# A 'Collegemoon' Trip to Europe with My Daughter Our last adventure before college left me emotional. - **Source:** [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com) - **Published:** 2026-08-24 - **Topic:** [Career Growth](https://brifing.si/c/growth) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/69de0daf-4747-445a-9a81-6599343c4920 ## The last adventure before college Kate Loweth planned a trip to Europe to celebrate her daughter's high school graduation. This trip would be their last extended time together before her daughter headed off to university. The journey began along the Croatian coast and ended in Venice. Along the way, mother and daughter explored historic cities and grew even closer. ## A reward for her daughter's achievements Kate's daughter graduated high school with a GPA above 4.0. But her success wasn't just academic. During her last two years of high school, she took classes at a local community college, earning two associate degrees. She also balanced babysitting 20 hours a week, showcasing both academic and personal growth. ## Moments that strengthened the mother-daughter bond During the trip, Kate and her daughter joined early morning historic city tours, wandered narrow streets, and indulged in plenty of gelato. Away from the hectic schedules and siblings at home, they had long, meaningful conversations. This experience became an unforgettable bonding opportunity for both. ## Facing the reality of goodbye The trip made Kate more aware of the impending separation as her daughter prepared for university in Southern California. While exciting, it was also an emotional process. Kate felt proud of her daughter's independence but also realized how much she would miss her. ## The contradictions of parenting The trip deepened Kate's understanding of the contradictions in parenting. While she had spent years encouraging her daughter's independence, seeing it come to fruition was both proud and bittersweet. The trip reminded Kate that she would miss her daughter's current self as she moved forward. ## Pride and sadness coexisting Kate felt both pride and sadness as her daughter prepared for university. The trip showed her that these emotions could coexist. Mother and daughter reflected on the value of their past years together and renewed their hopes for the future. ## Gratitude from the trip Kate gained a deeper appreciation for the time spent with her daughter during the European trip. It wasn't just a celebration but also a farewell. Kate expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share such an adventure before her daughter left for college. ## A parenting milestone For Kate, the trip marked a parenting milestone. Watching her daughter become an independent individual was both proud and bittersweet. This experience reminded Kate that parenting involves both celebration and farewell. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.businessinsider.com/collegemoon-parent-child-trip-before-leaving-for-school-college-2026-8 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._