Having a very hard time with DS going off to college

[krcit]

I just heard that Obama will be visiting dd's college on move in day!! I can't even imagine how they will handle that. Ughh.

 

[Beachbumpirates]

A nice thing about them starting so early is they will be home that much sooner!

Today I did get a lot of texts and pics from my DD so I guess it just takes them a few days to get into the swing of things. It is such a difference from living at home for them. From what she has sent us she truly seems happy and that is all that matters. We will get used to this new chapter but yes - we will still miss them like crazy!

I made 4 chicken breasts for dinner tonight for the 3 of us and didn't cry when I realized what I did, so that was a huge step! To the PP who said they sniffed their blankets I can so relate - been there done that! Finally closed her bedroom door and that seems to have helped.

Now my question - why has our dear 12yr old dog not noticed she is gone? I guess that is a good thing.

 

[mom2rtk]

A nice thing about them starting so early is they will be home that much sooner!

Today I did get a lot of texts and pics from my DD so I guess it just takes them a few days to get into the swing of things. It is such a difference from living at home for them. From what she has sent us she truly seems happy and that is all that matters. We will get used to this new chapter but yes - we will still miss them like crazy!

I made 4 chicken breasts for dinner tonight for the 3 of us and didn't cry when I realized what I did, so that was a huge step! To the PP who said they sniffed their blankets I can so relate - been there done that! Finally closed her bedroom door and that seems to have helped.

Now my question - why has our dear 12yr old dog not noticed she is gone? I guess that is a good thing.

I'm not expecting my son to send photos. He doesn't have a Facebook page. That's just not him. But I'll be happy with regular texts and phone calls. So far so good on that front.

I have put my daughter in charge of giving "his" cat extra attention. That cat was always on his bed. 24/7 except to come downstairs and eat. It was so strange to find him sleeping downstairs this morning.

But I do agree the best antidote is to see or hear about them adjusting, making some friends, and experiencing some successes.

 

[mom2rtk]

I just heard that Obama will be visiting dd's college on move in day!! I can't even imagine how they will handle that. Ughh.

The last thing you need is complications on move-in day. That stinks.

 

[clh2]

I just heard that Obama will be visiting dd's college on move in day!! I can't even imagine how they will handle that. Ughh.

Oh ick. What is he and his advisors possibly thinking. That is just as bad as president Clinton at LAX getting his haircut on Air Force 1 at the end of the runway, stopping most air traffic in the area.

Hopefully the secret service will re-think this.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

WOW , this thread moved fast the last couple of days. Hugs to all of you who have already sent them off. and hugs to all of us still dreading that day. I've sat here crying with all of you as I read your posts. More from the support we are giving each other than anything. I thank all of you helping make these transitions easier!!!

For now, just keep reminding yourself: Your son is doing exactly what you want him to do at this point in his life. He's pursuing an education and becoming independent. You don't really want to keep him a baby, and you certainly don't want him to become one of those grown men who lives in his parents' basement and is incapable of supporting himself! But I completely understand that you want him to go to school, you want him to earn a degree, you want him to move on in life . . . but at the same time, you also want him to continue sleeping in his bedroom at home and eating dinner with you every night! You know you can't have it both ways.

So, my suggestions:

- Show him a happy face. This is your cross to bear, not his. Tell him you love him, tell him you'll miss him, but he should put his energies into adjusting to college, not worrying about how y'all are coping at home.
- Put a little note in the mail right now so that it'll be in his mailbox the very first time he checks it.
- Once you've helped him move in, LEAVE. The moment of separation can be difficult, so don't drag it out. Decide what you're going to do that day: Probably help him move his stuff in, take him to the grocery store, and go out to lunch. Once those things are done, say goodbye and LEAVE. If you're going to cry, save it for the car ride home. Again, he doesn't need to deal with guilt because you're sad about dropping him off.
- Make plans for the first time he'll come home or you'll come to visit him. Most students go home for Labor Day, which is very early in the semester. When he does come home, clear your schedule and make all his favorite foods. Make it a celebration.
- Hold yourself back from calling him multiple times a day -- and you'll want to do so at first. Sure, you'll want to hear from him after his first day of classes, etc., but don't smother him.
- Recognize that your relationship must change. Change doesn't mean worse, just different. My daughter and I have changed our interaction, but we're still super-close. She's grown up a great deal. That doesn't mean I don't occasionally miss having a little girl, but I love our relationship now just as much.
- You will get through this. Really, you will.

