<p>Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful ideas! This is going to be quite helpful as we prepare for move in day in mid-Sept. </p>
<p>Although, I do remember my own move-in day many, many years ago. I had about 1 bag of clothes, my stereo, and bedding. That was it. My parents dropped it off with me, said good bye, and they were off! Took about 30 minutes.</p>
<p>Seems like these days the kids have so much more stuff to bring (computer, etc).</p>
<p>A friend was the youngest of five. His parents sent him off by train. Their advice “Give the cabbie a tip.” He did just fine.
I’m trying not to drive my son mad with lists and proactive advice,but it’s not easy.</p>
<p>I love this site and love this thread. I read all 13 pages and every single post. Thank you all.
We leave on Tuesday heading to my alama mater UF where my one and only son will be starting as a freshman. I thought I knew it ALL. Until I read all of your great tips and ideas.
I know none of us know each other. But at the same time we walk in each others shoes.
Now I need to find a thread about empty nest. I am sure there is one here somewhere.</p>
<p>thanks again and Good Luck to everyone.</p>
<p>Backpacks: check out REI and Targus. The later specializes in laptops. We own two.</p>
<p>Stupid question: we are at one of the schools where other students swarm all over your car when you pull in, pulling your kid’s luggage/boxes out. But if your kid doesn’t have keys to the room yet…where does the stuff go until your kid goes through registration/sign in?</p>
<p>This is kind of off topic, but is it normal for a students parent to not accompany them to move in day?</p>
<p>Sent from my HTC Glacier using CC App</p>
<p>The stuff goes outside the door of the room they are in, assuming the student knows their room number.</p>
<p>and @nasali i’ve seen students move in with friends before and such, so idk if its normal to have parents there.</p>
<p>I’ve been lurking on this thread for a while. I’ll move DS#2 in next week to a school about eight hours away. I’m posting now, I think, for absolution. I hadn’t seen much that was targeted for parents at DS’s school for freshman parents during move-in. Really only a convocation Friday morning (Thursday is actual move in). DH attended our oldest’s convocation several years ago and found it quite sweet. Complicating factor is DS#3 is having knee surgery the day before DS#2 and I take off. I am feeling quite guilty about being gone for those first few post-op days. He’ll have a brother and DH to bring him food/drink/meds/. . . but who will hug him and make him feel better? Anyway, I’m quite sure DS#2 really does not care how long I stay out there, but these things are more for the parents, right? Will I feel guiltier missing one kid’s only convocation or missing some TLC time for my youngest?</p>
<p>And gator–see the first sticky note on the Parent Cafe for a good empty nest thread.</p>
<p>Crester- depends on the school. At S#1 they put everything in a bin and he went to get his key. They didn’t go to the room without him.</p>
<p>MyLB: my two cents is stay for the ceremony. I understand about your recovering son, but to him one day will be much like the next for a couple of weeks. The ceremony, however, is one-of-a-kind. Not that it will blow your mind, most likely, but this is my experience: my D1 had a matriculation ceremony 4 years ago, and I thought as I sat through it, this is nice, but what’s the big deal? Flash forward to this May, and it was really wonderful coming full circle; when the college President reflected back to that 1st ceremony and how far they have come, etc. D2’s school also has a “morning-after” matriculation ceremony, and H and I are really looking forward to it, and to how we’ll feel at the other end of the journey. It gives meaning to the “OK, well, goodbye” experience that move-in so often is for parents.</p>
<p>The matriculation ceremony was one of the highlights for DH and I along with S. His came one semester late though–he was an incoming freshman at Tulane in New Orleans and was evacuated freshman move-in weekend due to Katrina. The “rescheduled” ceremony, in January, left most without a dry eye. And honestly, they DO know how to celebrate in New Orleans–that jazz band, the umbrellas, the beads. Unforgettable. Even if the ceremony had been held as originally scheduled (the same afternoon we evacuated the campus!), I am certain it would have instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment. I honestly felt proud of the job we’d done as parents to have S ready to enter college that day. It definitely bookends the 4 years, not just for S, but for all of us. Don’t miss it. It’s for the parents as much as the kids.</p>
