Parents of College Freshman who are now Sophomores... UpDate 7/28/09

[mickeysgal]

Well we dropped my DS off on Saturday. We found his room, got him checked in, helped pack his stuff up to his room, got his parking pass and left. We did meet his roommate... it's going to be interesting to say the least. He seems like a nice kid but my son is kind of a pig (but we love him anyway) . He throws dirty clothes on the floor and never puts away clean ones...his room has always been a disaster. Well the roommate has got to be OCD. I swear if I had a ruler I bet his hangers in the closet were all 1/2" apart. All of his towels were precisely placed on the shelves. He had gone over the whole room with Clorox wipes just before we got there. We did run into a couple of boys from DS's graduating class that are going to the same school. So he's been hanging out with them quite a bit. I asked him to at least try to include the roommate a little - he is from the other side of the state and bound to be a little lonely for a while.

Remember the Odd Couple TV show?

It will definitely be interesting.

 

[CraftyMouse]

After he finished his homework he would watch tv with me. He is a self proclaimed NERD so he loves "Big Bang Theory" unfortunately he has a class at that time on Monday nights this semester.

Sounds like the perfect excuse to tape the episodes (they start tonight!...we're big fans too!) and watch them with him when he is home on weekends or at Winter break!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

DS is going to Eastern Washington University. Our local community college starts this week too - but I'm pretty sure they are the last ones to start.

DH I our were talking about the old Odd Couple TV show as soon as we left DS. It's going to be real interesting

 

[mamacatnv]

Well we dropped my DS off on Saturday. We found his room, got him checked in, helped pack his stuff up to his room, got his parking pass and left. We did meet his roommate... it's going to be interesting to say the least. He seems like a nice kid but my son is kind of a pig (but we love him anyway) . He throws dirty clothes on the floor and never puts away clean ones...his room has always been a disaster. Well the roommate has got to be OCD. I swear if I had a ruler I bet his hangers in the closet were all 1/2" apart. All of his towels were precisely placed on the shelves. He had gone over the whole room with Clorox wipes just before we got there.

You never know. My DS has always been a slob, his room is a disaster and it is not unheard of for him to dig around in his car to come up with something to wear since everything else is on the floor of his room.

His biggest complaint about his roommate is that roomie is a SLOB now, I was really worried. For DS to be bent about it, it must be bad. Turns out, DS has been keeping his half of the room pristine (according to him and Girly friend) he keeps up on his laundry, puts his stuff away and uses the hamper. He uses the hamper well that only took 18 years

Glad all went well in dropping off DS, most of us here can honestly say we know exactly how you feel and it will get easier. Really, it will

 

[mamacatnv]

Sounds like the perfect excuse to tape the episodes (they start tonight!...we're big fans too!) and watch them with him when he is home on weekends or at Winter break!

For us it is Heroes. DS and I always watch it together, so the DVR is all set up and everyone else in the family is under threat of death if they mess with the timer or the recorded episodes. DS and I plan to have a Heroes night as often as we can to keep caught up.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Actually I thought I handled it pretty well. I wasn't really emotional at all. DH was teasing him the whole time and that helped. He probably will come home next weekend and he's been either texting or emailing me every day. So it's been fine - he's a good kid and has a good head on his shoulders.

 

[pixie dust 112]

I've been following this thread for the past month. My DD is a HS senior this year and will be my first to go off to college next year. I'm already having my crying moments! It's been great to see how so many of you have gone from being so apprehensive a month ago when dropping off the freshman, to being settled into the idea now that a bit of time has passed. SOunds like for the most part the kids are adjusting well....and so are the parents. It offers a bit of relief for me. I'll be coming to all of you for advice next year!

 

[luvflorida]

I've been following this thread for the past month. My DD is a HS senior this year and will be my first to go off to college next year. I'm already having my crying moments! It's been great to see how so many of you have gone from being so apprehensive a month ago when dropping off the freshman, to being settled into the idea now that a bit of time has passed. SOunds like for the most part the kids are adjusting well....and so are the parents. It offers a bit of relief for me. I'll be coming to all of you for advice next year!

Honestly, my daughter is adjusting better than I am! This morning, I had a good cry and feel better, but it is SO hard adjusting to not having her here. I mean, for 17 years, she's been here- every day! It's such a strange feeling not having her sleeping in her bedroom, not being here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, not sitting with me watching our favorite shows.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled she has adjusted so well, and I'm happy that she's loving college and dorm life. My biggest fear was that she would be homesick and lonely. She is neither! And I'm am so proud of her! I just hope it gets easier for me and I'll start missing her less!

We do talk or text almost every day, and she comes home often. This weekend, we're having a big family cook-out at our house, and all three of our kids will be here, along with our brand new grandson. So, I'm really looking forward to the weekend.