Those were great suggestions, I will certainly re read those as the days get closer.

Well, the deed is done. We dropped him off Sunday. We then drove on about 90 minutes farther to take our daughter to see the St. Louis arch. The next morning we went back to see him for lunch before heading for home for good.

Sunday was REALLY hard. Even harder than I expected. It did help to be checking my phone and finding messages from others on this thread who have been through the same thing. The 4 hour drive down was the worst. Way too long and stressful. I hope he can get a parking pass and bring a car next year so we don't have more long drives like that to dread.

After we left that first night, I wondered what the heck we were thinking coming back the next day. It just seemed ill-advised. But I'm so glad we did. With the deed sort of done already, it was nice to see him a bit settled and all of us in a little better frame of mind. It also gave him a chance to settle into his room and text me a list of a few things we could pick up for him.

I don't ever want to do that again. And I guess I won't have to because it will never be the first time again. For that I'm thankful. We have now forbidden our daughter to go more than an hour away when she starts college in 6 years.

Courage and hugs to those still facing the big day.

Actually that was a great idea to just pop in, reassure each other that all is well. Not an option for us, but I am so glad that it helped you out!

We just returned home tonight from dropping our oldest DD off for the first time - 500 miles away. My heart is broken. I was so proud of myself when we said goodbye yesterday. We all cried a bit but nothing horrible and then left her, went for out for dinner and I thought "well that wasn't so bad". But getting on the highway without her this morning - that was truly awful and almost unbearable. I think I cried for the first 4 hours. DH and younger DD seem ok and I cannot seem to shake this. I am stalking her FB and Instagram hoping to catch a glimpse of something while I wait to hear from her as I am trying to give her some space. I know it will get easier but boy, it's tough. My thoughts are with all the rest of you the next few weeks.

I'm so sorry your heart is broken. I cried a bit for you. I sure hope you get a message soon to help ease your mind and heart.

Wow, it seems so much more real now that some of us have started drop-offs. Ours is this weekend. Can't believe how fast the summer has gone by!

I KNOW! I remember as school was starting last year to remember to stop and smell the roses because the school year would go so fast, well, it has and the summer is going faster and faster!

DS18 has been gone since Sunday. I'm trying very hard to give him space, not text a lot, but its super hard. I was the first to text both yesterday and today. He did text me this afternoon. He snap chatted his brother this evening. He is doing fine, I guess. Giving me very little information. I think he's been intimidated by the meal plan. Finally for lunch today he ate in a restaurant. I wish they had an old fashioned cafeteria, seems easier, but its all restaurants. Still fighting a cold. He hasn't mentioned his roommate. I am going to try to wait a few days to ask about that! Ugh. Its HARD.

Hugs to all the parents going through this. We can do this!

thanks for the update on how he is doing. hang in there. Hopefully he will get the hang of the meal plan and everything else. Hopefully once he feels better he will feel up to texting and letting you know what's up. I do admire you trying to give him his space when your mom instinct is probably screaming to go make sure he is ok. Hang in there!

I don't understand why the two are mutually exclusive? I don't think a single person on this thread has implied that they don't want this for their child or that they aren't happy about the new adventure that awaits them. While I am sure there are parents out there who don't allow their kids to go off to college (or anywhere else) because they can't let go, that isn't what this thread is about. All of us are so excited for our kids, but that doesn't mean it won't be extremely difficult letting go at first, or that we won't miss them like crazy. I guess I can't imagine raising a child for 18 years and then not having any sadness at all when they leave home for good.

WELL SAID!!!!

My college drop off was 5 years ago and this thread made my heart ache for all of you. I remember all these feelings, the loneliness, the fear and even the Facebook stalking for a glimpse that DS was "ok". My DS went 8 miles from our front door to a dorm, it might as well have been Siberia. Its not the distance, its the whole concept.

