--- title: Our Baby is Heading Off to College description: David and Mercedes Rizzo celebrate their youngest child's graduation from high school and reflect on the changes this brings. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0626-DMRizzo-F.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/06/26/our-baby-is-heading-off-to-college/#) # Our Baby is Heading Off to College Jun 26, 2019 11:00:20 AM  |  by [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0626-DMRizzo-F.jpg) [!["Our Baby is Headed off to College" by David and Mercedes Rizzo (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0626-DMRizzo-IMG_4603.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0626-DMRizzo-IMG_4603.jpg) Copyright David and Mercedes Rizzo. All rights reserved.[/caption] When our youngest child, Shannon, was in preschool she would walk to the corner and watch her siblings get on the school bus. On many days she would cry, saying, “I want to get on the bus; I want to go to school too.” It wasn’t long before her time to get on the bus came, and she got on it for many years after. This week she donned her cap and gown and walked across the football field to receive her high school diploma. In what seems like in a blink of an eye, her years of school just flew by. Somehow, when it is your youngest child, you feel that they will remain your baby forever. It is similar to the television commercial where the dad looks into his car and sees his teenage daughter as a small child attempting to drive away. This is the time when you should feel happy and excited for your child. They have given their best effort during elementary, middle, and high school. Your child's future looks bright and they have accomplished much. Yet there is a a small sense of something ... that is hard to put your finger on. [!["Our Baby is Headed off to College" by David and Mercedes Rizzo (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0626-DMRizzo-IMG_4575.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0626-DMRizzo-IMG_4575.jpg) Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo. All rights reserved.[/caption] Exactly what is that feeling? Is it sadness? Is it concern that you are getting older? Is it the sense that your child won’t need you as much? Perhaps it is a little of all of these, but change is part of life and a good thing. It points to that you have done your job as a parent and that your child can move on to the next stage of their life. So we salute all of the graduates in the Class of 2019 for this wonderful milestone. We look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in life and if we are getting older, just remember that with age comes wisdom. --- *Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F26%2Four-baby-is-heading-off-to-college%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F26%2Four-baby-is-heading-off-to-college%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F26%2Four-baby-is-heading-off-to-college%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Our%20Baby%20is%20Heading%20Off%20to%20College) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F26%2Four-baby-is-heading-off-to-college%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F26%2Four-baby-is-heading-off-to-college%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/DAVID%20AND%20MERCEDES%20RIZZO.jpeg) ### [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) David and Mercedes write and speak from a faith perspective as parents of a child with autism. They are available to speak, and have appeared on radio and other media. Visit [DavidAndMercedesRizzo.com](http://davidandmercedesrizzo.com) to learn more. Follow them on Facebook at [Autism With The Rizzos](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-With-The-Rizzos/281489198616138?ref=tn_tnmn). Authors of *Praying For Your Special Needs Child*, (Word Among Us Press) and [*Spiritually Able* and *The Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit*](http://www.loyolapress.com/search-result.aspx?s=rizzo) (Loyola Press). ## Related Blog Articles [ The Sea of White: First Holy Communion Day Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/25/sea-white-first-holy-communion-day) [ Angels At Work Here Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/02/27/angels-at-work-here/) [ Happy 21st Birthday Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/10/24/happy-21st-birthday/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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