Never Been There, Never Done That: Diary of a First-Year Badger Mom

Greetings! I’m the mother of a first-year (apparently we don’t call them “freshmen” anymore) Badger, and this will be my story: from my son’s SOAR experience through the end of his first year here at UW-Madison.

Now, why would I write such a blog, when I’ve never really even read one before? Well, several years ago I started noticing the grieving — I’ll use that word — that mothers around me were going through as their children went off to college. It didn’t seem to matter much the order — firsts, lasts, middles, and onlies were mourned almost as though they’d died. I knew that my time would come, too, and now it has.

So, I’m writing this blog as a way to work through what I anticipate will be my own grieving, and to share what I have to believe will be very common thoughts, feelings, and experiences with those who have, are, or will be going through this transition and loss themselves. I welcome you to add your own thoughts to mine.

About me, briefly: I’m a UW grad who lives here in Madison. I work part-time on campus and run a part-time business as well. My husband, Alex, is also a UW grad, and he runs a company out of state. We have two children: Claire, who’s in her sophomore year of high school, and Sean, the first-year Badger. We also have a dog, Ginger, who probably won’t figure too prominently in our journey, but you never know.

I made up those names, but who I am is much less important than the universality of my story: this journey of seeing my child leave the nest. How will it affect all of us? Will I fall apart?

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