All I can say is that it will get better, it will get easier and you will not cry as often as the days go by. You will all develop new routines and next summer when all the birds return to the nest you will be counting down the hours to when you take them back to school (Seriously)

The next year will bring so many wonderful things, growth, maturity, independence etc. along with eating and doing laundry at 3 AM, not thinking a thing of staying out all night or blasting their xbox well after the rest of the family has gone off to bed.

My recent college grad just moved back home to attend Grad School. Oh boy, this is an adjustment

That does give me hope!

I sympathize with you! My son is now 26 and my girl is 24. They both left within one year of another and man, oh man, I cried. I remember wandering into their rooms and actually sniffing their pillows. Is that pathetic or what?

I had been a homemaker and didn't know what to do with myself. My husband was always traveling and suddenly, there I was, walking the aisles at Kroger, buying one apple, one orange and feeling waaaay sorry for myself. I'm quite sure more than once, by the time I got to the frozen aisle I was in tears. It was pretty awful!

So what did I do? Well, for starters, I began to look deep inside my own heart and ask myself what I had always wanted to do. I admitted to myself, I had always wanted to attend a local ministry school...and go on international mission trips.

So I did.

Then I also realized I really wanted to get a masters degree. So I did (hardest thing I've ever done!)

And all during this time, my kids called, they emailed, they texted...oh, did they text! My son began suggesting we go to a college game every now and then. He loved to come home and eat my cooking. My girl began asking if we could go shopping.

Since being done with college, they have both moved back home twice, for various reasons. My daughter, now 24, is sitting across the room reading a book snuggled in a quilt. We went shopping today and also out to breakfast. I just told her I wanted to brush her hair.

My son, 26, is driving back to Georgia from Nevada, this weekend to start a new job. He'll be here until he finds a new place. He calls for recipes and when he's in town to see his gal, we'll take them to dinner. One thing that ALWAYS catching their attention is an invite to a beach or disney vacation. They have always said, "Absolutely!"

You'll find it's a different season, but by no means has your time as a family ended. Maybe your time with children has ended but your time as a parent never ends. The way you serve your kids changes. My son calls and asks my opinion about job offers, health insurance, apartments, gift ideas... I'm honored he sees me as his #1 fan.

Enjoy this time and find out what makes YOU happy and get busy. Your time with the kids will come soon enough. Get in the gym, get those arms firm, join a book club, go visit a best friend, learn a whole new sport or hobby. Go back to school (people bent over backwards to help make the way for me!)...this is YOUR time!

Your kids will be needing you soon enough and before you know it your family will have grown with their loves and babies. Look forward to this wonderful time in their lives. The alternative is that they never mature, and grow, and fly the nest. They are doing exactly what we WANT them to do...it's just hard when it happens. This too will pass and new adventures will come!

Those are great ideas and I know when I am ready, I'll be thinking of the new adventures, I'm just not there yet.

I just got off the phone with my son. I feel so much better already. He sounds great, and says all the things that tell me he is adjusting. He's taking his trigonometry review class seriously and even studied with a couple kids last night. But he's also doing some fun things, including dodge ball, pool and ping pong. It's doing my heart so much good to hear how things are moving along for him.

I told him to call when he can, but if he gets busy and can't that's fine too. He said he doesn't mind.

I just want to reassure everyone that the separation is the worst. It does pick up from there.

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear that he is doing well.

That is so great that he is adjusting so well!! I think that is one thing that will make us all feel better when we hear they are fitting in!

DD's BFF is over for the "Last Supper." She just gave DD a picture frame with pictures of the two of them over the years. I can't stop crying! I think I will miss have the BFF over as much as I will miss DD. Off to eat and play a game together. At least I can blame my runny nose on my cold instead of crying!

Oh my gosh, the pictures would have sent me over the edge!

I just heard that Obama will be visiting dd's college on move in day!! I can't even imagine how they will handle that. Ughh.

I am shocked that they would do something that crazy on move in day. It is already going to be stressful enough.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Something happened yesterday that I want to share with all of you.

DS and I were talking about a variety of things. DS is a man of few words so when he is in the mood to chat, I am all ears!

Somehow we got on the topic of vacations and he told me how much he has appreciated all of our family vacations!!!!! Something so little, but meant so much to me. I work super hard on planning vacations (as I'm sure most of us on the DIS do) and I know they have a great time, but to hear him talk about how much fun he has, talked about the cruises and how he appreciates the fact we've been on 3 and he knows only a few who have even been on 1. He said he was glad that we vacationed like we do, because otherwise he wouldn't have known to vacation or to learn about the world like that.

