<p>We’re celebrating my b-day today. It’s not today, of course, it’s the day we move my guy in… so I insisted. Of course, one of the things we’re doing is looking at a frig listed on Craigslist and hitting Wally World for basics, but hey, you get what you can get. We will go out to dinner, but rather than pick something I would like, I’ve picked CiCis. My guys all love it - and hey - it’s cheap. ;)</p>
<p>Otherwise, my guy’s room is a mess with stuff everywhere. He’s a clean perfectionist, so it looks weird. Youngest is receiving a bit of stuff. Only a few days left here… sniff, sniff. Like the rest of you, I have moments when specific memories of our past pop up. I have to keep reminding myself of how happy I was when I went to college and try to see things from that perspective, not the “wow is my life really changing (getting older)” perspective. I’m not sure it’s easier with the 2nd than it was with the 1st.</p>
<p>Which is the pre-orientation program that your kid will join? My son will join FOOT. When you go to the orientation on Aug. 24, please post. My husband and I will not be there. He will go solo. His grandmother will ship the packages for him when she is back in the US at the end of the month. We would love to hear other parents’ experiences. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Best wishes for todays launchers. I’m not hearing a lot from the post launchers, but I’d like to know how everyone is doing.</p>
<p>I sincerely doubt my son would even consider packing if I didn’t tell him to do it. He has a black hole in his room, that others may call a walk in closet. To show how unfair life is - he has the largest closet in the house for some reason.</p>
<p>Yet, there is very little on hangers in there, it’s piled up and tossed about. I think there are halloween costumes my mil made in there. So it’s not like he can go grab some neatly folded piles of clothes and just stick them in a bag. We’re going to clean that thing and we’re all procrastinating. </p>
<p>PN - when I walk by your sons room I’ll give it a thumbs up or thumbs down - lol. Do me a favor and don’t do the same in return. I can’t stand my sons haircut but he likes it.</p>
<p>eyemamom, I understand from the 2016 FB forum that there is a hair cut place inside Wilson Commons and another one not too far away the kids recommend more off campus. Maybe for your son’s next trim, they can “fix” his haircut :)</p>
<p>eyemamom - Would love to give you an update from an early launcher…too bad I lauched a son which means we havn’t recieved enough information to fill a proper phrase.</p>
<p>Son has been gone for a week, to this point we have received three texts totaling about 10 words and one phone call late at night that lasted about three minutes. Apparently he is still alive, I do see some activity on facebook and with his debit card so that is a good thing.</p>
<p>And thanks for the Carlin link about “stuff”–one of my favorite bits of his. He is missed.</p>
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<p>My girl and I are of the belief that pretty much anything that happens in life can be related back to an episode of Friends.</p>
<p>She moves into her dorm today (with her dad’s help)–and starts marching band at 4pm. I hope to get a pic or two out of her. And I’ll be there in a week. I really can’t wait.</p>
<p>Morning all! Good wishes to all the launchers! Today is my birthday…but at this stage, it’s is not a big deal. We are still at our summer residence but I am putting DS on a plane home today. My middle DD is at the house until tomorrow when she drives back to her college for her last semester (she graduates in December ) so DS will only be on his own for about one day. We are driving with the dogs and should be home before dark on Sunday. </p>
<p>I have implored DS to spend his weekend organizing and packing for school (we fly out on Friday) but idk if he can or will get it started. We are in for a whirlwind week ahead! </p>
<p>I am enjoying everyone’s posts about packing and travel and trying to gleam some insights and tips. Both my DDs went to colleges within 5 hour drives from our home so this is a different animal to us. Also, the packing and dorm decor concerns are very Mars/Venus!</p>
<p>Eyemamom - not ignoring y’all. The biggest problem with checking in here post move-in is that this hotel had decent internet access the first night but its been pretty sucky since then!! Don’t really want to use my phone to type post move-in reports. </p>
<p>Overall, the move-in day on Wed was ultra-smooth. D moved in 2 days early due to a special scholarship orientation that runs from Wed night thru 10:30 am today.</p>
<p>Today is the regular move-in day for the majority of freshmen, including the international students. D is in one of 2.5 freshman dorms so should be lots of activity in her building plus people trying to attend all the required events and special family events. </p>
<p>D’s roomie also moved in Wednesday due to being a fall athlete with her 2x a day practices that started Thursday. </p>
<p>D asked me to bring all her ‘bought local’ stuff to drop off last night. I found her buried deep in a loud, laughing group of freshmen in someone else’s room & having the time of her life. I found her roomie sitting in bed in their room with the door closed, typing on her laptop.</p>