 

[luvflorida]

For us it is Heroes. DS and I always watch it together, so the DVR is all set up and everyone else in the family is under threat of death if they mess with the timer or the recorded episodes. DS and I plan to have a Heroes night as often as we can to keep caught up.

For us, it's The Office and America's Next Top Model. So far, Wednesday has been the day that daughter has been coming home. Her dad and I take her out to dinner, or we get pizza at the house, and we watch ANTM, then take her back to her dorm. It's also a good time for her to bring her laundry home, and she throws it in while we watch tv. Her older sister has been joining us on Wednesday nights, too, so it really is like old times!

We are all "Office" fanatics, but daughter will be watching that with her friends at the dorm. A lot of the girls on her floor are also fans of The Office, and they plan on having get togethers every Thursday night and watching the show on the big tv in the dorm's rec room. I really glad that she has so many friends to watch it with!

 

[mickeysgal]

He uses the hamper well that only took 18 years

I'd sure like to be a fly on the wall of my son's dorm right about now. I'd sure like to see how he's keeping his room and bathroom. It scares me to think that that bathroom may never see a Clorox wipe.

 

[FINFAN]

Hi all,
thought I would chime in here...DD has been gone a month as well, and she is loving it to pieces. Her wprk load doubled in the last 2 weeks, so fun and games are over, but considering she gets to be classes for her major already next semester, she is not complaining. Actually, my biggest fear was time management and so far, it appears she has a handle on things. She has a met a girl form Florida ( orig from England) and they hit it off well together, even touched on rooming next year. She and her roommate get along fine, their living habits blend really well, they do not hang out too much( different circles) but they are quite pleased with how well they get along as roommates. I am bummed that I can't afford to go see her for parent weekend ( Sarasota) but DD said that most kids will be "orphaned" as the majority are from out of state or a 3+ hour car ride each way. We do not get to talk mch, she is really putting in the hours, but we sadly knew that was going to be the case. We bought a video cam and have been able to chat 3x's that way...it helps to be able to "see" her...until the goodbye part...tearing up now thinking about it. We are hoping to video chat Tuesday night..YAY!
So far so good, now if only the cost was going as smoothly!


Pam

 

[cruisnfamily]

I am bummed that I can't afford to go see her for parent weekend ( Sarasota) but DD said that most kids will be "orphaned" as the majority are from out of state or a 3+ hour car ride each way.

Where is she going to school in Sarasota? Ringling?

 

[mamacatnv]

Hi Pam! Good to hear from you - glad your DD is doing well.

Our Univ. cancelled parents weekend due to budget cuts.

So, DS calls me last night - he is having roomie drama. It's not even mid October yet which is when the head guys at housing said 90% of all residents will have some sort of issue

I buy cases of water for DS - he and roomie share a 4 cu. ft. fridge. Univ. rules, only 1 fridge per room. Roomie brought the fridge, DS bought the micro. Roomie started taking DS's water so DS started putting his initials on the caps of the bottles. They talked and came up with a plan. DS says they have agreed to a shelf each and a common shelf for the larger items, milk etc.
DS comes in last night and roomie has changed the initials on the caps from DS's initial to his initial. DS is furious

Now, I ask DS if he has addressed this with roomie - No, he's "too mad at the moment." I am sitting back watching all of this and I am slightly amused. DS is getting a lesson in standing up for himself. DS thinks he is this "tough guy" because he is huge and athletic, when the nick name so many coaches gave him over the years is more appropriate, "Gentle Giant" When we first arrived at the dorm, the roomie had arrived before him and had re-arrranged the room. The roomies bed was in front of the window and actually takes up more than his 1/2 of the room. I mention to DS that he is paying as much as roomie and if he doesn't like it he needs to address it. He doesn't. Roomie is a slob, DS comes in to find roomies clothes on his side of the room, DS did address this. Now roomie is taking his water..........I'm just sitting back waiting for DS to sort his roomie out. It is actually kind of amusing. DS doesn't find it amusing, but I do

 

[Kath2003]

If your DS has an issue with his roomie taking his water, he needs to talk to him, not simply initial everything. The roomie KNOWS it's not his water!

