Every summer, like clockwork, I find myself mentally tallying the weeks of golden-hour dinners, sand-strewn towels, and bonfires at the beach before the first day of school. It's a countdown I know well, and usually, it carries a sweet blend of back-to-school anticipation and praise be—we made it through August. This summer, the countdown comes with a stinging ache that sneaks up in the most mundane moments—folding laundry, making chocolate chip pancakes, hearing my son ask (so casually), “Do we have any more of those sesame noodles I like?” Because in just a few short weeks, that boy—my firstborn—is leaving for college. This is where my lifeline has come in: my mom friends. The ones who’ve done this already. Who get the swirl of pride and heartbreak. One of these women is my dear friend Sasha Alexander Ponti, whose wisdom and calm have anchored me more than once. Sasha, pictured above with her daughter Lucia on drop-off day at Brown last year, just launched Real Life Co., a beautifully considered platform rooted (pun intended and fully embraced) in the desire to support young adults through one of life’s biggest transitions. Think: dorm rooms that don’t look like crime scenes, first apartments with actual grown-up towels (not the threadbare one they “borrowed” from the guest bath), and essentials that manage to be both functional and lovely. It has wishlists and gift guides that help channel all our feelings into something tangible, helpful, and dare I say…a little chic. For me, Sasha’s timing couldn’t have been more divine. In a summer where I’m learning how to hold on and let go at the same time, this makes at least one part of the process easier—and even a little joyful. Okay, yes, I’m still counting down--to a brave, beautiful new chapter for my son and for me. With lots of deep breaths, love, and probably one last trip to Target. And maybe—just maybe—a very cute Real Life Co. throw pillow for his dorm bed that says you’ve got this. Because he does. And I do too. Mostly.