<p>T-22 or 23ish. We begin the 800 mile drive tomorrow. The big decision is PA turnkpike or I-68 through Western Maryland. Given my past record which ever way we go the traffic is going to suck</p>
<p>Packing is underway-- I am work but feeling pretty distracted. May leave early and surprise everyone at home.</p>
<p>Good morning everyone. Having arrived here last Tuesday, we are still in the process of launching. D was allowed to move in early on Wednesday so she got her ID card, picked up her laptop ( brand new HP and on loan from the honors program), moved in some of her stuff and met with her roomie. The dorm building is a charming one with lots of character and their room has great sun exposure. </p>
<p>D insisted the housing office never returned her ID card when she picked up her dorm keys. They looked all over for it and the apologetic clerk sent her to get a new one. Well, lo and behold, D found it in her wallet (logical. Why didn’t she see it?) how am I going to be able to leave this girl? ;)</p>
<p>Spending time on campus seems to have calmed many of her fears. While registering for classes, she was cautious about carrying a heavy schedule. Then, yesterday she wished she had signed up for a math class (not in her major). I think she’s starting to realize math is her
comfort zone in many ways. A black and white subject with very few grey areas. </p>
<p>Her roomie is a sweetheart and since she’s an international student. She had done her research and shared her knowledge of American regional
differences. She and D are learning together. D said she wasn’t sure
which she would pick up faster, a southern accent or a Swedish one. Four girls in her dorm wing are from Sweden.</p>
<p>Her car will arrive tomorrow. S didn’t bring a car to school the first semester but D’s sport makes in somewhat necessary to have one. It is packed with her stuff and I’m sure there’s too much of it. ;). Not looking forward to cleaning up at home. Her dorm mountain was more like a volcano that spit out rejects at the last minute.</p>
<p>I feel our stay here will be a little too long. She is chomping at the bit to start college life and I don’t think there will be any hesitation when it comes time for her to stay in the dorm. Although, it has been a great bonding experience for us as a family. S is with us and he has been in college for 2 years now. Being together as a family is a luxury that I’m not taking for granted!</p>
<p>LOL on layering for the plane ride - D kind of likes jackets and has many. I offered to carry one on for her over my arm and she can layer 2. I’m hoping that she wears her Uggs and I can wear a pair of her bulkier tennis shoes and just pack my light weight ones in my carry-on. There was some joking about the possibility of wearing her fleece bathrobe as outerwear - I’m sure that would raise a few eyebrows at TSA.</p>
<p>@YoHo - Thanks for calming my own anxiety!
I love the “inconspicuous” method of the luggage in the hallway to motivate your D. Funny thing is my DS probably wouldn’t notice the bags even as he walked over them! Meanwhile the rest of the family would trip over them.</p>
<p>Agree 100% with the following:
“About the roommates, there are always group dynamics and different personalities etc etc, that it’s best to stop back and let him navigate those waters based on the vibes and exchanges that he is getting from them; and without your involvement. If that means that they don’t buy a microfridge until the 2nd week of school, then so be it. After all, it’s he who has to deal with their personalities for the whole year and each kid has to figure out their “place” in the group dynamic.”</p>
<p>Roommate “suspicions” crack me up. As long as they can live together? then its a successful pairing. My roommate and I shared a room freshman year without incident. We never became “best friends” and didn’t run in the same circles. And we didn’t stay in touch after freshman year. Our schedules jived at the time, our paths crossed, and that was it.</p>
<p>Keep your expectations low and you won’t be disappointed.</p>
<p>2 of 3 of DD’s “suitemates” have been outgoing, fun and communicative. The other? hasn’t said much more than declining the several invitations to participate in group discussion. Oh well, as long as she fits in? no harm, no foul.</p>
<p>Giterdone, you are so right about roomates. Facebook created some drama for D’s friends recently. When they looked up their assigned roommates on FB, two of them were immediately put off by them. One even requested a change before ever having set foot on campus and meeting her. We can’t go through life picking and choosing who we deal with. We might as well live in a bubble.</p>
<p>So SS moved in yesterday, and seems to be doing OK. Not great, but not terrible. He does not seem to have found a kindred spirit yet, but it’s early and he seems OK. He’s bored though - classes don’t start until Monday. </p>
<p>Oh, and I found out last night that he “packed” his clothes in garbage bags. No lie. :rolleyes:</p>
Four girls in her dorm wing are from Sweden.</p>
Meanwhile the rest of the family would trip over them.</p>