A Working Mom Who Doesn't Miss Her Kid

My one and only daughter went off to college this year and I've never been happier. I miss her, of course. And it's strange not having her here all the time, but we talk at least twice a week, so I feel connected.

My life without her is very full: I have a business to run and I have her little brother to take care of (who is a bigger pain than ever). Anyway, my daughter and I had been slowly separating over the last couple of years. As she started spending more and more time with her friends and in her music or church groups, I started going to a book club for the first time in my life, not to mention spending a few extra hours at work so we could afford that big, fancy Ivy League college of hers. She started getting a life of her own and I started getting my life back.

And it's great. One of those classic win-win situations. I am rediscovering things I haven't had the time to think about in almost 20 years. I'm happier and more relaxed than I've been in a long time. My son notices it. My husband sure notices it. Even my daughter notices it, and she's not even here. All my friends keep saying, "You must be devastated," and they don't believe me when I say, "It's not that bad." I think I'm actually happier now that she's away in college. Is there something wrong with me?