how much she loves her children.

　　It has been several weeks since we took our daughter to college and she seems to be adjusting well after a short period of homesickness. For us, though, it's another story. Like most parents, I love checking in on my children at night. But now she's gone, and I find nighttimes the hardest. I miss her most at night.

　　In my neighborhood, most of the parents whose kids are off to college are dealing with similar melancholy. My husband is filled with anxiety. One friend talked about getting this sick feeling in her stomach as she prepared for the college drop-off. We complained that many of us were too busy to truly enjoy being with our children while we had them.

　　For us moms, seeing Toy Story 3 only made the sadness worse as we watched the character Andy, who is the same age as our kids, say goodbye to his childhood as he prepares to leave for college. And it's not just "first-time" parents like me. Two moms who have kids already well into college said the separation didn't get any easier. "You feel like something has been taken away from inside you" said one of them.

　　I imagine things will get easier with time, especially as I see my daughter adjust to college life. Meanwhile, as I keep my cell phone close to me in bed and text my daughter goodnight and sweet dreams every night, I like to think that messages serve as a night light that keeps her safe.

25. After her daughter went to college, the writer ________.

A. realized she hadn't done enough for her daughter

B. often cried as she missed her daughter so much

C. failed to have a good sleep every night

D. didn't get used to the change for a long time

26. What is the underlined word "melancholy" in Paragraph 3 similar in meaning to?

A. Happiness. B. Sadness. C. Excitement. D. Anger.

27. According to the last paragraph, why did the writer keep her cell phone close to her in bed?

A. To say good night to her daughter. B. To wait for her daughter's calls.