Order your “Bean Boots” now - I haven’t checked recently, but when D needed them, they were backordered for months - they’re really useful for cold/yucky weather! She purchased snow boots at school - lots more options there, and we got her a really good winter coat on sale when she was home for winter break. She didn’t believe me that her cute/fashionable coat wouldn’t be warm enough!
And I so hope all of your kids have as wonderful a 4 years as mine had. It really does seem like we were just shopping for dorm stuff and having anxiety about leaving home for a school 8 hours away where she knew no one. Those 4 years flew by!!!
@sopranomtmom - I think waterproof is key. My D (who goes to school in NYC, so there are always sidewalks etc) wears her Doc Martens a lot. Other popular choices are Hunters, LL Beans and Sorels.
@sopranomtmom - My D went from SoCal to NYC. She waited until she got to school to buy boots and her winter coat as she wanted to too what others were wearing. For boots she ended up with black Hunters which did well in both the rain and the snow for her 4 years there. She got her coat from REI in Soho. It is a Patagonia, black down coat that comes not quite to her knees. It is lightweight, but very warm and served her well during the cold winters!
We are moving my d from Texas to Nebraska. I will not cry, I will not cry. Lol Yes I will. We have had fun shopping for dorm stuff. She is my youngest of two. Did not buy this much stuff for my son. Hehe!
Not naming any names, but SOME midwest college boys wear a hoodie, sweats and holey gym shoes year-round - despite the parental investment in a “warm” coat and blizzard-ready boots. Neither snow nor rain nor sleet not gloom of night stays these actors from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
My NY gal is partial to Sorels. Warm and waterproof! She also has a long North Face coat for the coldest winter days. The weather is pretty much the same as it is in NE Ohio so she was prepared. She does spend more time outside than she does at home since she has no car at school (so gloves/hat/scarf are necessary)!
We’re leaving for Ohio 4 days after we get back from Hawaii! At least I hope…D is having a bit of cold feet. PLEASE tell me this is normal. We’re freaking out a bit here!
@MTheaterMom I hope it is normal because the cold feet have been coming on here off and on as well. We still have three weeks, and she is definitely getting increasingly anxious!!
We have the same thing going on. I am sure it is completely normal for some teens to start to feel nervous and anxious about leaving home especially if they are close to their family. Emotional roller coast at our house right now, she leaves in less than 2 weeks and will be 4.5 hours away. I keep reassuring her that she will be fine and that she is ready! I’ve cried here and there at the most mundane things but try to keep it together in front of her, haha. (and most of the emotional breakdowns for her are late at night before bed when she has finally slowed down from the day)
Our experience was that the B got to school, found his tribe, moved into his room, had one last dinner with his broken hearted parents and never looked back. He was almost literally walking on air the last time we saw him before leaving. Our first text for him on the way back to New England was a giddy announcement that he had gotten rush tickets to Book of Mormon. They will be fine. It’s us parents who will need a distraction.
Yep, it’s different for every student and all the different reactions are perfectly normal for that particular student. My older daughter who we thought would have a hard time was perfectly fine and adjusted way better than we ever though she would. My younger daughter will be fine, she just wears her heart on her sleeve and we see all the emotions.
TOTALLY normal @MTheaterMom! My D had some serious freak outs just before she left last year. She some down cycles once school started, too, but she quickly found her groove! They are so incredibly busy they tend to forget to get lonely. We live very close to S school and have had a Labor Day party each year for S class (there are 18 of them - usually 14 of the MTs come and a few extras). The first year, a couple of the ladies got a serious case of the blues. After that, everyone has been happy and adjusted. I think Labor Day weekend is hard for kids - they just start back to school and suddenly have 3 days of down time (or at least time with no classes and generally no rehearsals). SO don’t be surprised if you get some “COME AND GET ME” calls over Labor Day. This too shall pass!
My D is so excited to start at LMU! There doesn’t seem to be any anxiety at all and I’ve been ok so far. The only thing that’s been stressing her out is her agent constantly sending her on audiitions that film through her first semester. She has told them more than once that she really wants to settle into school without interruption yet they keep on sendint the emails! She has turned down quite a few but some she felt she had to go for. So while they are great opportunities and of course the chances of getting anything are slim…I think she and I both are hoping she doesn’t book anything. She came very close to getting a guest part on Shades of Blue with JLo which would have been cool for sure (and filmed in the summer) but I guess everything happens for a reason…she ended up being so sick the week it would have filmed thank God she didn’t get the part! We leave for Cali on 8/23, move in is on 8/25…it’s very exciting!
I’m in same boat as many… sad at weird times. This is my only child so… never gone through it before & won’t again. What has helped us is D is at a MT academy at her university and has been there for going on 5 wks, so a “primer” for our soon to be separation. She will only be home 10 days before leaving for move in. We’re only 4 hrs away so a doable drive but… still dreading move in day. Excited for her of course. She’s more prepared for her school since she’s already been on campus for all these weeks so that’ll help.
Might I add reading the class of 2022 sharing thread is giving me anxiety! So glad we’re done with all that as I legit could not do it again! Not enough energy
AND I am glad I am not alone in my nervousness and sadness. D seems ok and some days actually acts excited. She keeps adding things to do before she leaves. Before college bucket list? I don’t know but going to the Garden of the Gods to hike makes my anxiety level spike all over again. We are not hikers. I don’t even know why she wants to go unless it is to spend time with the boyfriend. Yay.
I am a single mother of a singleton and my advice to you all is to feel all the feels. It is going to be a hellish first years of missing them terribly and finding your house so quiet and sad. The only advice I can give is know that it does get better with time and that your child is having the time of his/her life <3 Reach out to those who are going through the same thing and commiserate where you can. Skype was a lifesaver for us and we used it often. My daughter and I are super close (picture Gilmore Girls). She would facetime me while she did her laundry or worked in her room. We would be online for hours just chatting like we would do at home. She would be walking back and forth in her room, or folding laundry and it felt like I was there. I was super open with her about how hard this was going to be for me and she was so sweet about keeping me in the loop of her life. No one prepares you for that light switch of parenting being switched off it such a complete and definitive manner.
