Thread by @bryanbehar

Some of you really make me hate Twitter. I posted a thoroughly sincere message about what it feels like to drop off your child at college the first time. And many of you chose to attack my message because..there’s a pandemic. No shit. I was just talking about what it feels like.

Hey geniuses. I know there’s a pandemic. I’m well aware things are different. I said goodbye to my own daughter on campus last week. I was speaking strictly to the feelings engendered by saying goodbye to your first born babies. And those feelings hurt pandemic or not. Thanks.

I get that many think that kids should not be in college right now. But many are. And as such, it might be doubly hard for a parent to say goodbye. Sorry for expressing one motherfucking earnest sentiment.

I’ve written many pieces about the anticipation of dropping of your kid. And also about what it actually feels like. And my point was that the anticipation was much worse. I stand by that mild, benign greeting card advice. Even in a pandemic.

Go back and read the accounts of the Clintons and the Obamas saying goodbye to their freshmen. That moment of walking out of their daughter’s dorm without letting them see you bawling is as universal as it gets.

I guess what strikes me the most is not everything is meant to be a debate.

Me: Dropping off kids at college is hard but you’ll be okay.

My feed (seconds later): No they won’t! WTF! Covid!!!

I didn’t think there were two sides to “you’ll be okay.”

By the by, I wasn’t even talking about dropping off my own kid. I was giving advice to first timers based on what I felt, intensely, 3 years ago. But thanks to all kind, empathetic well-wishers.

P.S. I’d think that showing compassion to those dropping off in a pandemic would merit more empathy. Not less.

Just to be crystal clear, my kid is a senior. We said goodbye last week. I was giving advice to parents dropping off freshmen for the first time, based on how I recall processing those feelings.

3 years ago, we dropped my daughter off as a freshman. I remember saying goodbye, and trying to hold it together in front of her. And I did till I got off the elevator. Second I walked outside, I bawled uncontrollably in the street outside her dorm. My ❤️is with all you parents.