Rob Lowe Was ‘a Wreck,’ ‘Like a Puddle’ When Son Matthew Went to College: ‘Tears Were Streaming’ (Exclusive)

It was something however simple for Rob Lowe when his eldest son, Matthew, left for school.

The Unstable star recalled to PEOPLE the “brutal” expertise of flying with Matthew — who turns 31 on Sept. 24 — and wife Sheryl to Duke College to assist him transfer in for his freshman 12 months of school.

“It introduced up loads of stuff,” he mentioned throughout an interview for his August PEOPLE cover story. “And I believed, why is that this affecting me so deeply? As a result of Sheryl was, I imply, not unaffected, however she wasn’t me.” 

“I imply, I used to be like a puddle. I needed to put on darkish glasses on the airplane as a result of tears had been streaming down my [face] the entire time,” Lowe, 60, admitted. “I could not have a look at him sitting in his chair, in his little seat with a bit ebook bag. I could not do it… It is triggering.”

“I used to be a wreck…I’ve realized it’s totally, very, quite common as a result of folks discuss to me about it now on a regular basis,” he added.

The truth is, the 9-1-1: Lone Star actor — who can also be father to the couple’s 28-year-old son John Owen — wrote in regards to the expertise of sending his first born away to high school in his 2014 ebook, Love Life.

“It is turn into one thing that 12 months after 12 months after 12 months since I wrote it, will get handed round to oldsters who’re sending their children away for the primary time… I really like nothing greater than when dads come as much as me they usually’re crying they usually go, ‘Your factor about sending your child to high school, I learn it after which I despatched my child to high school and I cried in my automotive,’” he shared. “And I really like that as a result of it jogs my memory how alike everyone is.” 

The Floor host added that Matthew leaving for school felt “like the tip of this glorious journey that I had as a father with Matthew and with Johnny” however he has since realized that it was solely the beginning of a brand new chapter.

“Now, right here we’re nonetheless a few years later, and also you understand that was not the tip,” he mentioned. “They’re again they usually’re not going wherever.”

Lowe has taken satisfaction in watching his boys develop up through the years. “Turning into a dad was the very best factor that is ever occurred to me,” he shared. “It stays the very best factor that is ever occurred to me. It is also been the factor that I believe I have been greatest at.”

That mentioned, he is aware of he is made his share of parenting errors alongside the way in which. “There is not any good approach,” he famous. “All of us f— our youngsters up not directly. I’ve realized that. However I really feel very, excellent that I used to be at a spot in my life the place I might dedicate all my vitality to it.”

For Lowe, the bond together with his sons extends into the skilled sphere. He and John Owen co-created, co-executive, and co-write on the Netflix comedy, Unstable, which debuted its second season in August. The pair star as father-and-son Ellis and Jackson Dragon and their characters’ dynamic is impressed by their real-life interactions.

“I simply have such satisfaction in Johnny, in his capability to co-create a present like that, and the notion that my child grew as much as write a present and a personality for me is [amazing],” he mentioned, proudly noting his quick-study development as an actor. “Johnny’s work in season 2 is subsequent degree.”

By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to remain up-to-date on the very best of what PEOPLE has to supply​​, from movie star information to driving human curiosity tales. 

Lowe is equally as professionally entwined with Matthew, who’s a lawyer and businessman.

“Matthew and I’ve so many companies that we’re doing collectively. He’s at present working for Eldridge [Industries], they usually personal the Dodgers, they usually personal Chelsea [Football Club],” he mentioned of his eldest son, who’s a historical past buff like his dad, and shares Lowe’s love of snowboarding and fishing.

“I used to be on the telephone with him 4 instances in the present day with various things,” he added. “So, I get the artistic show-business with Johnny, and the enterprise branding, funding alternative with Matthew. I spend nearly an equal period of time with them professionally [and] personally, we have at all times been shut.”