D-Day: Drop off Day

Parents Forum
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<p>Thanks, I'm feeling better about it. He was very emphatic in the past about not wanting us to take him. I have offered the possibility of my flying up with him to help (not sure how much help I would actually be!), but dh definitely can't go & with the 1st semester $ due middle of August, it may not be cost-effective for me to fly up, spend the night, fly back. We do already have reservations for family weekend! <vbg></vbg></p>

<p>I do get the sense that once we got to the campus, I would mostly be in the way. Not to mention, emotionally.......sigh. It would be great to meet his roommate, see his room, etc., but in reality it is mostly his experience & I may have to set my feelings aside. Can you tell my emotions are on a rollercoaster anyway, what with realizing how quickly this day is coming!!!!???</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips & comments so far - they have been a big help & much appreciated. Glad I found this forum!</p>

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<p>well, we are taking D to NYC from SF...over labor day weekend...to Fordham...oh boy</p>

<p>so 6 BIG suitcases (and a small duffle for H and me tto share), arriving at 7am on Sat (check in is Sunday) </p>

<p>Doing dinner our Sat with friends, then up early to load all that stuff into biggest cab we can find, drop off, unpack, then cab to Target and wherever, back again to finish upm until D gives us okay, time to leave look </p>

<p>what to do after, who knows- perhaps a fun dinner after a nap, but we are staying all day Monday to explore at least one museum</p>

<p>i will cry, but may just be too tired</p>

63

<p>Our drop off story is rather unique. My eldest son just graduated from Emory, and this is about him.</p>

<p>Four weeks before he was to leave for school, my son shattered his ankle and leg in a freak accident. It was a week before the doctors could operated: two rods, three plates and 13 screws. He would not be allowed to bear weight for 4-6 months.</p>

<p>He had met his roommate once or twice in the past, and roommate was enthusiastic about helping him out.</p>

<p>Two weeks before school, roommate also breaks his leg.</p>

<p>The school was wonderful.</p>

<p>They moved the boys to a more convenient room (in the dorm they had chosen, which is not handicap-accessible--but the boys did not want to change dorms. The dorm is being torn down now) and let the boys move in a day early. </p>

<p>Or I should say, let the parents move the boys in a day early. The boys sat in the hallway, each with his leg propped up on an extra chair, while the parents sweated to move things around to the boys' satisfaction. Traffic pattern was paramount for two boys on crutches. Then we had to put away all of the boys' belongings where they could find them and reach them.</p>

<p>The next day, the boys sat in the hallway making friends and getting sympathy while the parents finished up all of the work in the room.</p>

<p>My son couldn't wait to get rid of us--all of his new friends took him out to wherever they went that night, taking turns pushing his wheelchair. Some guys helped him in the shower. The RAs checked in constantly.</p>

<p>When I left two days later, I was still very worried about how he would get along when the novelty wore off. I had all of the usual parental worries, plus this and I didn't sleep at night for weeks.</p>

<p>But the school was great--they provided rides to classes for him (on the security patrol's golf carts, a lot of the time), arranged for him to get the physical therapy he needed, and even changed the location of a class for his convenience. The professors were also wonderful--when a pin became infected and he needed (minor) surgery, each helped him out, and two even visited him in his dorm. The RA moved into his room and slept on an air mattress on the floor. he didn't tell me any of this until it was over because he didn't want me coming down and cramping his independence.</p>

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<p>Boysx3, you win the prize! How wonderful that both the university and the kids were so helpful to your son and his roommate.</p>

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<p>Wow - that is quite an adventure!!!! THat says alot for the school that so many people were willing to make accomodations to help both of them!</p>

<p>Hopefully the move-ins for your other 2 sons haven't been/won't be quite as "exciting"!!!</p>

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<p>Faline2 & mafool -- Thanks for the great advice. S1 is in Alspaugh and S2 is in Jarvis. We are taking two cars, and I get the sense that neither one wants to drive with me because they think that I will be crying the entire 9 hours!!!! Do they know me, or what???????</p>

<p>Question about the AC -- the boys requested AC (exercise-induced asthma), obviously didn't get it. I suggested that they call housing to ask if a window unit might be installed. Don't know if they called or not. I'm learning to back off. Any chances the school might do this.</p>

<p>Actually, I've been surprisingly calm about their leaving, that is of course until I read mafool's touching post.</p>

<p>H is taking me on a short getaway right after we leave Duke. A good friend told him not to take me home to an empty house right away. Also great advice.</p>

<p>Actually, I think that H is going to be as affected as me, maybe that's why it's a golf get away and I am just getting started with the sport.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

67

<p>Yes, a window unit is an option. Since this is a health issue, you <em>might</em> want to go ahead and call housing. </p>

<p>And, sorry, proudinnj, if I set off any waterworks with my story. I am sure you are doubly (!) grateful, and, maybe, an awareness of that will help a bit.</p>

68

<p>This is just a heads up to anyone bringing their student to Boston over the Labor Day weekend. The Sox are in town (Fri., Sat, and Mon. 7:05, Sun. 2:05), BC has a home football game (Saturday 3:30) and the city is in a real "crunch" situation (all the students are returning) during that time. When you think that September 1st is on that Saturday, many apartments are also changing over on that weekend. Be prepared.</p>