<p>PN: “Once we’re home and settled, we can turn the awesome and cringe worthy power of our complete and undivided attention to S3. I’m sure he’s thrilled!”</p>
<p>LOL, we’re calling it the “lilsis project” here. She’s so used to flying under the radar. Little does she know that after our little break, DH and I are sharpening our helicopter blades and taking off soon!</p>
<p>Left our son at Ole Miss - Move In on Weds and then we had a 9 am appt Thurs - said goodbye at 8:30 a.m. when he went to the start of a 2-day honors retreat. Flew home Thurs, shed a few mom tears Thursday night, called him Saturday to talk. After we had chatted a bit: “Was there anything in particular you needed to tell me, Mom?” “No, I just missed you and wanted to talk to you.” “OK, but you know, it’s only been two days. We’d go without talking for two days when I was at home.” Well, he’s right, but only if I was out of town or something. I am trying to resist texting him to leave him be, but I just keep thinking of things I want to tell him - am having trouble resisting.</p>
<p>Our move in is complete!</p>
<p>My daughter is happily settled into her dorm at OSU. (She moved a day earlier than planned.) There is a Panera Bread right up the street from her dorm and they take her Buck ID $ so she bought the family a delicious lunch. After we moved her in, Dad set up the printer, put together the mini sweeper and drying rack. Sister unraveled the necklaces that had gotten tangled up and hung them beside her bed on command hooks - looks really pretty I think. I helped her organize her supplies and makeup. </p>
<p>We had to make a Walmart run for some sort of printer cables and extension cords and picked her up a bunch of snacks, pop and water. Her room is surprisingly larger than what we were anticipating. (Low expectations help)</p>
<p>Overall it was as smooth as could be and I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Keeping up with her FB and Twitter and she has texted and called once since yesterday. (SHE called ME) I am trying to give her space. 
Missing her terribly but so happy for her.</p>
<p>Yay to everybody and especially to mspearl. What a journey you and yours have had. Congrats on getting to the finish/new beginning line.</p>
<p>And I will report that elderflower liqueur/prosecco (equal measures of each) cocktail is pretty much the most delicious thing ever.</p>
<p>Lakemom, are you sure that cat toy wasn’t a flattened little Wackaloon?!</p>
<p>We fitted everything into our station wagon (surprisingly, but H is an expert packer). Helpful tip: Pack clothes into grocery plastic bags. These are smaller than garbage bags and can fit very nicely into tight little nooks created in the vehicle. As we unpacked, the grocery bags were thrown away. (I don’t feel too bad, afterall, I’d recycled them.)</p>
<p>We arrived the day before official move-in, but were able to get S’s ID card and keys, so by 4:30 pm, everything was cleaned, unpacked, arranged, electronics set-up and a Walmart shopping list created. We were then able to get the extra things (like a longer ether-net cable, door stop and storage bins) along with snacks, beverages and posters.</p>
<p>S’s dorm was completely renovated, including installation of individual room-controlled A/C and brand spanking-new bathrooms. S has a single (his request) right across from the men’s room. The bathrooms are gorgeous - self-flushing toilets, decorative tile to match the school’s colors - really nice. I don’t know how much he’ll care about that, but I’m glad to know his bathroom isn’t scuzzy.</p>
<p>Friday (actual move-in day) was spent meeting folks on S’s floor, going to orientation programs directed at assuring parents that the “kids are alright”. We said our good-byes and headed for home, leaving S to enjoy five days of fun activities.</p>
