Words of wisdom for a heart broken empty nester?

I miss my baby. Is this the reward for raising them well? off to a great college far,faraway? People keep telling me I should be proud. I feel I have worked hard for 18 years only to break my own heart. Why did I inspire them to reach for those dreams and be independent? I know letting them go was purely an act of love and helping them go was the right thing to do BUT DAMN ! It hurts so bad I am jealous of the ones who had pregnant teens that stayed home. This is what we do right? raise them to leave? it feels so unnatural now.. self destructive.