It was very heart warming to hear the appreciation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Something happened yesterday that I want to share with all of you.

DS and I were talking about a variety of things. DS is a man of few words so when he is in the mood to chat, I am all ears!

Somehow we got on the topic of vacations and he told me how much he has appreciated all of our family vacations!!!!! Something so little, but meant so much to me. I work super hard on planning vacations (as I'm sure most of us on the DIS do) and I know they have a great time, but to hear him talk about how much fun he has, talked about the cruises and how he appreciates the fact we've been on 3 and he knows only a few who have even been on 1. He said he was glad that we vacationed like we do, because otherwise he wouldn't have known to vacation or to learn about the world like that.

It was very heart warming to hear the appreciation.

Awww.... so glad you got that moment. Mine is also a man of very few words. So I can really appreciate how much that must have meant to you.

 

[mom2travel]

I don't understand why the two are mutually exclusive? I don't think a single person on this thread has implied that they don't want this for their child or that they aren't happy about the new adventure that awaits them. While I am sure there are parents out there who don't allow their kids to go off to college (or anywhere else) because they can't let go, that isn't what this thread is about. All of us are so excited for our kids, but that doesn't mean it won't be extremely difficult letting go at first, or that we won't miss them like crazy. I guess I can't imagine raising a child for 18 years and then not having any sadness at all when they leave home for good.

I'm with you. I love my son to death. I'm very excited for him to start this new chapter in his life, but still sad that things are changing. I will miss him. And be excited to hear about his adventures in college. And miss him some more.

 

[LisaR]

I survived!!

DD is all moved in! It was a smooth process for us.

Two words of advice:
If you are hanging curtains, bring multiple size tension rods. I am so glad I did. Even though the window size is listed on the college website, they were wrong and everyone on her floor was complaining because they had the wrong size rods.

If you bought any of those square 12"x12" cork boards, white boards, or magnet boards that all the stores were selling, good luck hanging them. We tried everything and they just wouldn't stick. We are taking DD her white board and cork board from her room when we visit. Those have a frame around them so there is a place to mount attachments.

DD and her roommate were talking about dinner and the roommate's mom and I both took that opportunity to tell them to go to the dining facility together and we were fine with skipping a family dinner since we all had long drives home. That worked perfectly. We did a quick goodbye and I mostly held it together until I got to the car.

DD did text us on the drive home saying she just found out that their third roommate dropped out! They just talked to her two days ago and everything was fine. Not sure what happened.

DD is in the honor's program and they have mandatory meetings all day today and tomorrow. She was NOT looking forward to that and was very mad that she had to spend her time in meetings instead of getting to know the people on her floor and the campus in general. I just received a short text from her saying she couldn't talk know but she just wanted me to know that the honor's program is SO COOL and she is having FUN! That just made my day!!

Good luck to all of you who will be going through this in the next few weeks.

 

[mom2rtk]

I survived!!

DD is all moved in! It was a smooth process for us.

Two words of advice:
If you are hanging curtains, bring multiple size tension rods. I am so glad I did. Even though the window size is listed on the college website, they were wrong and everyone on her floor was complaining because they had the wrong size rods.

If you bought any of those square 12"x12" cork boards, white boards, or magnet boards that all the stores were selling, good luck hanging them. We tried everything and they just wouldn't stick. We are taking DD her white board and cork board from her room when we visit. Those have a frame around them so there is a place to mount attachments.

DD and her roommate were talking about dinner and the roommate's mom and I both took that opportunity to tell them to go to the dining facility together and we were fine with skipping a family dinner since we all had long drives home. That worked perfectly. We did a quick goodbye and I mostly held it together until I got to the car.

DD did text us on the drive home saying she just found out that their third roommate dropped out! They just talked to her two days ago and everything was fine. Not sure what happened.

DD is in the honor's program and they have mandatory meetings all day today and tomorrow. She was NOT looking forward to that and was very mad that she had to spend her time in meetings instead of getting to know the people on her floor and the campus in general. I just received a short text from her saying she couldn't talk know but she just wanted me to know that the honor's program is SO COOL and she is having FUN! That just made my day!!