<p>Haven’t heard from S since Friday afternoon, but he’s posted on his F/B page:<br>
Perfection = Bucknell.</p>
<p>I didn’t shed a tear. S has gone to boarding school for the past three years, so I’m used to him living away from home.</p>
<p>But unexpectedly, while returning the bed bug kit at Target, I saw a mom with her 3ish year old son. The little boy was telling his mom that she needed to be James to his Thomas the Tank Engine.</p>
<p>That’s when the tears started. Remembering so many errands run with my little guy, just the two of us, chatting away about his varied interests. Thomas, Pokeman, baseball, where do babies come from?, what is God?, etc. </p>
<p>I’m really proud of the young man he’s become and I’ll miss all those times when I was his first and best teacher.</p>
<p>woody35 :)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for sharing their experiences so far. This is my 3rd attempt to post. The others were long and written with misty eyes and when I tried to post my thoughts, it said you need to log in and they were lost in cyber space… My vehicle is already bursting at the seams. We leave Tuesday for Wednesday move in. I removed the wool coat and scarf my DD thought she might need in north Fl. before we visit?!. How will she get along without us? Just fine, I’m (almost) sure. :(</p>
<p>I’m really enjoying reading all the sendoff thoughts you all have. Thank you!</p>
<p>I made an error on my send-off day calculation … S is actually getting dropped off on 8/22, one day early! He’s doing a pre-orientation canoe trip and I misinterpreted what he told me, so he moves in the day before the canoe trip starts, which makes sense, but now he’s leaves my helicopter blades one more day early.</p>
<p>My D came home for the weekend and we just had a nice family brunch together. He doesn’t seem to concerned about the packing, but maybe that’s because his whack-a-loon mom is always there with the checklists and helping. I think he’s letting me ‘help’ one last time because he knows I need it. </p>
<p>Good luck to all the send-offs this week … if you don’t hear from me it’s because I’m celebrating being an empty nester or crying my eyes out. :(</p>
<p>We leave in about 12 hours: flying cross country with our son: one big suitcase, a guitar, a full size computer and monitor (he is going into film, and wants HIS equipment)- getting that packed for a flight is another story-, a professional movie camera-and who knows what else! It’s all scattered around in the heap. I’m sure it will all get sorted… but right now looks daunting. I know he is going to his dream school, but this is my youngest… so I’m teary eyed for the loss of the family as we know it now, while at the same time proud and happy for him. I’ll have one in California, one in St Louis- and right now it all seems awfully far from Maryland. I tend to do “anticipatory grieving” for what will happen. When my first left I cried for the three days before he left: then I was fine right after he got on the plane. I am really hoping that when we step onto the plane in LA to come home I won’t be crying for me but smile knowing he is in a great place. It’s great to hear all of your stories…we are all in this together!</p>
<p>Lakemom - empty nest cat toy? Seriously? that’s hilarious!</p>
<p>MidwestMom2kids - Good to hear your son is settling in comfortably! Although, it would be nicer if he needed one little teensy call to mom to ease his homesickness! ;)</p>
<p>mspearl -so glad your D landed where she was meant to be and it sounds like your’re doing fine with the transition! </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Awww - this made me smile!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>WHAT? Did you not read the wackaloon handbook? You need to avoid cute three-year-olds for at least 2 weeks post launch. :eek:</p>
