<p>Is it a bad idea for my two younger siblings (aged 14 and 8) to come? No babysitter, and obviously my mom doesn't want to leave them home alone for three days. :)</p>
<p>Will they be staying at the hotel or accompanying your mom to campus? If they are coming to campus, they will probably be bored to tears, making it difficult for your mom to concentrate on the various presentations. I don’t remember seeing any siblings during my son’s orientation.</p>
<p>From what I heard from my parents, many of the sessions were very boring, and we even ditched one because we knew it would be boring. So if my parents, who are supposed to learning things, were bored, your siblings will be infinitely bored I would imagine. I did see a few younger kids when I met up with my parents, but they seemed like they were bored as hell. </p>
<p>So if you don’t absolutely have to bring them, don’t.</p>
<p>I wasn’t bored in ANY session. However, I’m SURE that kids will be. BUT, a 14 year old could hang alone with (“babysitting”) an 8 year old, yes? If you’re gone for 3 days, you’re in a hotel…obviously. If it’s Biddle, for some reason I’d have no problem leaving a 14 year old there with a cell phone to reach me. They can watch TV, go bowling, eat, swim if there is a lifeguard,etc. If it’s a hotel that’s farther, and I’d have to drive to get to them, I wouldn’t leave them alone. If Biddle, you could pick and choose, leave them for just one session when they get really bored. Example: Day one you take them to morning sessions then the group ends up at Biddle for lunch anyway…they could hang in the afternoon.</p>
<p>At any rate - the sessions are each not very long. Try to sit in the back to slip in/out if necessary (watch out though, SEE how they’re seating you…some sessions they MADE you go down and to the front). I saw plenty of kids with parents, truly. If nothing else, it will help the 14 year old get a taste for a campus, what’s coming his/her way soon. Give her a bit of a “been there done that” attitude and maybe therefore less stress when it’s her turn. Dad coming too by any chance? They could “switch off”. But, seriously…though they’ll be bored, they’ll be fine. Breakfast, then check in. Then about 2 hours of short sessions. Then break for lunch. Then another 2 short sessions. Then done for the day. I never thought things went on too long. Though, yes, a kid will. But…pretend they’re in church! Heeheehee. Then, day two is much easier anyway. They’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Don’t bring the sibs. Everything was excruciatingly boring for both parents and students up until supper; and everything after that is for students only. It’s not worth the drive or the plane tickets for them if they’re simply gonna sit in various lecture halls all day listening to old men talk about IU.</p>
<p>I’d say leave your siblings and your mom home if it’s an either they all come or none do. I didn’t go to orientation with my daughter last year, and while I would have liked to be there it didn’t end up being a big thing at all. She got to explore campus and meet new people without worrying about me and get a taste of the independence that quickly arrives at the end of August, and I frankly don’t think I missed much information I couldn’t get online or through this forum.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I discussed this with my parents and my siblings will not be attending since they’ll be bored and there’s really no point for them to be there. My mom’s still going though, which I think is good because she hasn’t had the chance to see the campus or Bloomington yet.</p>