<p>For that sewing kit, include a seam ripper. Also, go to a craft store and get a very small size steel crochet hook. It is great for pulling stitches back into place, in sweaters. Around a size 10.</p>
<p>MyLB, I’m sorry that you have a difficult choice to make; I get that your heart is pulling you in two different directions, and of course, I can’t advise you. I can tell you what I loved about my D’s opening ceremony and why I’m grateful that I had no such conflict.</p>
<p>There was a Welcome Convocation mid-afternoon on the first day of Orientation, held on the lawn in front of the beautiful library, in the shade. We heard from the college President, Admissions Director, Freshman Dean, and several upper classmen. The new students sat together in the front, with us parents in the back. I’m sentimental about such things and felt it as a milestone marker. It was D’s first official event as a college freshman, and the first gathering of the class of '13. The speakers were engaging, the setting was lovely, and I think for all of us it was a chance to stop and be quiet, in the midst of a hectic day, and to reflect, “It’s really begun.”</p>
<p>MLB thanks I will check out the empty nest thread.</p>
<p>My 2 cents worth: go to the convocation. At the risk of sounding sexist. Guys dont really care one way or the other. Just leave him a full fridge and his favorites, and the Xbox or the tv remote nearby. As long as he is not alone? Stay with your daughter.</p>
<p>Both my wife and myself are attending my sons convocation. But if we had another child with an situation like yours. I can assure Mom would be going to the convocation. </p>
<p>Good thing my sis lives in Gainesville. Because my son has warned us not to expect him to be with us from Wed to Friday. Move in is Wed, convocation is Friday.</p>
<p>I told him the most important 48 hours of his college career are usually the first 48. This is when he will meet most of his new friends.</p>
<p>Good Luck to your son with his operation.</p>
<p>Re; Backpacks #163 (and chiming in late)
DS, who graduated from university in 2010 is still using the NF backpack he had when he started High School! I sent it back once (free repair or replacement/no documentation required) to replace the plastic clips.</p>
<p>Nothing girlie about his, though. I have since purchased a NF backpack that is supposed to have been engineered for women. I use it to take my computer and documents on overseas business trips. Not the same criteria that you pose, but I like it. I think it is the Summit, but I’m not sure. Sorry!</p>
<p>crester # 185:
I was amazed that all of our ds’s stuff ended up in the right room after so many eager helpers swarmed our car. I didn’t hear of any problems, but I think that slapping a label on every box. milk crate, garbage bag and whatever would probably be a good idea.</p>
<p>S has a Jansport that he used for 4 years of HS. we sent it in for free warranty repairs this summer, and they ended up replacing it. Very please with their service! Haven’t checked it for water-tightness, but the zippers do have a flap covering them. His original pack didn’t have a laptop pocket, but the replacement pack (same pack, newer model) has a padded laptop pocket, which is a nice bonus since he is getting his first laptop for school. Otherwise he was just planning to use a neoprene sleeve to protect the laptop in the backpack.</p>
<p>S2’s school is busing the kids to the local Target (optional) on the first night of orientation. The store will be open from 10 -midnight for this event. I guess they are having food/beverage and some type of band in the parking lot.</p>
<p>It is certainly an interesting concept.</p>
<p>Kajon: Same event happens at Mizzou with the local Target. Nice way to build brand loyalty. The four days before school starts appear to be filled with local store and restaurant events for freshman. That includes two free slices of pizza from Shakespeare’s–named best collegetown pizza by several online polls.</p>
<p>Same event at FGCU Target in Ft Myers, FL on the night of move in day this Thurs.</p>
<p>DS was not into the shopping/packing for college thing so I picked/packed much of his gear and was glad I kept a list of what went with him. Later, it was easier to tell him if he needed to go to the store to buy something he wanted or just root around in his stuff because it was sent and had to be there somewhere. It also helped at year’s end when he couldn’t remember whether a particular unlabeled item was his or his roommate’s.</p>