her column is also available at maplevalleyreporter.com under the Life section.