Well…I did it. DS is off. Launched. Out of the nest. He gave me half a hug as I headed off to catch a flight. I just finished ordering the last of the the things he forgot (pillows!!). I did not go to the post-drop off “get the parents off campus” gathering. The house is quite a bit quieter now.
@payn4ward , @karen0 - how did you do?
Oh…and I was happy to get a text this evening saying he was enjoying it so far. 
Yes, the house will be quiet. :((
I demanded my hug and got it. 
I did go to the “panel” at the RAC but had to leave in the middle as it went over time. I was hoping it to be a social event but it was another panel so didn’t get to meet other parents at all, other than the advisor group meeting earlier at the dorm. Since I missed G&T at the Grill, I had my overpriced Pinot Noir and a cup of clam chowder at the airport.
I got texts saying school wifi is like spyware so he will be using data on his phone. gotta go buy more prepaid data.
We flew with 4 50-lb suitcases (clothing, stationery, shoes, boots, books, jackets, linens, down comforter, towels, …) and a carryon, a backpack, and an instrument. We spent a night near Boston and another night near school. Spent a day shopping, eating his favorite meals and rested at the second hotel.
We used ‘Pick up at store’ on-line ordering after locating a Target store closest to our hotel. It was nice that shampoo, shave, febreeze, batteries, Kleenex, wet ones, gatorades, trash bin, mini vacuum, etc were all in a box. We picked up an plastic under bed storage box and another smaller storage box, lots of hangers, water, etc while there.
We did the same at a Bed Bath and Beyond store to ‘store-pickup’ a double hang closet thing that 7dad recommended but DS didn’t get to use it as his closet is under a slanted roof and low. Kinda like Harry Potter’s under staircase closet but much smaller. We got a pillow at BBnB also. Since we brought comforter, sheets, towels, mini fan, etc from home, there were very little to buy at BBnB. We won’t be shopping there anymore.
I shipped ahead a feather mattress topper and it was so nice to find the huge box already brought in his 3rd floor dorm room. I think we will ship boxes in advance in the future. Memory foam topper is not allowed (fire hazard???) so we didn’t take ours.
At another school, they had to pick up boxes at registration and haul them. I was worried the box won’t fit into our already crowded rental car so it was nice to find it in the Dorm room. Of course the Resident Leaders were great help carrying the heavy suitcases upstairs.
Oh, and we did miss our outbound flight between a long-line at curb-side check in and airport parking at a far lot and everybody going somewhere security line (Should have gotten TSA pre.) Rebooking and flying standby was smooth though and we landed 2.5 hr later than planned via connecting flights. It gave DS a glimpse of what happens, a lesson for when he flies solo. All our suitcases made it in the original flight and were patiently waiting for us at the baggage customer service.
“I shipped ahead a feather mattress topper and it was so nice to find the huge box already brought in his 3rd floor dorm room. I think we will ship boxes in advance in the future. Memory foam topper is not allowed (fire hazard???) so we didn’t take ours.”
Not allowed, but I sure saw a number of boxes for them…
Double hanging closet thing! Good idea! We have them here, but I didn’t think about them for school.
And what did they discuss at the panel? Did I miss anything important?
It was more of revisit day déjà vu if you were paying attention then
I’m sure they will put the ppt on the website, parents link somewhere or same info could be found.
Parents communication rep(parent resource director), director of Advising, Academic dean, Students dean, Chaplain, Health services director, and Advancement rep spoke and I missed talks by multicultural rep, and college counseling director, I think.
Got another text. Hopefully he will text every day. :-c
Wow’ you dropped off early. Groton doesn’t start until 9/14. We drop off our DS on 9/13. Varsity athletes go back a few days earlier. We’re just about ready to send him off again this year. It feels bittersweet to have another summer come to an end.
We’re off to PA! Car is full. Torn between just wanting this day to be over, and wishing that this day would be just a bit longer. You’ll recognize me at the headmaster reception, I’ll be the one wearing the brave face, clutching that glass of chardonnay just a bit too tightly.
Still packing here for travel on Friday. The packing forces me to think about logistics so I can be calm, but I’m not going to like the drop-off part.
Color me shocked…he facetimed his brother today! I guess what they say about wanting to touch base the first weekend is true. Will see how long it continues. And good luck @hellomaisy ! It’ll all go well. Enjoy the chardonnay!
I booked flights, car, and hotels for Fall family weekend, in our case a bit earlier than other schools, which is nice, 10/8-13.
I also bought all the tickets home for DS for Thanksgiving, Xmas, and Spring break. Only thing left to book is return home flight for the summer.
I did book part of flights and hotels for Spring family weekend which other schools don’t have, 2/11-16.
Did I mention I like to plan ahead? or Am I busying myself to get my mind off… what have I done?!
We are packing for the 600 mile drive on Friday, dropping off on Sunday. And I agree with @gungablue . List are my friend for the packing part. The drop off, I will probably be a basket case.
Congratulations everyone and good luck!!
@payn4ward - Seriously? You’ve booked all that already?? I’m impressed…and a bit scared. I am going to try to bring him home for Fall Break, as he keeps talking about being home in 6 weeks, but can’t book any tickets until I know when he can leave! (hopefully next week?!?)
And good luck to all those making the trek. @gusmom2000, it’ll be okay. You’ve got all of us to commiserate with.
Did I mention the fact that my Mother-in-Law is coming along? 
(Actually she’s not too bad. It was me, her, and the kid when he did the interviews last fall.)
Southwest has no change fees as long as the fund is used within a year so I bought them using my miles on United or on Southwest. They are basically refundable/changeable.
They should be able to leave Saturday late afternoon or definitely early Sunday. DS wants to come home too but I saw no charter shuttle bus is arranged for Tuesday Oct. 13th. How is he going to return to school solo? I can’t bring him home and take him back in two days. So I talked him out of it.
Some photos from school…
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/nmhphotos/sets/72157655675610514
I found DS’s back of head in a group photo!