Good luck to all of you who will be going through this in the next few weeks.

So glad you both survived! Did your colds get better?

LOL on the curtain thing. Sorry to laugh, but I could only HOPE to have curtain issues.Just completely not within my realm of thinking right now.

I'm so glad things are working out for your DD and she's happy with the honors program. My son was invited into the honors program at his school and he was a little hesitant to take on all the extra work before knowing how things would go this year. Thankfully it didn't require anything extra this week yet.

He actually had his first test this morning, over the trig review class he was in all week. We dropped him off Sunday and he started trig review first thing Monday morning. He'll have the next 2 days off completely before starting classes for real Monday. I'm hoping he'll have time for some fun recreational stuff with the kids he met this week.

Courage and best of luck of luck to everyone facing their drop-offs this weekend!

Best of luck to your DD and you in getting through this next week and settled into your new routines.

Honestly, as much as you didn't want to say goodbye, isn't it nice to have that part behind you?

 

[LisaR]

So glad you both survived! Did your colds get better?

LOL on the curtain thing. Sorry to laugh, but I could only HOPE to have curtain issues.Just completely not within my realm of thinking right now.

I'm so glad things are working out for your DD and she's happy with the honors program. My son was invited into the honors program at his school and he was a little hesitant to take on all the extra work before knowing how things would go this year. Thankfully it didn't require anything extra this week yet.

He actually had his first test this morning, over the trig review class he was in all week. We dropped him off Sunday and he started trig review first thing Monday morning. He'll have the next 2 days off completely before starting classes for real Monday. I'm hoping he'll have time for some fun recreational stuff with the kids he met this week.

Courage and best of luck of luck to everyone facing their drop-offs this weekend!

Best of luck to your DD and you in getting through this next week and settled into your new routines.

Honestly, as much as you didn't want to say goodbye, isn't it nice to have that part behind you?

Your son has a test before school even starts? Poor kid! But reviews are always a good thing.

Yes, it is so nice to have that part behind me. As much as I was sad, in the past two weeks I wish the time would have gone faster because it was just this cloud of the inevitable hanging over us.

Yeah, curtains for a boy aren't an issue! I'm sure my son will be the same. I was looking at some Instagram photos today from DD's college and I can tell the male and female rooms apart in a heartbeat. The boys are so bare bones and the girls are so colorful. I don't think a single male had a rug either.

My cold was horrible yesterday. DH was a lifesaver. He unloaded everything while I stayed in the air conditioned room and unpacked. DD is 95% recovered thankfully!

I just heard on the news that a college near us had three new dorms opening for the fall and none are ready for move in! Two were postponed for just a few days, but one doesn't sound close to being ready. Can you imagine the stress of that? I guess they are going to find temporary housing for those students. Not fun!

Hang in there everyone!

 

[mom2rtk]

Your son has a test before school even starts? Poor kid! But reviews are always a good thing.

Yes, it is so nice to have that part behind me. As much as I was sad, in the past two weeks I wish the time would have gone faster because it was just this cloud of the inevitable hanging over us.

Yeah, curtains for a boy aren't an issue! I'm sure my son will be the same. I was looking at some Instagram photos today from DD's college and I can tell the male and female rooms apart in a heartbeat. The boys are so bare bones and the girls are so colorful. I don't think a single male had a rug either.

My cold was horrible yesterday. DH was a lifesaver. He unloaded everything while I stayed in the air conditioned room and unpacked. DD is 95% recovered thankfully!

I just heard on the news that a college near us had three new dorms opening for the fall and none are ready for move in! Two were postponed for just a few days, but one doesn't sound close to being ready. Can you imagine the stress of that? I guess they are going to find temporary housing for those students. Not fun!

Hang in there everyone!

Oh, how awful to be fighting a cold when you're fighting the drop-off. Just yuck.

I told my husband we should start saving now for all the stuff my 7th grade daughter is going to want for her first dorm room It will be a completely different experience. But since she's our last, I'll need a good diversion, so dorm room decorating could be just the ticket.

The trig test results will confirm placement in math. My son wants to be in Calc II but needs to do well enough on this test today to stay there. And no, I'm not watching my phone for him to text how it goes. But I think I was placed too high into Calc my freshman year and it was not a good experience, so if he ends up being placed lower, I'll explain to him for the umpteenth time why it's a good thing.

