<p>Funny about all the target events 
afaik, DS’s school has no such thing.</p>
<p>thanks mafool about the labeling. I was considering it but didn’t want the dreaded eye-roll from the kid. I’ll tell him the idea has street cred.</p>
<p>^^ I hate to say this, but the CC Parents Forum may not be considering “street” enough to have cred. :p</p>
<p>Thanks for all the thoughtful responses. I am still torn–I wish the convocation were on move-in day rather than the morning after. DH again said how much he enjoyed our oldest’s (not like him at all!), although our kiddo said he slept through most of it. Again, one of those things that I’m sure the parents take more away from than the kids.</p>
<p>And part of my problem is that I know a little too much about the surgery for DS#3. It’s an ACL reconstruction, although the second for my 17-year-old boy. He tore his a little over a year ago, had it repaired with a hamstring graft, re-tore it this summer, and this time around will do the patellar tendon. I remember how much pain he was in last time, even with the prescription meds, and this time will be significantly worse. It’s not just leaving him with a stocked fridge and the remote. He’s going to be in agony.</p>
<p>I know. TMI. But this is a great place to clear my head. </p>
<p>I can toss in my $0.02 on marking the dorm room stuff. I didn’t ask DS#1; just grabbed some athletic tape and put his first year dorm and room number on everything (based on CC advice!). It wasn’t really needed (he’s at an LAC–nothing gets lost at small schools), but it’s been fun for me to see how many things from three years ago (laundry basket, athletic equipment bag, . . .) are still sporting those original labels.</p>
<p>crester, my son would probably pull a muscle laughing if he knew that anyone thought I had street cred!</p>
<p>Moving child #3 (our only girl) to college this weekend, and here’s a hint I haven’t seen here yet. Unless your child is going to a college in an early-winter location, have him/her tell you what winter gear they want from home before you leave, and bring it with you on parents’ weekend instead of at move-in. They won’t need it before that time. (This tip obviously only works if you’re driving).</p>
<p>I ordered a new winter coat for S (just the right timing for S to get a change in winter wardrobe). Ordered Marmot winter down parka, winter boots (Sorel), thermal underwear, warm socks, etc. at good prices and had them sent directly to the dorm by Sierra Trading Post. No hassle with moving them in though these items had to be moved out of the dorm the end of the year. :(</p>
<p>Not sure if something similar has been mentioned already. S is interested in community service. At NYU, there is a program called Project Outreach, which allows you to move in approximately 3-4 days before the masses on Move-In Day if you are accepted into the community service program. Unbelievable gift for the parents. We get to move S in early with no crowds to contend with. The moving bins all sitting there and waiting! Bliss!</p>
<p>If the student is able to get into the school through any pre- Welcome Week activities, I would say do so, particularly if early move in is included! The good thing is S will do the program again this year as a student leader, so again he moves in early! Yay! Thank God for “small” blessings.</p>
<p>MyLB, oh you poor thing! That IS a tough choice. 
Any chance the surgery could be delayed for a day or two? Probably not, so I know what my mom’s heart would tell me if I were in your spot. Stay home and make your DH promise to take REALLY good video.</p>
<p>@ MyLB: Only you know what is best for your family! I’m sorry you have to face this dilemma while getting your dd off to school! I’m really writing to ask if there is anything you can do in advance of your son’s surgery regarding the pain. Does the surgeon know about the high pain levels last time around, and can he prescribe a more effective painkiller for the first couple days, or keep him in the hospital if it is that bad? I don’t see why that amount of pain should be tolerated by anyone! Maybe if you knew your son was comfortable you would be able to make a decision without feeling like you are abandoning either of your kids! I think that pain management is a huge issue these days and I would be surprised if there was nothing they can do for your son. I ho[pe they can offer you and your son some reassurance, particularly if they are aware of what he went through the last time. I hope everything works out for all of you! Keep us posted!</p>
<p>Medical kit tip–I made one in the plastic shoebox and marked it “Meds”. We include earplugs it it. On the Advil and Tylenol, I put a label on the bottle saying “for headaches, Tylenol” “for muscle aches, Advil–take with food” So since it was generic, he knew which was which. Also, parents–face it–put some condoms in there for a D or S–you never know and better to be safe than sorry!</p>
