There’s nothing fun in the fact that your baby, who was just a toddler yesterday, will be leaving for college in 25 days. The denial you perfected during a too-short Senior year is seriously losing its power, edged out by that ugly and uncomfortable phenomenon: Reality.

What’s a Mama to do?

I gathered a group of Eliza’s closest friends for tacos and “off you go” inspiration, courtesy of the final Oprah show. (I am a real nerd that way.) In it, Oprah shares the most significant lessons of her well-lived life:

1.  Every person has a calling. It lights you up and lets you know you are exactly where you should be, doing exactly what you should be doing.
2. You are responsible for your own life.
3. You are responsible for the energy you create for yourself and the energy you bring to others.
4. There’s a difference in knowing you deserve to be happy and knowing you are worthy of happiness.
5. All people want to be validated. “I see you. I hear you. What you say matters to me.”
6. When your life whispers to you, get still and listen.
7. You don’t need anyone or anything to complete you. You alone are enough.

I am greatly relieved to report everyone watched the TIVOed show with enough interest to please me. And then, in no time, the room was filled with other stories and the contagious giggles that erupt when dear friends gather. I know I will imagine this scene a thousand times in the months to come when I think of my sweet daughter—a million miles away from me, but surrounded with the crazy, happy, once-in-a-lifetime joy of freshman year.

30 Days of Fun is inspired by one of my favorite blogs, Mighty Girl.