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We negotiated an informal arrangement when we dropped her off. We wouldn't pester her if she would call us once a week or so. That got everybody through freshman year and, after that, things just took care of themselves.
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<p>This is exactly how it's worked for us. D generally calls one evening a week. She'll call at random times too, moreso this year than last, and there are at least 2 or 3 e-mails a week going back and forth. It's an arrangement that's worked out very well for us - we don't bother her when she might be studying, sleeping, or at another inconvenient time, but we hear from her enough to know how she's doing.</p>
<p>Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM/S NOW.
I did, just to get it out of the way, and found out that all hotels in town sell out by end of MAY because of a Yankees game on move-in weekend! So if we'd waited we would have been out of luck or way out of town.</p>
<p>Our plan is, drive down on Friday, spend Saturday getting odds and ends and checking out the town, move her in on Sunday morning. We'll see how long it makes sense to stay on Sunday, and then we'll drive home. I am having a hard time thinking about it.</p>
<p>Most kids can't wait to have their parents leave. Once you fulfill your role of mover/unpacker/computer set-upper/$$provider -- they want you gone so they can start living their new life. Smile. And that's OK.</p>
<p>Just booked hotel rooms, thanks for the reminder.
I went out to college from CA to MD alone all those years ago. It depressed me to be alone during the orientation things for parents and students like a tea where we met the president of the u (who went to same hs I did!).</p>
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but how do I say good-bye to my boy in my driveway?
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<p>I did that with S1, S2 and S3. Staying home with the younger ones. Besides there wasn't really room for more people plus their stuff and DH was much more useful for hauling and assembling. You can't count on the elevators. It really helps to have something to do that day to keep you busy. If your H is not home that night have someone to go out with.</p>
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but how do I say good-bye to my boy in my driveway?
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The same way you would outside the dorm...hug him, kiss him, quick, don't let him see the tears, tell him you love him no matter what, then let him go.</p>
<p>Thanks for that. Going out that night is a great idea. And maybe there's something to being deeply sad in my own environs rather than around a bunch of strangers.</p>