What a mess that dorm situation sounds like at that other school. My son didn't get his room assignment until a couple weeks ago, and that was stressful enough. I wonder what on earth that school will do with the kids from the unfinished building? I heard at my son's school they had a similar deal a few years ago and they ended up putting kids up at a local hotel! LOL.

I really hated that cloud we had for the last couple of weeks too. I just needed to rip the bandage off and move forward.

Remind me how far away your daughter is? When do you expect to see her again?

 

[mom2travel]

Oh, how awful to be fighting a cold when you're fighting the drop-off. Just yuck.

I told my husband we should start saving now for all the stuff my 7th grade daughter is going to want for her first dorm room It will be a completely different experience. But since she's our last, I'll need a good diversion, so dorm room decorating could be just the ticket.

The trig test results will confirm placement in math. My son wants to be in Calc II but needs to do well enough on this test today to stay there. And no, I'm not watching my phone for him to text how it goes. But I think I was placed too high into Calc my freshman year and it was not a good experience, so if he ends up being placed lower, I'll explain to him for the umpteenth time why it's a good thing.

What a mess that dorm situation sounds like at that other school. My son didn't get his room assignment until a couple weeks ago, and that was stressful enough. I wonder what on earth that school will do with the kids from the unfinished building? I heard at my son's school they had a similar deal a few years ago and they ended up putting kids up at a local hotel! LOL.

I really hated that cloud we had for the last couple of weeks too. I just needed to rip the bandage off and move forward.

Remind me how far away your daughter is? When do you expect to see her again?

I have to laugh at your comment about future shopping with your DD. I'm thinking the same thing here in a few years for our 8th grader DD, who also is our youngest. I'm sure the shopping will be a welcome distraction.
meanwhile, we are moving DS in tonight!! His stuff didn't even fill up the back of our SUV He says he has everything he needs though. Now if traffic would just clear up so we can get there and rip our bandage off too!

 

[mom2rtk]

I have to laugh at your comment about future shopping with your DD. I'm thinking the same thing here in a few years for our 8th grader DD, who also is our youngest. I'm sure the shopping will be a welcome distraction.
meanwhile, we are moving DS in tonight!! His stuff didn't even fill up the back of our SUV He says he has everything he needs though. Now if traffic would just clear up so we can get there and rip our bandage off too!

I hope the traffic clears up quickly for you. Sitting in the car on the way there was the worst part. I sure wouldn't want it delayed any more than needed.

We had plenty of room in our minivan for all my son's stuff too. Even had room left over. His roommate brought even less than he did. I think I saw him bring in one Rubbermaid tub and one laundry basket full of stuff. Sort of made my own minimalist look like a pack rat!

 

[LisaR]

Oh, how awful to be fighting a cold when you're fighting the drop-off. Just yuck.

I told my husband we should start saving now for all the stuff my 7th grade daughter is going to want for her first dorm room It will be a completely different experience. But since she's our last, I'll need a good diversion, so dorm room decorating could be just the ticket.

The trig test results will confirm placement in math. My son wants to be in Calc II but needs to do well enough on this test today to stay there. And no, I'm not watching my phone for him to text how it goes. But I think I was placed too high into Calc my freshman year and it was not a good experience, so if he ends up being placed lower, I'll explain to him for the umpteenth time why it's a good thing.

What a mess that dorm situation sounds like at that other school. My son didn't get his room assignment until a couple weeks ago, and that was stressful enough. I wonder what on earth that school will do with the kids from the unfinished building? I heard at my son's school they had a similar deal a few years ago and they ended up putting kids up at a local hotel! LOL.

I really hated that cloud we had for the last couple of weeks too. I just needed to rip the bandage off and move forward.

Remind me how far away your daughter is? When do you expect to see her again?

My DD is a 3.5 hour drive away. We have encouraged her NOT to come home for the first six weeks. Of course, she is always welcome, but from everything we have read, the first six weeks are so important to adapting to their new lifestyle. We do plan on visiting every few weeks just to take her to lunch, do a little shopping, and call it a day.

What are your plans with your son?

