<p>Well, whether it is or not, I'm going. DS 1 has been away for a week and a half. He's 4 days into classes but I am going up to visit on Sunday. He sounds happy and I can't help but feel that I'm supposed to leave him alone. But his cousin has a soccer game at his school and I got a call from a client who is ten minutes away from campus asking to see me so it all just made sense to make the trip. i just hope that I'm not screwing up his adjustment period.</p>
<p>Just keep it short, see the game, take him to lunch, and leave. It should be a treat for both of you, not a regular occurrence.</p>
<p>It’s way too early IMO. Leave him be, cut the cord.</p>
<p>Agree with Erin’s Dad, enjoy a brief visit. No big scene. No drama. It sounds nice.</p>
<p>Or you could tell him you are going to be in the area and ask him if he’d have some time to get together.</p>
<p>It sounds like you will be in the area and are planning to visit on one day. You know your S better than any of us so that should tell you your answer. </p>
<p>I work in a HS-one of our students just started as a freshman (living on campus) and his mom goes to the same university. He is very ok with that especially if there will be food involved. A lot of our graduates go to this university and they live on campus. One mom was down there in the first week to take D to breakfast. I have had offers from many of my S’s classmates parents to bring things to my S because they work very close to campus.</p>
<p>My S lives on campus-does his own laundry, manages his $ and food plan, is responible in every way for himself whether it be classes, living in his dorm etc… I have been to see him many times for dinner or to drop something off and visiting has never been detremental to his independence.</p>
<p>If he’s all for it-you should be too. We can “cut the cord” without cutting them out of our lives or vice versa. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Kids always want a break from dorm food, IMHO. 
And Sunday is a day when some schools don’t even serve dinner (my dorm didn’t in college). So take him out to eat and enjoy a couple of hours with him.</p>
<p>I think it’s fine. If you want to lighten the mood and make it clear to him that it’s not a “checking up on you” meeting tell him to invite a new friend or two. It was such a treat to me when friends’ parents invited me along.</p>
<p>I’m the anti-helicopter Mom, but I don’t see a problem with taking a kid out to lunch or coffee while you’re in town for other reasons.</p>
<p>DS was thrilled if we came into town, so long as we took some friends to dinner or lunch. We always try to keep the visits short and happy.</p>
<p>Offer to take his roommate or new friends for a meal somewhere (but make it a place that they would not typically go meaning an informal restaurant vs a fast food) in the town. Walk for ice cream after and then leave. Take a bag of junk food and cheese and yogurt. He will be happy to see you and as long as you offer to treat his friends/roommate and keep it to a 2-3 hour visit all will be positive. Do ask if he forgot anything from home–makes even easier if you are dropping something off.</p>
<p>I agree with oregon101 and others. Offer to bring your son anything he needs from home, take he and his friends to a good meal, enjoy the time together!</p>
<p>My D, a junior, has friends at school who have parents that come by for lunch or dinner once a month. We are too far for that, and she has commented how nice that is for them. She is fortunate too, she gets invited along often. So for all the parents who take out the friends, thank you!!</p>
<p>Take him out to lunch or dinner. Any time food’s involved, kids are happy to meet up with parents. It’s never too soon. Have him pick a restaurant he likes or wants to try.</p>
<p>With both of my d’s it turned out that DH had a business trip in their areas within a few weeks of freshman move-in. Both girls really appreciated an opportunity to go to dinner at a nice restaurant and a stop at either Target, BB &B or drugstore to pick up extra stuff they might have needed. Don’t think he brought up anything forgotten at home.</p>
<p>It’s (almost) unanimous. Lunch and then off you go. Make it no big deal. And I agree with the offer of running them by a store or two to pick up supplies.</p>
<p>Remembering the friends is a nice gesture. Just today, I was telling ds2 about the stuff I was thinking about putting in the care package I’m sending his gf, who goes to school more than 1,000 miles away from him. He was excited giving me ideas of things she’d like and ended the e-mail “thanks, dawg.” :)</p>
<p>Another vote for short and sweet out to eat- friends included if he wants.</p>
<p>S1 is only 50 miles away and his grandmother lives in the same town. Picking him up to visit his grandmother and have lunch with her every so often has become a given. My piece of advice - don’t go empty handed. Take some snacks, clothing, some kind of little gift. Now that S1 is in an apartment, groceries are a given.</p>
<p>Disney, let us know how it went.</p>
<p>Another vote for short and sweet and food. Plenty of parents have season tickets to Michigan and State games and at some point have kids attending. Feed them, hug them, take a picture and go to the game is the rule of thumb or in your case feed, hug, take a picture and say goodbye.</p>
<p>Sounds like fun. Have a great trip!</p>