I Took My Son On His First College Visit. Is This The Best College In New England?

My oldest son, Jack, has officially started looking for colleges. He has two requirements: he wants to find a school with a great Horticulture/Agriculture degree and it MUST be in New England.

So today we drove to the University of Maine at Orono. There are certain moments as a dad I'll never forget. I still remember vividly strapping into his car seat on the car ride home from the hospital, almost 18 years ago. I remember his very first day of school, and how his little voice sounded when he called me after hearing me talking about him on the radio. I was lamenting how I was going to miss our afternoon routine of lunch, cartoons and a nap. Jack's advice that day..."Get over it. You'll be fine."

Now here he is on the verge of adulthood, looking for colleges. I'm certain I'll remember today for a variety of reasons. Probably I'll recall how proud I was to watch him engage and interact with faculty and students as he makes this enormous decision. And as much as I joke I can't wait for him to graduate and get out on his own...there's still that part of me that just wants my boy to stay little and need his dad.

Guess it's time get over it. I'll be fine. But it's going to take some time.