<p>She’ll be fine, Sunshinestatemom - at least she was going for over-prepared instead of under-prepared!</p>
<p>I’ve heard from S - his flight was fine, he got his room key & ID, and he’s hanging out. I’m really happy imagining how he feels walking around his campus feeling like a college student!</p>
<p>PN - I’m glad I didn’t have to start stalking your son to make sure he arrived okay. Now I can breathe easier I’m impressed he was able to figure out how to find his key.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the launched and parents who survived!</p>
<p>My youngest was all about being the only child last year, just taunted her brother and talked about how she couldn’t wait. Now she’s like… omg, the laser focus is going to all be on me now. That’s right honey, careful what you wish for!</p>
<p>I washed the world’s largest grandma made blanket for S to take to school. Grandma got all misty when I called her for washing instructions because he loves that blanket. The thing has to be about 8 ft long. He has a chair and a half in the basement and he wraps that thing around him like big bird in his nest. </p>
<p>H bought me A GALLON of grey goose - two bottles in the freezer. I started this happy hour thing with my manager once a week where we talk over the week while knocking back a few at my kitchen table. So very Mad Men of me. Since I’ll be missing this week I’ll really need it next week…to quote Darren from Bewitched… make mine a double!</p>
<p>Just wanted to get 2016BarnardMom on our list.</p>
<p>ALREADY LAUNCHED!</p>
<p>7/15 huxleyalum S1
8/08 weatherga’s D
8/10 MemphisGuy’s S
8/11 vlines’s S, TX12DanceMom’s D, RTRMom2’s S
8/12 momophony’s S, DctMom73’s D
8/14 Debbie7452’s D, Lilmom’s D, GoIrish2013 S
8/15 ReneeD7’s D, familyof3boys’ S, woody35’s D, MeteorMom’s S, geogirl’s S, hsmom2dncrs’ S, ready2bdone’s D, Elkyes’ S, katie93mom’s D
8/16 jackief’2 D, psychmomma’s D, mequonmom’s D, irishmary203’s D
8/17 Oldfort’s D2, michal1’s D, Chrissyblu’s D, Tebow1’s D, 911C2S’s S, gaelicbred’s D, JGCMom’s S
8/18 annasdad’s D, MizzBee’s S, Rushedmom’s D, soh2000’s D, bubmom’s D, TNVandymom’s S, ENsMom’s D
8/19 kleibo’s S, mspearl’s D, nervousnellie1’s S, PinotNoir’s S</p>
<p>STILL TO LAUNCH:
8/20 jmnva06’s D, showmom858’s D, Buttercup1735’s D
8/21 college_query’s S, momsings S, stressed56’s D, allboyz’ S
8/22 Mom2M’s D, kc1214mom’s D, Sunshinestatemom’s D, WalkingTessie’s D, Itsthatime’s S, student2D’s S, JenPam’s DS, ohiobassmom’s S, StantonMom’s S, Intouch1520’s D
8/23 eyemamom’s S, Lakemom’s S, PNWedwonk’s S, 1012mom’s D, hawkeyes55’s S, SnowflakeVT’s S, MomOf3Stars’ D, dwhite’s S, Partyoffour’s D
8/24 mimk6’s S, Bucasmom’s S, MommyMommy’s D, IJustDrive’s D, The3bears’ D, tozubri’s D, tozubri’s S-2, CaliMom3’s D, MidniteMom’s S, laserp’s S, CIEE83’s D
8/25 MathinOKC’s D; Mom0809’s S; pacnwmomof2’s S, seiclan’s S, JenPam’s DD, KarGaro’s D, EmptyingNest’s D
8/26 marciemi’s S, kathieh1’s D, disneygals’ D, notakid’s D, MaCappella’s D, Lark123’s D, 2016BarnardMom’s D
8/27 Glido’s D, maidenMom’s D, student4ever’s S, talaria’s D
8/28 rerunagain’s S, chemusic’s S
8/29 downtoearth’s D, megan12’s S, tozubri’s S-1, bhmamacita’s D
8/30 Gwen Fairfax’ D, glopop11’s D
8/31 elka67’s S, Swimmomonthego’s S
9/01 jaylynn’s D, saintfan’s D, giterdone’s D, Mary13’s D, MAOnemom’s D
9/05 absweetmarie’s D, dentmom4’s D, huxleyalum’s S2, amtc’s D
9/12 northernwoods S
9/18 Mom2jl’s S, Texaspg D
9/20 SteveC’s S, pcaz’s S, GeminiMom’s D1
9/23 UChiMom’s D</p>
<p>1012mom’s D - Tufts University
2016BarnardMom’s D - Barnard College
