Feeling sad when you think about your mom missing you is only natural, and trust me, you will miss those talks to. But even if you move far away, there is still the internet, and a little more old fashioned - the telephone, and from prehistoric times - writing letters, notes and cards. I've been away from home for over 20 years now and I still miss my mom, but we talk regularly and visit as often as possible. Parents also learn to live without their children. They start persuing lives of their own - until the grandkids come.

But really, it will be hard, it will be a period of transition, you will get home sick, but you wil survive, and so will your parents.

The hardest part for me is not being there for my parents when they need me. For example, when they had their heart attacks and their accident. It was SO hard for me to be here in Chicago - 3 hours away. All I could think about was what they were going through and event though there really wasn't much I could have done had I been there, at least I would have felt better just being there. I worry as they get older about who will be there to take them to the doctor when they can't drive anymore and stuff like that. But hopefully your parents are still young enough that you don't have to worry about any of this for a long time yet.

It's natural to be scared and think about all this, and it will be hard the day you actually leave, but you have to stay focused on your new life and what you're gaining in life, not losing, because you're really not losing your family, you're just moving out of their house.

Trust me, Pops, you'll do just fine.