Our D was admitted to her dream college which we are very happy with, our plane trip was uneventful, her move-in went smoothly, and we had plenty of time to help her get situated before we left. We had a good plan and executed it successfully. We felt we did all we reasonably could to set her up for success, so we wouldn’t change anything. The college’s freshman student orientation programs kept the new students busy, so there wasn’t really time for long goodbyes.
DD left us a thank you note as well. I framed it and it’s still on my bookshelf 12 years later.
I tried not to have expectations. Things went fine when dropping off each of our two kids. No tears from any of us but some nice hugs. Both seemed quite content and excited.
Dropping off the kids at preschool was harder for me—it was a separation as the had been at my side most of my life.
A pill that makes them stay in college, graduate, and not pick “love” over finishing school.
Another kid that left a Thank you note? Maybe I will just remind my kids that would be a nice gesture…
So my daughter’s been away overseas for 8/12 months with study abroad /personal travel and a state department language program the last 2 months. She comes home next Sunday and we have like 6 hours with her before she needs to be at college 2 hours away. She will be jet lagged. So she already packed everything prior to going. We will wash and pack the clothes from her trip. We know unpacking will be slightly stressful. She is a junior this year. But I think the goodbye might actually be harder this time since we will barely be with her when she gets back and she will sleep in the car I am sure. At least she kept us updated through what’s app almost weekly or more. But still…
I wouldn’t change a thing. I wrote S a letter the night before and left it on his pillow. We had a long drive (10 hours) to campus and we used that time to say our goodbyes without the big drama (although mama was teary and I was a little choked up at the last hug). We stayed overnight to participate in the “parents orientation” - left early as it was a bit much - and were amazed at how adjusted and comfortable he was after one night in his new world. They had student orientation 3 or 4 days before classes so immediately after moving in there was tons of programming for the kids.
Long ride home but we were both so happy for him and his new life. Really was a great feeling knowing he was at the right place.
One thing I realize now that didn’t (but could have) hit me back then is that the drop-off for college is, if we’re fortunate, just one of many times our children will leave. The new normal is short and infrequent visits with and from my daughters, and I’m sad every time we say good-bye to each other.
We just completed move-in, and it coincided with a parent orientation. When I checked in, they had note cards for parents to write a short note, and the staff would put them in the student mailboxes. I didn’t fill mine out right away, and then when I did, lost my chance to give it to them. So I regret that - they are bright colors, so what if he sees a bunch of people with them but he didn’t get one… ugh.
DD’17’s was different from the norm in that she went to community college an hour away and there was no orientation. We moved her in on two different days but she came home with us each time. Her classes started on a Thursday, I think, and I had her drive up to stay on the Monday afternoon (while I was at work!) so she could get her books and parking permit, find her classrooms and get settled. Maybe bond with her roommates. Well they weren’t around and that was way more time than was needed to accomplish those few tasks. So I would have had her go just the day before instead of 2-3. She was lonely and bored with nothing going on at the school.
Nothing.
She is our one and only. We stayed a few nights in her college town. The college offered activites for students and parents. We had time to explore the college and the town. She had time to attend freshmen activities, make friends and check-in with us (when she wanted to).
We had plenty of time during her move-in period to see hòw well she settled in and how well the college made the freshmen feel welcomed. This was helpful to both her and us. Truthfully, it helped me, the mom, a lot more than it helped her. It was time well spent.
Different schools will have different routines. For our oldest we moved the kid in early in the morning, had lunch with the all the parents and kids hosted by the school, then there was a convocation by the School of Comp Sci, and then we had dinner with him. The school suggested that and had an evening dorm meeting that was at 8 or 8:30. Younger son’s had move in in the morning, then a picnic lunch, then school had a convocation with the whole family and then told the kids to give their families a hug at the end of it. We didn’t even walk him back to his dorm.
@luckybooth Don’t do it! Don’t launder the towel; just fold it up and put it away in a drawer. Whenever you feel homesick for your kid, take it out and hug it - that’s what I’d do! 