5boys’ S - St. Lawrence University
911C2S - Bucknell University
absweetmarie’s D - Kalamazoo College
amtc’s D - Knox College
Angry Dad’s D - U of Chicago
annasdad’s D - Truman State University
AnotherFSUdad’s D - U of Alabama Honors College
bbarty - Macalester
BeeZeeMom’s S - U of California at San Diego
bhmamacita’s D - Wesleyan University
BluePoodle’s D - Case Western Reserve University
BobWallace’s D - Agnes Scott College
Bubmom’s D - American University
Bucasmom’s S - U of Connecticut
Buttercup1735’s D - Pepperdine
Cal1983’s S - William & Mary
CaliMom3’s D - Georgetown University
CalmlyiChaotic’s D - Sewanee, The University of the South
Chardo’s S - U of Alabama
cheekymonkey’s S - Tufts
chemusic’s S - Vassar College
Chrissyblu’s D - UC Berkeley
CIEE83’s D - Yale
cindymoose’s Twin A - MIT
collconf01’s D - Kenyon College
college<em>query’s S - Bowdoin College
commasplice’s S - Columbia University
Cortana431 - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
CPUscientist3000 - Harvard
Creekland’s S - U of Rochester
DctMom73’s D - Oklahoma State University
Debbie7452’s D - Texas A&M
dentmom4’s D - Kalamazoo College
disneygals’ D - Adelphi
downtoearth’s D - Northeastern
dwhite’s D - Wake Forest
Elka67’s S - Rutgers
ELKyes’ S - College of Charleston Honors
EmptyingNest’s D - Kenyon
ENsMom’s D - McGill University
Everythingbut’s S - Lafayette
eyeamamom’s S - U of Rochester
familyof3boys’ S - Hiram
fiddlinmom’s S - College of Wooster
forthree’s D - Case Western
fourkidsmom’s D - NYU Tisch
fredricksdottir’s S - U of Chicago
gaelicbred’s D - Kenyon
GeminiMom’s D1 - Northwestern
GeminiMom’s D2 - Cornell
geogirl1’s S - U of Miami
giterdone’s D - U of St Thomas
Glido’s D – Wellesley
glopop11’s D – Landmark College
GoIrish2013’s S - Indiana U
Gourmetmom’s S - Harvard
gradygrad’s D - NYU
Gwen Fairfax’s D - The Hartt School (@ Univ of Hartford)
hawkeyes55’s S - Temple University
Highbury’s D - U of Chicago
hookedondwd S - Rochester Institute of Technology
hsmom2dncrs’ S - U of Notre Dame
hutch14’s D - Carleton
HuxleyAlum’s S1 - Rose-Hulman
HuxleyAlum’s S2 - Knox College
IJustDrive’s D - Yale University
Illyria’s D - St. Mary’s College of MD
intouch1520’s D - Syracuse University
irishmary203’s D - U of Notre Dame
Itsthatime’s S - Columbia University
jackief’s D - Case Western Reserve University
jasper44’s D - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jaylynn’s D - University of San Diego
JenPam’s D - U of Maryland
JenPam’s S - U of Maryland
JGCMom’s S - U of Central Florida
jmnva06’s D - Beloit
jupiter1’s S - U of Chicago
Kandjad’s D - U of Alabama
KareninCA’s D - Lewis and Clark
KarGaro’s D - Towson University
kathieh1’s D – Pomona
katie93mom’s D – Southern Methodist University
kc1214mom’s D - Syracuse
Kleibo’s S - Carnegie Mellon
kttmom’s S - William & Mary
Lakemom’s S - University of Rochester
Lark123’s D - Pomona
laserp’s S - Georgetown
lilmom’s D - Morehead State
lillypod’s S - Amherst
linnylu’s D - U of Alabama
lisabees’ S - Oberlin
lovemykids2’s S - U of Alabama
MaCappella’s D - Amherst
maidenMom’s D - Wellesley
MAOnemom’s D - Princeton
marciemi’s S - MIT
Mary13’s D - U of St Thomas
MASSMOM1’s D - Purdue
mathinokc’s D - Olin
megan12’s S - Haverford
MemphisGuy’s S - U of Alabama
mequonmom’s D - Rollins College
MeteorMom’s S - Univ of Miami
MidniteMom’s S - Yale
MidwestMom2Kids</em>’ S - U of Mississippi
mihcal1’s D - UC Berkeley
mimk6’s S - Yale
Missread’s D - U of Alabama
MizzBee’s S - Wabash
Mom0809’s S - Sewanee, The University of the South
Mom2jl’s S - Stanford
Mom2M’s D - USC
Mom60’s D - UC Davis
MomfromTN’s D – Pitzer College
MommyMommy’s D - U of Vermont
momof2inma’s S – Tufts
MomOf3Stars’ D – The University of the Arts
Momsie’s D - NYU Florence
momsings’ S - Chapman University
