We have been in touch a lot too, last week mainly due to my intense anxiety about DS actually getting out of bed for his early morning runs and practices, and now he’s gotten used to texting frequently. I am the one trying to cut the cord a bit. His “sonic boom” alarm clock seems to be doing the job, and he sent me a first day of classes selfie showing that he tied his tie successfully – one more source of stress to cross off the list. He said he was nervous about starting classes today, but I suspect that once he figures out where all his classes are, he’ll be fine. He had a challenging but great week of soccer last week, and we’ve gotten a lot of “this is perfect” and “I can’t thank you enough” messages, so I think things are good.
@CTMom21 that’s awesome! DH has been worse than I about asking if I’ve “heard from the boy”. I’ve seen how full their schedule is with classes & practices, then study hours without an ability to call. DS has always been an early to bed kid–his bedtime is just about when study hours start…so I am trying to sit back & let him adjust. I tell DH no news is good news at this point. He should be receiving a package today, so I’m hoping I at least get a “thx” text. It’s hard when you’re so used to talking to them at any given moment to 24 + hours without even a word…CC again is helping us cope!
I made a rule (occasionally broken) with my daughter who is in college that I am applying to him. A text or facetime conversation is initiated by him not us. This way I don’t interfere with his mental space when he is engaged. The school also asks you don’t contact until all obligations are done. I also am planning not to clutter his email at all. So far one bonus of him having a close relationship with his older sister is I get nice reports from her. They of course are more inclined to use snapchat which I still have not figured out. . . (I like to send bitmoji and snapchat allows for friendmoji where your bitmoji interact which is a hoot).
@sadieshadow Just a few days before leaving for school, AppleKid approached me and said it was time for us to have the big “S” talk–Snapchat! AppleKid is the only one I snap with, and I really don’t understand all the functionality, but it sure has been nice to get a daily photo of the kid from different places on campus at different times of day.
@AppleNotFar I would consider adding SwimKid1 on Snapchat but all I would get would be pictures of half of his face :))
@momof3swimmers What makes you think I get anything more?? /
I take what I can get!
Well, I finally installed snapchat but
my college freshman DS1 is not friending me :(( so…
“Your chats are pending until DS1 adds you as a friend.” =((
I have snapchat and both kids have friended me. However, neither sends me snaps. DD (in college) regularly updates her story so I get little glimpses of what is going on with her. DS(10th grade) never has a story. He uses snapchat a ton but just sends snaps…but not to me, which renders snapchat useless on that front.
Have any of y’all sent care packages? I’m trying to think of a couple of things to send up (even though I could drive them there myself). SwimKid’s bday is next week. We are going to send cards, some homemade treats, but I’m at a loss of what else I could send.
@momof3swimmers send their favorite non-perishable foods! Favorite junk foods are scare on campus unless you make trips to the store so it is always appreciated if you send food to share with friends that will last. Also, I don’t know if your kids are boys or girls, but if you have a girl at boarding school, it can be fun to send things like nail polish, face masks, etc. (just cheap ones from the drugstore). It’s fun to do with friends!
We were told by UCs at DS’ school the most prized possession is Gatorade. Lol
We’ve been asked for vintage LPs (apparently the dorm mates like his 70s music), socks, and flip flops to wear to shower.
Maybe one of those basketball hoops you hang on the door for his dorm room? Idk. Teenage boys are hard to figure out. Good luck!!
My son told me that when it was a dorm-mate’s birthday last week, the school had 15 pizzas sent to the dorm after study hall, so you might check on what if anything the school is providing first to avoid duplication (or who knows, maybe parents had the pizzas sent, so that’s an idea). For a care package, besides homemade cookies and stuff, maybe favorite candy/favorite packaged junk food?
The other day I recieved my first care package: a pair of pants (they know me so well), and my sister’s old annoted (color-coded, too) copy of the Odyssey to help with my annotations! Of course I had to check if it was OK for me to use it, but once I got the green light I was flipping through her book all night
Omg! It’s @“Nico.campbell” !!! Glad to hear from you, Nico! Hope things are going well!!! DS was in your neck of the woods a few weeks ago!
@buuzn03 light homework load + free period = college confidential/watching Netflix for the first time in weeks :D. Things are going great here! I hope your son is enjoying himself too!!
Sent my first care package/birthday package today. Homemade brownies, and alarm clock, extra socks (he’s doing his own laundry), paper hugs from his brothers, birthday cards, sour patch kids and a visa gift card so he can eat out! Can’t wait till family weekend. He’s coming home for a night and we get to have a birthday party!
Long weekend is this weekend for us. I finally get to see my son again. He loves school. I am so thankful.
If a school is ordering 15 pizzas for each kid’s birthday, they are misusing their endowment if you ask me. My guess is a parent paid for it.
@PossiblePrepMom so great to hear your son loves being at Peddie. It’s a fabulous school!!
@AppleNotFar Thank you. I agree. It is. My super math son loves his humanities class and just got an A on a rough draft of a paper. It’s nice to see him spreading his wings!