My son's about to graduate high school, and I waited all day to see him. I called him about 2 and he was busy with friends and wouldn't be home until late, so don't worry about dinner. So off and on during the day I reminisced, about when my kids were little, how excited they were to see Daddy, and I got a lot of the running hugs. Then we'd plan a fun day and go do something and have a great time. It's been like that ever since my divorce, back in 2000, when they were 12 and 8. (that 12-year-old is now graduating college). But they grow up, and, inevitably they'd rather hang with their friends sometimes. Before you know it it's friends all the time and my place becomes a flop house. That's ok, I get that. But here I was, waiting to see my happy, engaging, funny kid. So who shows up? - someone I scarcely know. He's withdrawn. He messes with his phone for an hour, says nothing. He writes someone a letter, longhand and needs an envelope and a stamp. I ask what's wrong, and I get, "I don't want to talk about it!" in a harsh tone. I'm about to get the full force of the 'empty nest' syndrome, so I'm trying to spend as much quality time with him until he splits.

This is all nothing new, but my memories of him as a little kid who's crazy about Daddy ran headlong into reality tonight. I know he's growing up and out, and, of course I want him to have a great life. But sometimes watching your kids growing up sucks.