mother<em>of</em>perl’s T1 - Yale
mother<em>of</em>perl’s T2 - MIT
mspearl’s D - Ohio State
Mutti2012’s S - U of Chicago
NDSmom’s S - U of Alabama
nearandfar’s S - University of Notre Dame
nervousnellie1’s S - Ohio State
newtothismom’s D - Bryant University
NJMom23s’s S - Cornell
nly2012’s S - Lewis and Clark
northernwoods’ S - Northwestern
notakid’s D - Barnard
NWMom2’s D - Case Western Reserve University
ohiobassmom’s S - Capital University (conservatory of music)
ohksaj04’s D - Denison
oldfort’s D - Cornell
pacnwmomof2’s S - Colorado College
pamayawaa’s D - WUSTL
partyoffour’s D1 - Denison
pathways D - Umass Lowell
pcaz’ S - Northwestern Univ
performersmom’s D - Yale
pghmomof2’s S - University of Oklahoma
PinotNoir’s S - U of Rochester
PNWedwonk’s S - U of Rochester
PRJ’s D - NYU
Proudmama3’s S - U of Alabama
psychmom’s S - NYU
Psychmomma’s D - Southern Illinois University
pullinghair’s D - Duke
rayrick’s D - Olin
ready2bdone’s D - Dartmouth College
ReneeD7’s D - Tulane
rerunagain’s S - Swarthmore
rescue23’s D - Willamette University
rushedmom’s D - Texas A&M
S2012d2017’s S - Davidson
Sactonative’s S - U of Alabama
saintfan’s D - St Olaf
sbjdorlo’s S - MIT
seiclan’s S - Emory
sewhappy’s D - Princeton
shootingsilver - U of Chicago
showmom858’s D - FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology)
skibum4’s S - MIT
Sniner D - U of Alabama
Snowdog’s D - USC
SnowflakeVT’s S - St. Lawrence U
SoClose’s S - Bryant University
soh2000’s D - UNC - Chapel Hill
solat10’s D - U of Alabama
StantonMom’s S - Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (Film School)
SteveC’s S - Northwestern University
stressed56’s D - College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)
student4ever’s S - Harvard
sujormik’s D - Northeastern University
sunmachine’s S2 - Willamette
Sunshinestatemom’s D - Florida State University
Swimmomonthego’s S - Loyola University, Maryland
talaria’s D - Univ of Pennsylvania
Tebow1’s D - Univ of Notre Dame
Texaspg’s D - Stanford
The3bears’ D - Yale
TNVandymom’s S - Vanderbilt
tozubri’s D - Franklin & Marshall
tozubri’s S1 - RIT
tozubri’s S2 - U of New Hampshire
UChiMom’s D - University of Chicago
vlines’ S - U of Alabama
WalkingTessie’s D - Syracuse University
wdaveo’s S - U of Alabama
weatherga’s D - U of Georgia
Woody35’s D - Earlham College
xxjcat’s - U of Alabama
Yalemom16’s S - Yale
ypcccu’s S - Princeton</p>
<p>COLLEGES ATTENDING:</p>
<p>Adelphi - disneygals’ D
Agnes Scott College - BobWallace’s D
American University - bubmom’s D
Amherst - MaCappella’s D, lillypod’s S
Barnard - notakid’s D, 2016BarnardMom’s D
Beloit - jmnva06’s D
Bowdoin - college<em>query’s S
Bryant University - newtothismom’s D, SoClose’s S
Bucknell - 911C2S
Capital University (conservatory of music) - ohiobassmom’s S
Carleton - hutch14’s D
Carnegie Mellon - Kleibo’s S
Case Western Reserve University - BluePoodle’s D, forthree’s D, jackief’s D, NWMom2’s D
Chapman University- momsings’ S
College of Charleston Honors - ELKyes’ S
College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA) - stressed56’s D
College of Wooster - fiddlinmom’s S
Colorado College - pacnwmomof2’s S
Columbia University - commasplice’s S, Itsthatime’s S
Cornell - GeminiMom’s D2, NJMom23’s S, oldfort’s D
Dartmouth College - ready2bdone’s D
Davidson - S2012d2017’s S
Denison - ohksaj04’s D, partyoffour’s D1
Duke - pullinghair’s D
Earlham College - Woody35’s D
Emory - seiclan’s S
FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) - showmom858’s D
Florida State University - Sunshinestatemom’s D
Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (Film School) - StantonMom’s S
Franklin & Marshall - tozubri’s D
Georgetown University - CaliMom3’s D, laserp’s S
Hartt School, The (@ Univ of Hartford) - Gwen Fairfax’ D