<p>I emapthize with you, MYLB - I have a similar issue. My husband was coming down the stairs last Wednesday, and suffered a complete rupture of the quad tendon. That is the tendon (more like a freeway interchange if you ask me) that connects all four of those big bad muscles on your upper thigh to your knee. We are a family of four, and we had plans to rent a condo and a car and spend a few days visiting Boston before dropping our oldest off for the service week move in on August 29th. Now, we are faced with leaving him home alone (his Mom will have to stay at our house, as he is almost completely bed-bound) while the three of us navigate movein. Fortunately, our 12 year old is wonderous, and is able to help her Dad while DD and I do all those last minute errands, but it is forcing all kinds of compromises that make all four of us really sad, and making me really sleep deprived and short tempered. Those last special dinners? Gone. Etc. etc. etc. DD broke down the other day “This just isn’t how I invisioned these last weeks.” God must have a plan - just wish I knew what it was.</p>
<p>Your post did motivate me to do one thing right away - set up Facetime. He has an Iphone and so does my daughter - we need to get it going and practice and use it a LOT in these last 12 days, and during the move. Done whining now - sorry. Those of you who are walking down stairs, hold the handrail!</p>
<p>Mom2424-- You have a choice–you either buy the sheets etc before move in day & wash them at home, and bring them there----or you get them at the school’s town & the first time they are used, they have not been prewashed.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the ideas on shorts with pockets the other day. We didn’t have any luck with the pockets, but found 2-layer shorts (mesh shorts with a kind of bike short underneath). These work for D to put the extra tennis ball in the bike short against her leg. Hey, whatever works, right? You guys are awesome!</p>
<p>stacy703 - this spring S1’s medical kit came home - the little 3 pack of condoms I snuck in at the last minute did not! (I really do not want to know…)</p>
<p>mafool and lasma - street cred LOL - I won’t tell my kid which CC sub-forum!</p>
<p>MyLB, all I can do is send good karma and best wishes your way.</p>
<p>Hey everyone,
I’m a freshman moving into a dorm for the first time and I was wondering about how long it would take to get everything settled in. Obviously it differs from person to person (im a girl if it helps) but about how long did it take you/your kids to fully move in the first time?
was it more like 30 minutes or 3 hours?</p>
<p>^^ It’s better to allow 3 hours and have time left over, than to think it’ll be done in 30 minutes and be rushing around like crazy. Assume EVERYTHING is going to take longer than it should; that helps the peace of mind.</p>
<p>shoot4moon, oh no! Your D’s comment is heart-breaking. She, and you, will buck up and get through it, but it’s so hard to make a huge last-minute mental adjustment like that. Take lots of pictures and collect lots of little souvenirs for your DH, and when you get back home, go through everything with him in minute detail.</p>
<p>So many reasons to love CC–I so appreciate all of the sympathy. Surgery date really cannot be changed–the surgeon only operates two days/week (I think), and we grabbed the earliest date we could. The little patient will only have eight days until school starts and we’re really hoping he’ll be mobile enough to start on time. Part of the pain problem is that as of today (~24 hours pre-op), the kid feels absolutely fine. No pain in the knee–he can even jog on it. We all know he kinda has to go through this (living with an unstable knee is not a good idea) but I know there were several points after his first surgery when he said, “Why did I do this?” In a way this is optional, but not really, if that makes any sense. And the whole family is so sad for him. He is a competitive soccer player. Several kids on his club team have already gotten D1 offers to play (including several ACC schools)–this is the caliber he. . . um. . . was. On top of the surgery, the eight months of rehab, we’re likely seeing a change in his life path. Anyway.</p>
<p>Shoot4–you’ve hit on a very key point. I too had visions of final family meals, a relaxed trip to move in DS#2 (who as a middle is always shortchanged), a wistful, bittersweet ending to summer. This whole situation kinda sucks. And just a bit more whining–I definitely have to make the trip to move #2 in. DH can’t take three days off of work right now–his company is shutting down.</p>
<p>So for all of us I say you take what life throws at you and do the best you can. I’ve spent a lot of time the last few weeks reminding myself how very much worse it all could be. We’ll get through this, and in the grand scheme of things these are minor issues. Chin up everyone!</p>
<p>MyLB, Just want to wish your son a successful surgery , a speedy recovery, and minimal pain! I hope if you do stay for your d’s convocation that you can relax and enjoy it, and know your son will get your full attention when you return home, and for many months after as he goes through rehab. Who knows, this may turn out to be a time that your son may look back on as something he and his dad got through together, even though it is not fun! Best of luck to you with everything that is going on this week!</p>
<p>re: Costco High Sierra backpacks. I bought one for myself (NYC commuter) and really don’t like it. The shoulder straps are very wide and uncomfortable, plus the binding on the edge of the shoulder straps is itchy & abbrasive. (I’m 5’9" and have fairly broad shoulders for female). I also bought one for HS son; dont’ think he’s tried his yet. Mine may go back - just a caution that you might want to try it loaded before bringing it home.</p>