It seems to be the norm for kids to hurt their parents and they don't realise until their kids are adults and it happens to them. Nothing like your situation Cathy but when my son (an only child) left home, I physically grieved for him, he was the first thing I thought about on a morning, wondering if he was ok? and the last thing I thought about at night. I would even text him to tell him goodnight. After about two weeks he texted me and told me he was grown up now and didn't need a mother anymore, it was like a stab in the gut. I stopped texting him and waited for him to make the first move even though it killed me. It was probably worse for me because we were in another country. After we came back to the UK I never said anything but it still cuts deep. We were close before he left home, we had a special bond and now, even though we chat regularly something has been lost. Maybe it's me who has distanced myself emotionally? Maybe both of us? Maybe it wouldn't have hurt sop much had he not been an only child? or maybe like everyone else said, it's part of being a mother?