"She's gotta do what she's gotta do and I've got to like it or not."

"Ready, Set, Don't Go" - I heard this song a few weeks ago when Billy Ray Cyrus sang it with his daughter as a duet (love both versions). This song is about a father letting his daughter go so she can fly into the world and become who she will become. Initially, I thought about my father and what he must have been feeling all those years ago when I left home. I am sure he felt scared, uncertain about my choices, wary of the experiences I would have without his protection and wisdom. I knew of none of this when I left - I just knew I had to go.
I sit here 25 years later getting ready to send my son on his own adventure, and packing my house to move away from my daughter 4,000 miles away to live. I know now what he felt and what he must have experienced after I left. How did he do it? This is the most painful thing I have experienced short of when he passed away 3 years ago. I feel so sad that I didn't get to talk to him about all of this. I mean, I know we talked about it - but how could I relate then? I knew nothing about what he felt and how strong he had to be to let me go.
The twist in this experience is that I am leaving my daughter here and parents aren't supposed to leave, kids do. How will I do this? Everyday brings me closer to that day we will be leaving here - my heart feels like it's going to break into a million pieces. She's gotta do what she's gotta do and I've got to like it or not.