Harvard - CPUscientist3000, student4ever’s S, Gourmetmom’s S
Haverford - Megan12’s S
Hiram - familyof3boys’ S
Indiana U - GoIrish2013’s S
Kalamazoo College - absweetmarie’s D, dentmom4’s D
Kenyon - collconf01’s D, gaelicbred’s D, EmptyingNest’s D
Knox - amtc’s D, HuxleyAlum’s S2
Lafayette - Everythingbut’s S
Landmark College - glopop11’s D
Lewis and Clark - KareninCA’s D, nly2012’s S
Loyola University, Maryland - Swimmomonthego’s S
Macalester - bbarty
McGill University - ENsMom’s D
MIT - cindymoose’s Twin A, mother</em>of<em>perl’s T2, sbjdorlo’s S, skibum4’s S, marciemi’s S
Morehead State - lilmom’s D
Northeastern - downtoearth’s D, sujormik’s D
Northwestern - GeminiMom’s D1, northernwoods’ S, SteveC’s S, pcaz’ S
NYU - fourkidsmom’s D, gradygrad’s D, PRJ’s D, psychmom’s S
NYU Florence - Momsie’s D
Oberlin - lisabees’s S
Ohio State - mspearl’s D, nervousnellie1’s S
Oklahoma State University - DctMom73’s D
Olin - mathinokc’s D, rayrick’s D
Pepperdine - Buttercup1735’s D
Pitzer College - MomfromTN’s D
Pomona - kathieh1’s D, Lark123’s D
Princeton - ypcccu’s S, MAOnemom’s D, Sewhappy’s D
Purdue - MASSMOM1’s D
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Cortana431, jasper44’s D
Rochester Institute of Technology - hookedondwd’s S, tozubri’s S1
Rollins College - mequonmom’s D
Rose-Hulman - HuxleyAlum’s S1
Rutgers - Elka67’s S1
Sewanee, The University of the South - CalmlyiChaotic’s D, Mom0809’s S
Southern Illinois University - Psychmomma’s D
Southern Methodist University - katie93mom’s D
St. Lawrence University - 5boys’ S, SnowflakeVT’s S
St. Mary’s College of MD - Illyria’s D
St. Olaf - saintfan’s D
Stanford - Texaspg’s D, Mom2jl’s S
Swarthmore - rerunagain’s S
Syracuse University - intouch1520’s D, kc1214mom’s
D, WalkingTessie’s D
Temple University - hawkeyes55’s S
Texas A&M - Debbie7452’s D, rushedmom’s D
Towson University - KarGaro’s D
Truman State University - annasdad’s D
Tufts University - 1012mom’s D, momof2inma’s S, cheekymonkey’s S
Tulane - ReneeD7’s D
U of Alabama - Chardo’s S, Kandjad’s D, linnylu’s D, lovemykids2’s S, MemphisGuy’s S, Missread’s D, NDSmom’s S, Proudmama3’s S, Sactonative’s S, Sniner’s D, solat10’s D, vlines’ S, wdaveo’s S, xxjcat, AnotherFSUdad’s D
U of California at Berkeley - Chrissyblu’s D, mihcal1’s D
U of California at Davis - Mom60’s D
U of California at San Diego - BeeZeeMom’s S
U of Central Florida - JGCMom’s S
U of Chicago - Angry Dad’s D, fredricksdottir’s S, Highbury’s D, jupiter1’s S, Mutti2012’s S, shootingsilver, UChiMom’s D
U of Connecticut - Bucasmom’s S
U of Georgia - weatherga’s D
U of Maryland - JenPam’s D, JenPam’s S
U of Massachusetts (Lowell) - pathways’ D
U of Miami - geogirl1’s S, MeteorMom’s S
U of Mississippi - MidwestMom2Kids</em> S
U of New Hampshire - tozubri’s S2
U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill: soh2000’s D
U of Notre Dame - hsmom2dncrs’ S, Tebow1’s D, nearandfar’s S, irishmary203’s D
U of Oklahoma - pghmomof2’s S
U of Pennsylvania - talaria’s D
U of Rochester - Creekland’s S, eyeamamom’s S, PinotNoir’s S, PNWedwonk’s S, Lakemom’s S
U of San Diego - Jaylynn’s D
U of St Thomas - giterdone D, Mary13’s D
U of the Arts, The – MomOf3Stars’ D
U of Vermont - MommyMommy’s D
USC - Mom2M’s D, Snowdog’s D
Vanderbilt - TNVandymom’s S
Vassar - chemusic’s S
Wabash - MizzBee’s S
Wake Forest - dwhite’s D
Wellesley - Glido’s D, maidenMom’s D
Wesleyan - bhmamacita’s D
Willamette University - rescue23’s D, sunmachine’s S2
William & Mary - Cal1983’s S, kttmom’s S
WUSTL - pamayawaa’s D
Yale - IJustDrive’s D, mimk6’s S, mother<em>of</em>perl’s T1, performersmom’s D, The3bears’ D, Yalemom16’s S, MidniteMom’s S, CIEE83’s D
giterdone is online now</p>
