People ask me what it's like to leave your kid at college; they say they can't imagine the time when their now-little child will leave them. In the middle of naps and Cheerio snacks and sippy cups, they can't envision ever having their child not hanging all over them.

We face so many transitions in midlife and our children leaving the nest is one of them. It's bittersweet. We're excited for them as they embark on this next stage, I remember my excitement leaving home. We also dread the silence, the emptiness, yes, even the dirty washing.

College-bound kids worry about a lot more than their shopping trips. Many of them are talking about and considering how they can reinvent themselves. After all, college is a fresh start and the perfect place to do that.

Last week, my son and I did what many have done before us: We visited a college campus. We spent the night in a hotel, took a tour the next day, spoke to some students and ate some college food.

My son is leaving for his freshman year of college in four days (but who's counting?). I may have blogged about it a few times here and there (OK, maybe more than that).