Cheer up mom, if this is the biggest issue, DS is doing good

 

[FINFAN]

cruisinfamily,


yeah, she's a computer animation major at Ringling...once she made it into the program, well, we were going to do everything we could to make it a reality. It's kinda weird to see someone know the school, lol...and not add a clown joke! So far she said she only knows of 2 that have dropped, so that's encouraging. Are you guys in the area or do you know of someone attending?
Hi Melissa, aww, that's a shame on the parent weekend...I know if I could afford to go I would. My countdown is officially 82 days until we see DD! I know many have their WDW countdowns, but this is WAY harder! ( for me, anyway) I htink you are doing hte right thing by staying in touch w/DS situation, but not stepping in. He will take control, if nothing else, to maybe put in for a new roomie. I had asked DD if she could, to NOT be the roommate that is asked to be "reassigned"...that was one call I did not want to receive I figure it's the one thing totally in her control, to be a decent roommate. Sigh, maybe the kid will turn around when he finds "his" water bottles filled with vinegar! That might get his attention

 

[mamacatnv]

He will take control, if nothing else, to maybe put in for a new roomie. I had asked DD if she could, to NOT be the roommate that is asked to be "reassigned"...that was one call I did not want to receive I figure it's the one thing totally in her control, to be a decent roommate. Sigh, maybe the kid will turn around when he finds "his" water bottles filled with vinegar! That might get his attention

Thats a good one
No way do I think my DS is some "perfect" ideal roomie either Heck I know what a PITA he can be, he is related to his father(DH) afterall
He runs his fan 24/7 and I know that it is making his roomie nuts, DS's response "Thats what he gets for taking over the window".

Roomies - I think this is a good life lesson. One of the reasons we wanted him living on campus at the Univ. that is 10 minutes from our house was so that he could experience some of these types of situations. Our plan is working Little does he know how his twisted parents are enjoying every minute of his water bottle angst

Pam, you should create a countdown ticker for when your DD comes home for winter break!

 

[FINFAN]

I know, I should...but I am holding back because it actually makes it harder to actually "see" the time that is left, sounds weird I know, maybe when it gets closer. Halloween is going to be rough. It is DD's and my favorite holiday, sort of our Christmas if you will. Since it falls on a Friday we would've absolutely had a big party, would have been working on transforming the basement already. All the decorations in the stores coupled with Homecoming festivities at the High School this week ... I'm just not dealing too well.
I am going to send a Halloween box to DD to do up her room if she wants, and she is just a few blocks from a GoodWill store so I KNOW she will be poppping in there to see what she can create costume wise. The neighborhood is not the greates around the college so the kids come and trick or treat in the dorm buildings. DD is so excited, and knowing the weather will be nice, she can't wait to do a costume...in Illinois it is always a shame to have these awesome costumes covered by coats for Trick or Treats. Anyway, can't wait to try and video chat w/her tonight!

 

[luvflorida]

I know, I should...but I am holding back because it actually makes it harder to actually "see" the time that is left, sounds weird I know, maybe when it gets closer. Halloween is going to be rough. It is DD's and my favorite holiday, sort of our Christmas if you will. Since it falls on a Friday we would've absolutely had a big party, would have been working on transforming the basement already. All the decorations in the stores coupled with Homecoming festivities at the High School this week ... I'm just not dealing too well.
I am going to send a Halloween box to DD to do up her room if she wants, and she is just a few blocks from a GoodWill store so I KNOW she will be poppping in there to see what she can create costume wise. The neighborhood is not the greates around the college so the kids come and trick or treat in the dorm buildings. DD is so excited, and knowing the weather will be nice, she can't wait to do a costume...in Illinois it is always a shame to have these awesome costumes covered by coats for Trick or Treats. Anyway, can't wait to try and video chat w/her tonight!

I understand the "not dealing too well". Yesterday I was pretty sad. It hits me at different times, like just walking through a mall or going out to eat. I actually get a lump in my throat when I see a mom and young daughter having lunch out or shopping together. I want to grab the mom and tell her to enjoy every minute with her daughter because they DO grow up fast and they DO move on to a life of their own!

My daughter is also very excited about Halloween this year. It's never really been too big of a deal to her, but now that she's in a dorm, and all the girls are talking about costumes and decorating, she's so excited.

Remember that as each day goes by, you're that much closer to seeing your daughter.

 

[cruisnfamily]

cruisinfamily,


yeah, she's a computer animation major at Ringling...once she made it into the program, well, we were going to do everything we could to make it a reality. It's kinda weird to see someone know the school, lol...and not add a clown joke! So far she said she only knows of 2 that have dropped, so that's encouraging. Are you guys in the area or do you know of someone attending?

Yes, I live in Sarasota and my kids old elementary school was right by there so I would drive through the campus quite often. Besides, it was kind of a lucky guess as I couldn't think of any other colleges in Sarasota

 

[mamacatnv]

Yes, I live in Sarasota and my kids old elementary school was right by there so I would drive through the campus quite often. Besides, it was kind of a lucky guess as I couldn't think of any other colleges in Sarasota

My Inlaws live in Bradenton - you folks have some crazy drivers down there