<p>I hear a slight …ummmm… not hysteria but reality taking hold for many of us…</p>
<p>Do you think requiring my son to text me hourly is too much??? Gheesh…I thought I was cool but this is becoming harder as the day approaches! He actually starting piling up clothes tonight that he is going to take and separating those I’m sending…</p>
<p>Yea, my husband and I are really getting anxious! It’s going to be really hard on us. We have been so involved with everything my DS has done in high school. AND he’s my last one out of the nest…</p>
<p>^^^I hear you, bamafana. We’ll be empty nesters too. </p>
<p>The bags are packed and we jump on a flight bound for T-town tomorrow night (gasp). We’ve given them roots. Now it’s time to give them wings.</p>
<p>:) Once per hour is too much unless there are urgent events going on and SMS (text) communication is more viable than a voice call or e-mail would be. On the first couple day of classes, he might want to text you and say how his classes are going. Otherwise, it really depends on the student as to how often they will contact home. I usually communicate with my family daily just to say hi and see if they need help with something online.</p>
<p>It will be a huge change with your son moving across the country to attend college. As with any change, there will be an adjustment period when you will be surprised that your son is actually at UA and not a couple of rooms down the hall, but over time you both will get used to things. I know you recently moved, so that will add to the stress of things, but I have confidence that everything will work out.</p>
<p>Enjoy the final days before he leaves for UA. Go do a mom/son activity if you have time and make your son’s favorite meal and/or go to to his favorite restaurant. Consider this transition to be an exiting new adventure for y’all. </p>
<p>Best of luck and ROLL TIDE!!!</p>
<p>Don’t go overboard, but don’t leave 'em on an ice float, either. Think about the number of time you have communicated with your (insert parent/child depending on who you are) when at home and go with that.</p>
<p>I think I’ll be okay until the moment we actually pull out of the parking lot to leave Tuscaloosa minus one passenger. I get a knot in my stomach just thinking about it.</p>
<p>I’ve told D that there is no such thing as too much texting or calling on her part, but I’d like at least a couple of calls a week.</p>
<p>We just had the communication talk the other night at dinner (prompted by another thread on CC.) It was quite comical; we asked D what she was comfortable with. She asked what we wanted. We told her the ball was in her court. I think that stopped her in her tracks. She said she thought she’d be good with 2 phone calls a week; I said fine, but that I’d also like some type of communication with one of the 3 of us (DH, D’13 or myself) one a day via text, FB chat, etc. just so we know all is well. I told her I didn’t mind finding out via her little sis that all is well and it didn’t have to be me. I suspect that it will be a little more than that since we’re always texting silly things & pictures to one another. </p>
<p>I <em>think</em> I will be fine, as I haven’t lost it yet at any of the things I was supposed to (1st day of kindergarten, 1st summer camp, graduation, etc.) but I’m a little worried about DH. The good thing is that he’s traveling for business starting Monday so he’ll be out of the house for the first few days.</p>
<p>My son got a kick out of my daily e-mails last year. I’d tell him what we were doing at home and school, who asked about him and what they were doing, what his grandparents had going on, etc. Just every day things. It worked out great. He’d read it while he was drinking coffee and eating breakfast. Sometimes, I’d ask him to skype, as his brother was working on something for school and wanted an opinion. So, I’m big on the daily e-mail.</p>
<p>I hear you guys - I understand this is what we’ve been preparing for for years and everyone is excited and optimistic about DS getting to start this new chapter, but still - the day-to-day reality is going to come crashing down - that’s a fact! In a way it’s not the actual leaving but the concept of it - know what I mean?</p>
<p>I told DS we’re really going to want some sort of communication daily for a bit - doesn’t have to be any more than a text message saying “everything is cool,” and can be to any of us here, just so we know he’s alive and well. Did set up Skype a few days ago which will make a huge difference!</p>
<p>In a way now, I cant wait to get the goodbye over with, even though DH leaves him at school Sun., DS#2 and I get to say goodbye early Fri. morning and get onto the next phase. Was going to do a big goodbye cookout with some of his friends but now am rethinking that, don’t want to share him for that last night.</p>
<p>OMG - I am going to be a mess!</p>
<p>Had the same discussion other night, last dinner together as a family, H is on business trip until late Thurs. Sisters are not making the trip. He’ll contact anyone of us each day (in any method, just a blurb)at least, I’m guessing, until we’re in a routine. Had family over on Sun. (I was okay until Grandma said goodbye and gave him blessing. Didn’t let S see me though.) Big S it doing get together tonight for best friends. Thurs is dinner and game night with my kids. Have to hold it together, want to reflect excitement, even if S knows I’ll miss him.</p>
<p>It helps knowing that you’re not the only one going through this, doesn’t it? </p>
<p>I’m definitely going to set up Skype.</p>
<p>I was really joking about the one per hour. S recently went to the beach and I asked only that he let me know when they were done surfing, boogie boarding or generally hanging out in the ocean each day.</p>
<p>Oh, my. Like so many of you, I KNOW I’ll be fine…just got to get this 1000 lb. weight off my heart.</p>
<p>And I know parents who say they’re glad to have their kids leave. We’re blessed not to be in that crowd.</p>
<p>Thank you all for sharing. I know parents (and students) have survived this for centuries, even before phones, texts, etc… :)</p>