I have to laugh at your comment about future shopping with your DD. I'm thinking the same thing here in a few years for our 8th grader DD, who also is our youngest. I'm sure the shopping will be a welcome distraction.
meanwhile, we are moving DS in tonight!! His stuff didn't even fill up the back of our SUV He says he has everything he needs though. Now if traffic would just clear up so we can get there and rip our bandage off too!

Good luck today! I hope all goes well.

I hope the traffic clears up quickly for you. Sitting in the car on the way there was the worst part. I sure wouldn't want it delayed any more than needed.

We had plenty of room in our minivan for all my son's stuff too. Even had room left over. His roommate brought even less than he did. I think I saw him bring in one Rubbermaid tub and one laundry basket full of stuff. Sort of made my own minimalist look like a pack rat!

I'm embarrassed to even post this, but here it goes.....our minivan was stuffed full! On top of that, DD's car had three large suitcases full of clothes. They said again and again that you shouldn't bring your whole wardrobe, but based on the pictures I have seen, none of the girls listened! Everything fit, though!

We were far from the worst ones. I saw a dad hauling in a six drawer dresser that was huge. I swear it looked like it wouldn't even fit through the door. There were multiple U-hauls in the parking lot and a couple RV's. And the TV sizes were unbelievable! I can't believe the big screen TV's some people brought. It seems like it would be blurry having that huge screen and sitting only 2 -3 feet away.

I'm pretty sure my son will be able to fit all of his possessions in a backpack!

 

[mom2rtk]

My DD is a 3.5 hour drive away. We have encouraged her NOT to come home for the first six weeks. Of course, she is always welcome, but from everything we have read, the first six weeks are so important to adapting to their new lifestyle. We do plan on visiting every few weeks just to take her to lunch, do a little shopping, and call it a day.

What are your plans with your son?

That's too funny. Our son is right at 3 1/2 hours away too. No car, but he caught up with a kid down there with a car from nearby so will be able to share rides.

I can totally see why they say to wait 6 weeks. But we're going to go counter to that advice, as we so often seem to. He's coming back over Labor Day weekend with the friend. It's a calculated risk. But it helped on the day we left to be able to make plans to get back fairly soon. And I'm going to keep my word on that if I have to get him and take him back myself.

On the up side, it was a good day here. He did well enough on his Trig test to stay in Calc II and got 2 credit hours for the review class this week. Mostly I'm just really happy he got a chance for something positive to happen and get off on the right foot. That part is really big in my opinion.

I'm embarrassed to even post this, but here it goes.....our minivan was stuffed full! On top of that, DD's car had three large suitcases full of clothes. They said again and again that you shouldn't bring your whole wardrobe, but based on the pictures I have seen, none of the girls listened! Everything fit, though!

We were far from the worst ones. I saw a dad hauling in a six drawer dresser that was huge. I swear it looked like it wouldn't even fit through the door. There were multiple U-hauls in the parking lot and a couple RV's. And the TV sizes were unbelievable! I can't believe the big screen TV's some people brought. It seems like it would be blurry having that huge screen and sitting only 2 -3 feet away.

I'm pretty sure my son will be able to fit all of his possessions in a backpack!

LOL, thanks for sharing. I can just see it all in my mind. And I'm flashing forward 6 years. Heaven help us!

 

[mom2travel]

My DD is a 3.5 hour drive away. We have encouraged her NOT to come home for the first six weeks. Of course, she is always welcome, but from everything we have read, the first six weeks are so important to adapting to their new lifestyle. We do plan on visiting every few weeks just to take her to lunch, do a little shopping, and call it a day.

What are your plans with your son?

Good luck today! I hope all goes well.

I'm embarrassed to even post this, but here it goes.....our minivan was stuffed full! On top of that, DD's car had three large suitcases full of clothes. They said again and again that you shouldn't bring your whole wardrobe, but based on the pictures I have seen, none of the girls listened! Everything fit, though!

We were far from the worst ones. I saw a dad hauling in a six drawer dresser that was huge. I swear it looked like it wouldn't even fit through the door. There were multiple U-hauls in the parking lot and a couple RV's. And the TV sizes were unbelievable! I can't believe the big screen TV's some people brought. It seems like it would be blurry having that huge screen and sitting only 2 -3 feet away.

