“I’m a little bit sad,” my son used to say to me when he was three. “I miss my Tatie.”
And by Tatie he meant his best friend Katie who he’d just seen the day before. Or maybe an hour before.
“It’s okay, buddy,” I’d tell him, giving him a hug. “We’ll see Katie soon.”
My son would say this often about Katie when he wasn’t with her and my husband and I found this adorable. “I’m a little bit sad,” became vernacular for us.
“I’m a little bit sad Alias isn’t on anymore,” my husband would say as he was flipping channels after the show ended because of his crush on Jennifer Garner.
“I’m a lot a bit sad,” I’d tell him because it was Alias that introduced me to my forever #1 boyfriend Bradley Cooper.
Or, “I’m a little bit sad we’re not going to Italy this summer,” I’d say as we pulled the camping gear out of the shed for our yearly vacation.
“You’re going to be a little bit sad for a lot of summers,” he’d joke.
To us, “I’m a little bit sad,” was funny. A reminder of our sweet and sensitive toddler.
But Jennifer Garner doesn’t play college students anymore. Now she plays middle aged moms.
And we still don’t get to go to Italy this summer, but we also haven’t gone on a family camping trip in a really long time.
Because while still sweet and sensitive (a little), my son is not a toddler anymore. He graduated from college two weeks ago. Today he starts a five month engineering internship 375 miles away that will likely lead to a job. And even though he’s been away at school for four years it’s different this time. Permanent.
And I’m so happy for him and so proud of him. Happier and prouder than I’ve ever been.
But also, as he drove away a tear unexpectedly rolled down my face.
I’m a little bit sad.
Charlene Ross 
OMG – so bittersweet. I’m a little bit more in love with you. xoxo
Laurel! Muah! (And thank you.) xoxo
I’m a little bit sad for you too Charlene! Loved this- and brings back bittersweet memories. Sending love and hugs!
Xxoo Susan
Thank you, Susan! Boy, time passes so quickly, doesn’t it? Sending love and hugs right back.
I feel you, Charlene. And I get you.
I’m a little bit sad about these “little deaths” we need to endure
as time ticks onward.
Our kids growing up. Getting older. OMG. My cats dying.
But I’m also a little bit happy that the possibilities are still endless.
xxx Loved this post.
Thank you so much, Kim. Little deaths – I love that. And yes, the possibilities are endless. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for him. (And for me as well.) xoxo
Oh man, I’m sad and happy for you all at the same time. Sending you lots of hugs, I love you. Congratulations to your son.
Thank you so much, Linda.
I love your writing and you. A lot bit.
Same, Julie. Same. xoxo
Wow congratulations to Chandler! I’m sorry that you are feeling sad. I don’t even have a joke to share.
Thanks, Kim! xoxo (And I’ll give you some time to think of that joke.) 😉
[…] tell us about his new job, ask for advice, or just to tell us things that were happening. It made my sadness (mostly) go […]
This. Wow. I’m a little bit sad too that time goes too fast during the good parts.