<p>I wouldn’t miss it for anything and totally agree with Lasma: “I think it’s better for the parent to be there and not be wanted, than to be wanted and not be there.”</p>
<p>While both S and D were more than ready to be independent in every way, I know they appreciated that we were there to help out. And frankly, it was clear almost all the students we saw had family with them. You can always plan a quick getaway. In fact, most kids prefer it that way. But you can never get back the day your child first moved away to college. It’s a milestone I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. And I believe both our kids were glad we were there to share it with them.</p>
<p>I think that it’s good to be there to help with the move in and to run and get things that your S may find he needs once he arrives. </p>
<p>I took my D from SoCal to NYC last year to move into the freshman dorms. We each checked two bags and had sent three boxes ahead. After move in we ran errands the next day and got the other things she needed. I attended the parents events and left after a couple days. D will fly back on her own at the end of this month for her sophomore year. She already moved her stuff from her dorm into an apartment at the end of the school year and will just need to organize her room and do some grocery shopping when she returns.</p>
<p>I am positive DD will be accompanied by me and perhaps her dad in a year. This thread has inspired me to have her be on the lookout for other freshman w/o parents there who might need a lift to Target/BB&B, etc. or might want company for a meal.</p>
<p>We helped both D’s move into their dorms freshman year- I was talking about that yesterday, how D2 had a gorgeous room with cathedral ceilings and a view, but we had a mini fridge to get up to the 4th floor without an elevator.
Luckily two strapping young men volunteered to help carry before they knew where it was going!
;)</p>
<p>I went with my boyfriend at the time, no parents. They came up later that week I think to take me out to dinner. It was no big deal. I am a really shy person and asking people to come help me was a way to start connecting with people right away. I don’t regret it in the least. I am going into my third year and I still move in and out all by myself.</p>
<p>I don’t see it as the huge milestone that other people do. I didn’t really live with my parents throughout most of high school. Strangely enough though, now that I’m getting my own apartment and I’ve been living on the other side of the state all summer, my mother is finally starting to get that oh-no-I’m-losing-my-baby syndrome and is buying me stuff like mad- things I don’t need/want and we can’t afford.</p>
<p>I would look at the schools schedule and see what’s in store for your son and if there is anything for parents during move in. Is he going to feel left out, will there be things for him to do? I totally understand that others are saying people eat goodbye dinners with their families however that’s not always the case. We had planned on staying overnight after dropping off our son. After checking out the schedule we saw that after moving into the dorm he was going to be very busy after 4pm on. We opted for a stop/drop/and roll after talking to other parents at the same school to make sure he wouldn’t be left out of anything. You know your own child and have to make a determination based on that. Every school doesn’t handle this the same way.</p>
<p>In cases where a parent absolutely can’t be there a roommates parent is usually glad to help where they can. Our son’s roommate is from out of state and will be flying in by himself. He contacted my son to see if it would be okay at move-in if we drove him to pick up dorm pre-ordered items at Bed, Bath & Beyond so he could travel lighter. We were more then happy to help him out and will make sure he has everything he needs before we get on the road.</p>