<p>So my s is going to WM in the fall and we're excited for him.
This is my first going to college so not sure what the protocol is.
the website says we take him on Friday and help him in the morning, then would ask that we leave (or if we stay in Williamsburg that we not interrupt him or invite him out)</p>
<p>my other friends say you stick around for the weekend, take your kid to dinner and stuff...But these friends don't have WM kids..</p>
<p>So, does anyone know? i don't want to be a helicopter parent, but being there only Friday feels kind of like dumping him.</p>
<p>They start freshman orientation the afternoon of move-in day and you would not have a chance to see him from then on out. DD has been an Orientation Aide the last several years and they have packed schedules for the kids. They are grouped by dorm hall and there are mandatory sessions, activities and registration those days - all day, every day. You pretty much do dump them. </p>
<p>Other schools have orientation during the summer, which is probably what your friends have experienced.</p>
<p>There are activities for parents all afternoon that first day (maybe even night too), and there are some for the entire weekend, but most parents just leave at the end of the first day. You could have a chance to say goodbye that night or the next day and make sure they have everything they need.</p>
<p>There are some activities scattered throughout the weekend that include parents (or there were when I did it years ago), but the majority are just for the students. As excited as I’m sure you will be to help your son move into college, he will be equally excited to get to know his new classmates (so that’s likely where most of his energy will be directed - don’t feel slighted if it feels like he’s rushing you out the door!). The first few days of mixing are critical, so I’d say plan to take off on Friday not too long after move in and then come back for Family Weekend if you want to see more of the place.</p>
<p>I second the thought, don’t be offended if you feel he’s pushing you out. My daughter didn’t even let me help make up her bed. She was excited to meet hall mates and her RA had a meeting prior to the school’s activities. Younger daughter and I headed to Bush Gardens for a lovely day.</p>
<p>My daughter started college last fall. I helped her unpack, and ran to Wal-Mart for a pillow; but it was very soon clear that I was unneeded and a distraction. Her job was to meet people and attend orientation events. Give your son hug, then head for the Blue Talon and treat yourselves to a delicious lunch as a way of congratulating yourselves on having done a fine job of raising your son. Take a leisurely stroll around Colonial Williamsburg, drive the Colonial Parkway, and then go home!</p>
<p>Orientation is designed to keep the new students so busy they don’t have time to be homesick. Then, by the time Orientation is over, they’ve met so many people that they’re ready to feel more at home at W&M. W&M knows it’s difficult for parents to leave the students on Friday afternoon but the leaving, no matter when it occurs, is difficult and just know that Orientation is leaving your S in good hands.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. that was my plan, I’m completely fine with leaving him, I get it, but i wanted to make sure it was the right thing and that i wasn’t missing something because we’re from OOS and i have to book flights and stuff.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! and Go Tribe! I’m glad this is all over with.</p>
<p>Advice is to help your sons/daughters move in…but then when you are asked to leave do it. It helps them meet the other students in their halls etc. if you are not with them.</p>
<p>“Be gone” seems like the right advice. We helped our freshman son move in and vanished from the scene as soon as they were called to go to the big gathering in WM Hall. We stayed in a motel outside the campus and came to say goodbye next day around 9:30AM. By that time he had already decided that some articles that he had taken are not cool for the dorm - so we picked those up in the car and headed home to DC.</p>