I'm pretty sure my son will be able to fit all of his possessions in a backpack!

That's too funny. Our son is right at 3 1/2 hours away too. No car, but he caught up with a kid down there with a car from nearby so will be able to share rides.

I can totally see why they say to wait 6 weeks. But we're going to go counter to that advice, as we so often seem to. He's coming back over Labor Day weekend with the friend. It's a calculated risk. But it helped on the day we left to be able to make plans to get back fairly soon. And I'm going to keep my word on that if I have to get him and take him back myself.

On the up side, it was a good day here. He did well enough on his Trig test to stay in Calc II and got 2 credit hours for the review class this week. Mostly I'm just really happy he got a chance for something positive to happen and get off on the right foot. That part is really big in my opinion.

LOL, thanks for sharing. I can just see it all in my mind. And I'm flashing forward 6 years. Heaven help us!

well, we survived move in! In the rain. At least we got parked in a garage near the entrance to his dorm. So glad we did the early move in option - tomorrow will be a madhouse and is supposed to rain all day

It's pretty funny - our DS is 3 1/2 hours away too! He does have a car. He mentioned maybe coming home Labor Day weekend if alot of his (soon to be made) friends are heading home or to the beach or something for the long weekend.

I had to laugh at the packed-to-the-gills car and lots of stuff comments for the girls. It took us only 2 trips back and forth from the car (4 of us) and about 10 minutes to lug DS's stuff up to his room. Our friends' DD had a packed minivan and u-haul trailer and it took them forever to get her moved in. She also took every piece of her wardrobe, etc with her.

 

[mom2rtk]

well, we survived move in! In the rain. At least we got parked in a garage near the entrance to his dorm. So glad we did the early move in option - tomorrow will be a madhouse and is supposed to rain all day

It's pretty funny - our DS is 3 1/2 hours away too! He does have a car. He mentioned maybe coming home Labor Day weekend if alot of his (soon to be made) friends are heading home or to the beach or something for the long weekend.

I had to laugh at the packed-to-the-gills car and lots of stuff comments for the girls. It took us only 2 trips back and forth from the car (4 of us) and about 10 minutes to lug DS's stuff up to his room. Our friends' DD had a packed minivan and u-haul trailer and it took them forever to get her moved in. She also took every piece of her wardrobe, etc with her.

Yeah! for having the deed now in your past. So 3 1/2 away hours seems to be the popular choice in schools these days!

And rain? Somehow it just seems fitting. It didn't rain on us moving things in, but was pouring buckets on that second day when we said goodbye for good. Which was fine, because it sort of made us cut things off quickly.

Best of luck to everyone dropping off today. Any more u-hauls out there?

 

[Katy Belle]

Something happened yesterday that I want to share with all of you.

DS and I were talking about a variety of things. DS is a man of few words so when he is in the mood to chat, I am all ears!

Somehow we got on the topic of vacations and he told me how much he has appreciated all of our family vacations!!!!! Something so little, but meant so much to me. I work super hard on planning vacations (as I'm sure most of us on the DIS do) and I know they have a great time, but to hear him talk about how much fun he has, talked about the cruises and how he appreciates the fact we've been on 3 and he knows only a few who have even been on 1. He said he was glad that we vacationed like we do, because otherwise he wouldn't have known to vacation or to learn about the world like that.

It was very heart warming to hear the appreciation.

I'm so glad he did that!!! You have a good guy there! My DS wrote us a long letter the night we took him. So sweet. PRINCESS VIJA, when does your son go to school?? Hugs to you if its this weekend!

DS appears to still be ok. Very little contact. Haven't heard his voice at all, but I will before the weekend is out. I can take it no longer. ?We have traded a few texts and emails every day, very few, but at least I've heard from him every day. He still has the cold, but says its much better. I mailed a box to him Monday, and he still didn't have it as of Friday morning. His nice belt was in there, and he needed it for a reception yesterday afternoon. So he was going to go to Wal-Mart and buy a new belt before the reception. Oh! On Thursday he texted me..."Laundry handled!" So the boy did laundry after only 4 days?!!! Too funny! But I'm glad he did and now he knows how it all works and will be ready when he has a huge pile.

Hugs to all who are dropping them off today!