<p>Feel free to join the awesome parents of the college class of 2015 kids for more commiseration and camaraderie as we launch our kids. The first one in our known group launches this Tuesday and the last one more than 6 weeks from now in late September. The thread link is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1171197-awesome-parents-college-class-2015-beyond-106.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1171197-awesome-parents-college-class-2015-beyond-106.html</a></p>
<p>I would KILL for a text that says I’m the best mom ever! </p>
<p>I’ll be sending care packages for sure!</p>
<p>Once again, we have the gender divide. I think the worm has yet to open the last care package I sent him, because he knew it was mostly clothes. Even tho I’m a baker, I send him Dancin Deer cookies & brownies, 'cuz he’ll pick that package up,</p>
<p>My son WAY prefers clothes (but only off of his perennial wish list) and scolds ME about eating junk food. Just sayin’…He’s been gone a week, never calls, and I let him know I was looking for him on his school’s webcam. He said I’m acting like a “creeper”.</p>
<p>From the illustrious urban disctionary</p>
<p>"Creeper </p>
<p>A person who does weird things, like stares at you while you sleep, or looks at you for hours through a window. usually a close friend or relative. you know right away if that person is a creeper or does creeper things. it is not hard to spot the creeper."</p>
<p>I wimped out, I sent D2 a box of Mrs. Field’s cookies to share with her friends last week, right before the summer program ended. I heard it was a big hit.</p>
<p>My son would take his sweet time going to the building where packages had to be picked up. A let down for the sender!</p>
<p>I know I am not the norm but I am really excited about my up and coming empty nest!! My oldest so will be a JR at U of Alabama and the younger one will be a Freshman at Troy U…They are doing what I raised them to do!!God is sooo good!!! The oldest son has Aspergers Syndrome he will be in the UA-Acts program learning so much. All the years of therapy,IEP meeitngs,DR appts and lots of tears have now paid off.As far as my younger one he has earned a full ride to Troy!! All the years spent on helping him be the best student he could be have been worth it!! There is a time and season for all things and this is now the time for them to go and start building their own lives… What I am looking forward to is seeing all the things that God has planned for them unfold. I am also looking forward to all the new things that will happen in my life!! They will still need me but in a different way now!!!</p>
<p>In addition to the cookies, send a huge bouquet of flowers with a card signed “From a Secret Admirer.” Those get delivered to the dorm immediately.</p>
<p>For a hilarious viewpoint on using technology to creep your college kid, go to theonion.com. In the search box, type “stalking college.” I have to say this hit uncomfortably close to home for me, and yet – it had some good tips! :D</p>
<p>I don’t know if college kids still use AIM, but they did in 2006 when our son was a freshman. I would just log in and check to see if his status had changed (studying…at the gym…etc.) and change told me he was alive. Pathetic, probably, but when you are grasping for straws, any straw works. I was also able to keep myself from intruding too often.</p>
<p>It’s just surreal to think the time has finally come. After all the endless hours of researching colleges for her. the application process to 11 schools, all the lasts of senior year, the time for her now leave the nest has come. Nothing really prepares you for it. Especially when you give up your career to give them your all in raising them. I know she will be fine next week, she is ready. I have said all there is to say to prepare her for fllight from the nest. I am proud, my husband is proud…All parents here on C/C did our best to prepare them…I just need to redirect my own path now. And I will.</p>
<p>Here’s the Onion link: [Facebook</a>, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids | The Onion - America’s Finest News Source | Onion News Network](<a href=“http://www.theonion.com/video/facebook-twitter-revolutionizing-how-parents-stalk,14364/]Facebook”>http://www.theonion.com/video/facebook-twitter-revolutionizing-how-parents-stalk,14364/)</p>
<p>I’ve been keeping an eye on this thread. DS#2 leaves for his freshman year in nine days. Problem is DS#3 is having knee surgery in eight. . . . Aiyiyi. . .</p>
<p>Dear CC parents,
tomorrow our family begins the long trip from Bangalore India to Boston University. DD1 will begin a new life, a new book and I will have half a nest empty.
The distance, never been away except the occasional camp, never planned this college step so soon (she is only 18!!!) - i am not completely together yet. </p>
<p>she is a fine young lady (i think - I hope). I have taught her everything that she needs to learn - but living is her own job to do. </p>
<p>I have been reading about care packages. but I am in India - a time zone and continent away!! Is anyone aware of things I could do from the distance?
I have done all the baking in the last two weeks, all the shopping, all the lists, all the notes - but =-------
dont know what i am looking for.</p>
<p>Any ideas appreciated. </p>
<p>Thanks, a</p>
<p>^^A couple of ideas:</p>
<p>How much does it cost to ship a small box from Bangladore to Boston? It doesn’t have to be big – it’s exciting to them to receive anything from home.</p>
<p>You could order something online and have it shipped to your D at college. Again, it doesn’t have to be big or expensive. They love small fun things.</p>
<p>I don’t know if this is common, but my D’s college works with several local charities on care packages. Here’s how it works: I send in my order to the charity (the college provides an order form), and they deliver a goodie bag, usually around holidays like Halloween or Valentines Day, or during finals week. While you’re there, you could ask if her college does anything like that.</p>
<p>Hugs to you! and best wishes for a wonderful trip! Come back after and tell us all about it.</p>
<p>apply2school, take a look at amazon.com.
It even has a section of Indian food that can be sent to her
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_ex_n_1?rh=n%3A16310101%2Cp_n_cuisinebin%3A383477011&bbn=16310101&ie=UTF8&qid=1312987271#/ref=sr_nr_p_n_cuisinebin_8?rh=n%3A16310101%2Cp_n_cuisinebin%3A383477011&bbn=16310101&ie=UTF8&qid=1312987335&rnid=370165011[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_ex_n_1?rh=n%3A16310101%2Cp_n_cuisinebin%3A383477011&bbn=16310101&ie=UTF8&qid=1312987271#/ref=sr_nr_p_n_cuisinebin_8?rh=n%3A16310101%2Cp_n_cuisinebin%3A383477011&bbn=16310101&ie=UTF8&qid=1312987335&rnid=370165011</a></p>
<p>After seeing mounds of stuff in D’s dorm from care packages relatives sent, I mostly gave younger son cards and money. </p>
<p>Of course I did send him a birthday gift. Hint (especialy for parents of STEM kids)… if you don’t know about Buckey Balls from Think Geek, save this link. Great gift that doesn’t take much space.
<a href=“http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/bbe8/[/url]”>http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/bbe8/</a></p>
<p>So is anyone else fantasying about taking a sabbatical and working in your student’s bookstore? College seems like such a fun and active place. Of course it’s just a fantasy but it helps calm my nerves. LOL!</p>
<p>Last week I was at the local college bookstore and I was chatting with a woman who worked there. She said she missed her own kids who were away at school so she took the job to be around college aged kids.</p>
<p>A good friend of mine fought the schools all her oldest son’s life. He had to get the best teachers/classes…ok you get it. And in her obsessive way she attacked the college process UNTIL after a successful admissions process she stopped. It was two weeks before he was supposed to leave and with tears in her eyes she whispered, “I can’t believe that I worked so hard so that he would leave. My heart is breaking.”</p>
<p>She did survive.</p>
<p>mommidwest and Kajon, when I was at D’s orientation two years ago, I had some free time and was sitting on the quad watching the students and faculty/staff walking by. I remember thinking that if I had it to do all over again, I’d choose a career – any career – in academia. It’s just so delicious.</p>