<p>So nice to read about all of the great launches…I can’t believe my youngest starts his senior year of college next week.</p>
<p>Anyway, I just returned from helping my neighbor launch her son…I did my best to be the quiet but supportive neighbor. We will be laughing on our dog walks for weeks to come.</p>
<p>I apologize if this is going to be long but some parts were just too funny.</p>
<p>Neighbor boy and his roomie were given instructions to move in at 1 pm. Neighbor boy was also given a 1:00 meeting for orientation to a special program he is in. They called housing and received permission to move in at 10 am instead.</p>
<p>In the meantime, neighbor receives a terse email from roomie (I am assuming from roomie’s mom), stating that they would be arriving promptly at 1 for the move in, and that it would be best if they did not move in simultaneously because it would be too crowded and hot.</p>
<p>Neighbor did not bother to reply. Neighbor also did not let on about the permission to move in early.</p>
<p>We went out to breakfast at Neighbor boy’s favorite place and then drove the 40 minutes to the school. We arrived around 9:30 and surprisingly he was able to get moved in immediately. Lots of helpers.</p>
<p>His room is pretty nice. The bad thing is it is directly across from the mens’ bathroom. But maybe because of that the room is a bit bigger than most. It seemed wider than most of the other rooms on the floor.</p>
<p>The room is basically symmetrical, so Neighbor Boy just took one side and started re-arranging the furniture on his side of the room to suit himself, and left the other side of the room just as it was. Each boy got an XL Twin bed, a desk and chair, a 4 drawer dresser and a bookshelf, and each also has a small closet.</p>
<p>He put his bed up on those risers from BB&B, and under his bed he put his small cube refrigerator, and a couple of storage units where he will put some snack food and some paper goods and toiletries and such.</p>
<p>He put his dresser next to his desk, which were the same height so made a nice, long level space, and then arranged his laptop, his all-in-one printer…and his TV and game system. He hung some soccer posters on the wall by his bed and a big calendar by his desk. And clamped his oscillating fan to the back of his desk chair so it faces his bed…I’ve never seen that one before. But he says he will not study at the desk because it is way too small for him to sit at and so will not be using the chair anyway…</p>
<p>We then left the room to take him for lunch, and when he went to his meeting, we went to do a toiletries and food and stuff run for him, because there hadn’t been room in the car anyway.</p>
<p>When we got back to the room, roomie and mom and dad were there. I felt very sorry for the roomie and the dad…they both looked like they did not want to be there.</p>
<p>The mom was VERY angry.</p>
<p>Neighbor was NOT supposed to have moved in first! She had made that clear in her email. </p>
<p>Neighbor boy had rearranged his side of the room!</p>
<p>And neighbor boy had brought the TV and game system, which she had instructed him not to bring! And she expected it to be gone immediately, and for the room to be re-arranged!</p>
<p>My friend was just wonderful! She put on an incredulous face…and said, "i’m not sure why you are so upset? I agree it would have been crowded to both move in at 1, but we were instructed to move in at 10 due to my son’s program orientation meeting…and both boys have exactly the same amount of space and your son can arrange things on his side any way he chooses, I’m sure my son won’t mind ! " </p>
<p>Then she looked at the son and said, “gee, how do you want to arrange your space? Have you looked down the hall? People are doing a lot of different arrangements!”</p>
