<p>At both of my kids' schools, parents are not allowed to stay over, even in a single room. Even if it were allowed at your S's school, you might want to check with how your S feels about it. My kids would have been dead set against any parental overnight in their dorm rooms.</p>
<p>Yes, I am sure he would be against it. I was hoping I would be able to say "many parents do it, and their kids don't object." But probably that is not the case...</p>
<p>Its ok for overnight parental visits later on, but not for that first week. I've stayed overnight for several days at a time visiting my daughter in her dorm, and my son's father stayed with him while visiting -- but these are visits done much later in the year after everyone is all settled in. By that time it will also be obvious what the predominant lifestyle of the dorm is -- I was surprised at how quiet things were on my daughter's hall when I visited, in part because I remember the "animal house" atmosphere of my own freshman dorm.</p>
<p>cat:</p>
<p>I don't think it's a good idea to stay with your S even if it's allowed. Firstly, he should be getting to know his neighbors, participating in the events, etc. and this can include having his door open most of the evening. Secondly, he might be in for it if his neighbors get wind that his mother stayed the first night with him. Compared to the cost of college getting a hotel room for a night isn't much of an incremental expense.</p>
<p>My $0.02--my oldest will be moving 7 hours away on the one day (of the whole year) I can't miss work. I went ahead and made hotel reservations for the night before and the night of move-in day. My husband thinks he'll drive up the day before, spend the night, move the kid in (late morning), and head home.</p>
<p>I'm going to <em>make</em> him keep the second night reservation.</p>
<p>There are events for parents scheduled til about 8:00 PM on move-in day. <em>I'd</em> feel better if my husband were around for any last-minute things the next day, and he can decide to cancel the room until late afternoon. I'm hoping he'll stick around just in case, though. If the kid is too busy settling in, they don't have to see each other after move-in day, but at least my husband will start the trip back well-rested.</p>
<p>I guess my bottom line is it can't hurt to have hotel reservations for any night you think you <em>might</em> need it. You can sort of play it by ear when you all get there.</p>