August is that bittersweet season when parents everywhere wrestle with sending their kids off to college.
For most of us, it’s a private mix of pride, anxiety, and nostalgia.
For celebrities, however, it’s a prime opportunity to turn their emotions into social media performances, showcasing just how “special” their offspring are while subtly reminding the world how amazing they are as parents.
Lauren Sanchez Bezos, freshly minted billionaire, recently posted about taking her son Evan to the University of Miami.
Her Instagram read: “Dropped off Evan at college today. 18 years of early mornings, late night snacks and family dinners… and there he was building his own dorm cabinet.”
Filthy rich, surgically enhanced, and yet “just like us,” apparently.
The “Ride or Die” Social Media Parade
Liev Schreiber joined the parade, gushing about his son Sasha heading to USC: “Starting to feel the pull.
Gonna miss my ride or die. Having said that, USC is gonna get one of the deepest, kindest, bravest and most beautiful boys I have ever known.”
Cue collective eyeroll — it sounds more like a tween diary than a seasoned actor reflecting on his adult child.
Then Sasha’s mother, Naomi Watts, weighed in with a simple, emoji-laden post: “Already balling!” It’s almost as if emotional volatility is a prerequisite for superstardom.
Private Grief Versus Public Spectacle
Of course, sending a child to college stirs up a rollercoaster of emotions, but these moments are best handled quietly, among family.
Speaking from experience, when I flew home after dropping my daughter off for orientation, I held her as she slept and quietly cried.
I didn’t post it online or use her milestone as a spotlight for myself.
The difference is subtle but meaningful: one is about the child; the other is about the parent.
Social media public mourning often turns these milestones into competitions for sympathy, pride, or attention — a game of look how amazing my child is, and by extension, look how amazing I am.
The Subtext Behind Celebrity Boasting
When celebrities heap adjectives on their children, it’s often a reflection of themselves.
A “deep, kind, brave, and beautiful” kid suggests that their parents share those qualities.
Post-Varsity Blues scandal, many stars also feel the need to demonstrate that their kids earned admission on merit alone, not through bribery or influence.
And let’s face it, the guilt is probably creeping in.
Many of these parents spend months away filming movies or touring, so their public displays of pride can double as penance.
Jennifer Garner’s viral post at her daughter Violet’s graduation — sobbing with a dramatic caption — is a perfect example.
The Reality Check for Plebeian Parents
Imagine if celebs were brutally honest about their less-than-perfect offspring.
That would never happen. Stardom comes with the unspoken rule that children are flawless reflections of parental greatness.
For the rest of us, it’s more grounded: kids come home every summer, milestones pass, and life goes on.
When we drop off our college students, it’s often with a box of cleaning supplies, an Allen wrench, and a cheerful “See you at Thanksgiving!” We move on, reclaim some space, and maybe even dream of adding a Pilates reformer where the dresser once stood.
Embracing the Half-Empty Nest
Sending kids off is both an ending and a beginning.
It’s the chance to give them independence while rediscovering your own space and priorities.
Yes, the moment is precious, but it’s also fleeting and ordinary.
Unlike the over-the-top celebrity narratives, the beauty is in the quiet reality: kids grow up, they leave the nest, and life moves forward — sometimes with fewer tears and fewer Instagram posts.