<p>Before the poor boy could even answer, the mom started in again with complaints…the room is too crowded, my son brought a refrigerator and printer, she wanted the fam removed from the desk chair immediately, and the TV and game system need to go because I don’t want them in the room.(my neighbor had bought the refrigerator and printer because she did not want her son subjected to the “rules” that roomie’s mom might set).</p>
<p>At which point neighbor son arrived back in the room! And the mom started on him! He just looked at her like she had an extra head and said, "hey, it’s on my side of the room…looked at his roomie, and said “hey, is it cool with you?”</p>
<p>The room felt like Siberia while neighbor son unpacked his clothes and the goodies we had bought for him, and while we made up his bed, and roomie’s parents were doing the same on the other side of the room. It was interesting…mom issuing all the orders, son having absolutely no input, and I don’t think I heard a single syllable from the dad the entire time.</p>
<p>The boys left for an all-dorm orientation meeting, to be followed by dinner and activities with their floor and then all kinds of campus stuff til the wee hours, and we left too.</p>
<p>My neighbor had primed her son for all this %^&&*$ in advance, and had told her son to be really nice and friendly to his roommate, who is probably a really nice kid who is just terrified of his mom…but to also be prepared to stick up for himself–nicely–as necessary.</p>
<p>We are not sure if his parents are staying over night…they are from about 4 hours away.</p>
<p>@giterdone-“Traffic sucks on a Sunday?” All I was ever told about Move In Day @ Ohio State was to be prepared to sit in traffic. They even suggested you bring a snack and a book. But all in all-it wasn’t that bad.</p>
<p>boysx3 I am SO glad you went along to support neighbor…and so glad you told the story. I was dreading that mom for your neighbor’s son. Please let us know how the boys get along once all the move-in drama recedes :)</p>
<p>S is all moved in. Had plenty of room. Of course he said “I don’t know what you were worried about” 20 times.</p>
<p>Got his textbooks, had a nice lunch. I did really well through the whole thing including loading the car! It was until I actually had to say good-bye that I turned into “emotional Mom”. But-he is very understanding and wouldn’t expect any different.</p>
<p>Met 2 of the roommates but when I left him they were not there. One was one of the OWLS (helpers) so he was busy helping people. I really hope he went out to venture around and did not decide to hang out alone in his room since he got the tv and game system hooked up. But on the other hand, he may not have very many chances to be alone in the room once things get going.</p>
<p>Not liking this “what do I do with myself now” feeling!!! I just worry and am well known for that. But I guess that is normal…he will be fine. :-)</p>
<p>Best wishes for all who are up next!!!</p>
<p>@boysx3-keep these stories coming!</p>
<p>boysx3 Wow! Hope the “roomie mom” leaves asap and doesn’t come back. Keep us posted. So nice of you to go along, help out, and of course, post the story.</p>
<p>We launch on Wed. D has contacted roommate about bed preference, etc. We live about an equal distance away. I think far too much stuff is going, but we can bring back what is in the way.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your stories. Those who have launched are the brave pioneers, and I am watching and will be following in your footsteps. We have a few days left before S leaves. </p>
<p>Lots left to do and pack!</p>
<p>Boysx3 - incredible story! I hope crazymom’s son turns out to be a nice kid and that the boys get along.</p>