How does one deal with finding it very emotionally hard when your child leaves for their first day of school and starts growing up?

My son who turned 5 recently started school a few days ago (we're in Australia and the first semester just started). I have been a stay at home dad with my son since his birth, we have been best friends and have pretty much been together his entire life, I didn't even have grandparents or relatives I dropped him off at. Obviously we have been very close.Everyday he is at school now is just the most horrible feeling for me, it's like being punched in the gut, totally alone, depressed, sorrow, I realise that an important, super meaningful, wonderful part of my life is gone and never coming back. I will miss those days we could go to the park or duck pond any weekday, when we would play with cars and Lego on the rug during the day, have tickle fights, I'd make him his favourite lunch, I could go on and on, but just typing this is making me too sad. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2jCOZTj