Originally posted on Facebook on August 15, 2026

So… it is done.

The dorm is done. The goodbyes have been said.

The separation process was natural with the structure of the day; as it should be.

And somehow: as I have sobbed, and teared up at inopportune times: I am feeling really good about leaving him in Grinnell now.

Even if it is over 900 miles away from home. Even if it is Iowa. Even if we are leaving him with trips to Walmart to make. Even if he will have to remake his bed with his mattress protector later whenever he decides to do that. I am glad I don’t have to know if it is tonight or next week. That is as it should be.

A staff member ushered him over to a table game group after we got back to the science building; a good time for us to make our way to the room where families and parents of students had their session.

I am grateful today has felt all about getting him ready. I am beyond grateful that he gets to be a part of the Grinnell Science Project cohort, and having the opportunity to move in a week early is among the privileges he’s experiencing that I am deeply grateful for.

And he is ready; and we are ready.

And we will see him in a month and a half for parents and families weekend.

Jared and I walked a good portion of downtown tonight after saying goodbye, including the bit of Broad Street by Central Park we used to walk lots 2005-2007 with Tinkerbell and just us and then with baby Porter, and surreal doesn’t begin to describe the sensation of remembering what it was having walked those same sidewalks twenty-one years previously, when children were a someday dream.

We are so very proud of all of our children, and Liam is off on a grand adventure.

And the adventure has begun.