Dear Austin

Leaving home; for college, for military service, or for a job. It's a milestone in the life of almost every child - and a bittersweet crossroads for almost every parent.What you say to your child at this critical moment, and how you say it, can be a welcome catharsis for you, as a parent, and a lifelong gift to your child. The letter in this book is how David Perkins chose to say goodbye to his son as he left for college. He does not hold it up as a template, or even as an example, for others. He only wants you to know that it made this important rite of passage easier for him to navigate. How his son feels about it may not be known for some time.