When hubby and I took our first daughter to school (5 hrs. away) we both cried all the way home and not a word was said. One week later she surprised us by coming home in a truck with Fred for the weekend - couldn't pass up the free ride with newly made friend! Fred's truck broke down and couldn't get back till it was fixed. We had to fly her back on Sunday at GREAT EXPENSE! That was the end of my crying. Told her to stay there until Thanksgiving!
This is your chance to be creative. Send packages of goodies for different reasons - ground hog day, flag day, homeless animals day, whatever. Decorate package for mailing according to celebration. They and their friends will remember this for years to come. My daughter is now 36 yrs old and still brings up the memories. None of her friends got pkgs. and they used to look forward to her getting another one.
With all the cell phones and texting and e-mails, no one gets letters any more so send little notes saying you are thinking about him.
Remind him of birthdays of family and relatives so he can call or send a card. They never remember things like this. Give him a calendar with occasions and dates filled in as a reminder too. A little note or call to that person from him will go a long way.
Make it FUN for yourself. I had a great time thinking of different ways to "keep in touch" but not be intrusive in their new adventure.
I did this for my other daughter too. They are six years apart, live a thousand miles away from one another, and still keep in touch with each other weekly. They are both married but put one week aside each year to "vacation" together at some far off place, usually a beach, where they can just talk and laugh and relax.
They will love you for it and remember these small things for the rest of their life. Ask me how I know.
Chin up!!! This could be FUN!!
(((((HUGGS)))))))