<p>Just got back from move-in day at Eastman! What a wonderful place, and D is delighted to be there. There is such a warm welcome there, with a men's glee club serenading the freshmen as they arrive. Many volunteers helping with carts, each "big sister" or brother ready to eat dinner with the new students. All that work auditioning, writing essays, and now the week of orientation....the house is quieter now, but we are thrilled to be Eastman parents--bought the T-shirt for DH. Good luck to all the freshman, and best wishes to this year's seniors as you embark on this journey!</p>
<p>I’m glad it went well for you! D’s move in is next week.</p>
<p>Congrats to all new Freshmen parents! It’s exciting to launch these talented kids in the world!</p>
<p>Best of luck to all those going off to college this year…either as a freshman or returning student. Have a wonderful year!!!</p>
<p>10 hour ride to Oberlin this coming Monday. I’m impressed that nobody here sounds sad. I think I am already starting to show signs of separation anxiety. I seem to be very testy. Excited, exhilarated, proud (but testy). I may need you, my friends, in the coming months.</p>
<p>A 10 hour drive with a student who can’t wait to “be gone”. Brutal. Good luck with that— (and you think your testy NOW?!) </p>
<p>But really, enjoy this part of the process and keep us posted.</p>
<p>POTO mom - you’re not alone. While I’m excited for my daughters most of the time, tears are right there below the surface. In June I kept saying that I was thrilled to be an empty nester…now, not so much!</p>
<p>The best of luck to all. Make the most of your opportunities. And as a father, I’ll tell you what I told my kids:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>Mine is jealous of everyone right now. In the basement practicing and knowing that Northwestern is on quarters and first classes aren’t for almost a month.</p>
<p>On the bright side, all those back to school items will be on sale in a week or so ;)</p>
<p>Actually, the 10-hour ride to school will probably be easier than the 10-hour ride home in an empty car. The good news is that it gets better after the first time, particularly once you see how much your kid has grown the first time you get them back home for a visit.</p>
<p>another “new” Northwestern parent here…yes, there’s a wait while almost everyone else goes off (though I think Stanford, U Chicago, perhaps UCLA start around the same time as NU)…but the wait will be worth it! These schedules are quite varied - we have an upperclassman at a conservatory, too…</p>
<p>Tip for moms… After dropping each kid off at school for the first time, I insisted that we stop somewhere along the route home to buy me a “consolation prize.” We went through the furniture outlets in NC on our way home from UPenn and I got a darling little lamp table. (Had a nice empty trunk!) On the way home from Miami Ohio, we stopped at the Kentucky art center (can’t remember the name) and I got a pair of violin earrings! Gives me something to look forward to after the drop off. :)</p>
<p>Jyard move-in is on Sunday; daughter is still packing. Turns out that she was randomly assigned to be the roommate of another regular post-er to this board. Girls have been chatting on FB. It looks like a good match!</p>
<p>glassharmonica, D started packing already, and it’s only Friday? I’m impressed! My D packed last Saturday, (yes, in one day) for last Sunday’s plane ride. Worked out fine, but I was a bit concerned.</p>
<p>Sopranomom92, she started packing because we need to leave @ 9AM tomorrow because her sister, an actor, has a performance in NYC tomorrow. Otherwise I’m sure she would have waited until tomorrow!</p>
<p>Well, we’ve been oriented to within an inch of our lives…and part 2 to come tomorrow. Kid is settled in the room, academic advisors have changed our violist’s ensemble assignment from marching band to orchestra (??!), we return with the forgotten stuff in the morning. Best move-in yet: our car was literally stomed by a horde of uniformed upperclass helpers who whisked away everything within about 30 seconds.</p>
<p>binx, I plan to adopt your on-the-way-home tradition enthusiastically…with retrofitting for not knowing about the concept when we dropped off the two older kids. Perhaps we’ll take the long way home past the factory outlets…</p>
<p>"academic advisors have changed our violist’s ensemble assignment from marching band to orchestra " </p>
<p>A cross between a Woody Allen gag an a viola joke!</p>
<p>We moved D in to begin her college experience 1,000 miles from home, and parted with the typical, obligatory advice: don’t confine yourself to your dorm room or the practice rooms, meet people, get involved, yada, yada. Near the end of our 2-day drive home, a giggle emerged from the back of the mini-van, and turned into hysterical laughter from other D, still in HS.</p>
<p>Big sister texted her that she had just joined the Sky-Diving Club.</p>
<p>Sigh.</p>
<p>My D was there helping yours move in Sopranomom. She said she was pretty tired by the end of the day but really enjoyed the process. </p>
<p>BTW, which teacher did your girl get?</p>
<p>I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one. Thanks everyone for sharing. Youngest S moved in to college today. So many mix emotions on everyones part. S for being away from home and being nervous and still not quite sure how he made it into a conservatory program. To S & I being excited about what this year will bring. To H & I being empty nesters and whatever that means. Thanks again for all your support. And to those new parents of high school seniors - all the best we’re rooting for you.</p>