Today I decided to spend the day with my children because tomorrow my older son is moving to Zagreb to live and work, and that’s a big turning point in every parent’s life. He has lived with our family for so many years, and now he’s going to live in another city almost 350 km away, and who knows how often we’ll see each other. It’s already hard for me.
I can already imagine the house without one of its members, who will soon start his own family with his girlfriend, maybe even his future wife. They’ll have children of their own, and I know that’s how life works—it’s the circle of life—but somehow the house will feel emptier, with less laughter. There will be fewer times I can ask someone for help when I need it, and that’s something I often need.
There’s still my younger son, but I can’t expect him to help with heavier tasks. Now he’ll also be left alone, since I only have the two of them and my wife—thank God—but the bond between the brothers is very strong, they’re very close, and I love them so much. It’s so hard for me that the years pass so quickly, that children leave, and that I’m left alone with my wife in this big apartment.
I know that’s how things are and I understand it, but I hope this sadness will pass and that I’ll be happier when I hear that he is happy too. For now, he’s just euphoric and very excited because he’s never lived so far away, paying rent for an apartment on his own with his girlfriend. I hope everything will go well for them and that they’ll be happy.
Tomorrow morning we’re leaving early because we need to take two cars due to the luggage, and also because he’s never driven in such a big city before. He hasn’t had his license for long, so we want to make things easier for him. We would have gone even if he hadn’t asked, after all, he’s my firstborn son.
That’s why today we visited a few of the nicer bars where he liked to go out with friends, so he could say goodbye and also spend some time with me and his brother—because who knows when they’ll see each other again. I know they’ll miss each other terribly.
Even as I write this, tears are already welling up. It’s hard, but my son’s happiness is the most important thing. We parents will find a way to manage somehow.
