<p>Thanks Suzy. It was good to see her, just too bad it was under those circumstances :)</p>
<p>^^I agree. Hopefully Isaac will be nothing more than an adventure for your D and everyone who will be affected.</p>
<p>eyemamamom, we can do this drive in our sleep. 95 to 695 to 83 north.</p>
<p>At Harrisburg we stay on the west side of the river, taking 15 north (via 361 (381?)west)through Camp Hill and Marysville. It is six of one, half a dozen of the other to take the highway around Harrisburg on the other side of the river and rejoin 15 north. We prefer our route because it gives us more options for bathrooms and meals, is more scenic – which includes both the river and trains.</p>
<p>Then 15 north until you hit NY. Our second stop is usually Wegmans in Williamsport, depending on the time for lunch, dinner or stocking up on snacks and supplies. Left turn on what used to be 17 and is now pretty much 86, for a good bout of nostalgia as we pass all the paces we used to live, and where we met. At the 17/86 and 390 split, it is stay to the left to head north to Rochester on 390.</p>
<p>In Wayland there is a Big Choice To Make: 20 miles shorter to get off the highway and go straight north following 15 and then staying due north on 15a, or adding 20 miles and staying on 390. We generally use the shorter route, it is easy enough, but if you are absolutely not used to 2 lanes, stick to the highway.</p>
<p>If you take 15-to 15a north, in Rush at 251, make a left and follow signs to get back on 390. then you avoid the more suburban parts of 15a as you enter the Rochester area.</p>
<p>Happy trails!</p>
<p>Received 2nd set of info from my son since launching. He’s more chatty than I expected, so this is oddly comforting in its simplicity.</p>
<p>First message on Monday, “I’m alive, college if fun.”</p>
<p>Second message, which was today, “I did get the classes I wanted.”</p>
<p>Not bad … for my D 3 years ago I didn’t hear from her for 3 weeks.</p>
<p>your d did a great job!
D2 starts school tomorrow, one of her friends started and is back, she hates her college, so they are looking for alternatives. Wow. her other friends seem happy so far.
D2 will be an hour away, I park for work next to her dorm. she can come and go as she pleases,or I can drop things off. do not plan on being intrusive, and she is not planning on coming home especially at first. knows it wont be te best thing.
Gosh I feel so bad for the girl at Columbia and her family. Horrible.</p>
<p>Skyped twice today with DS!!! He was registering and needed help. He looks terrific so I am happy. He didn’t get a few of the classes he wanted so that is stressful. He is trying to get into a 200 level Spanish class and they “sold out” right away. He has to take two semesters at his school and since he took 4 yrs. in high school, he wants to take it before he forgets what he already learned. He also didn’t get into Business Economics, a one semester class so now has to take two semesters of Econ (micro and macro) but he thinks this will be better for him anyhow. Why they do class registration for freshman the day before classes start is a mystery to me. It is such a stressful time to have to also deal with cyberlines and cyberred tape!</p>
<p>So sad about the Columbia freshman. Columbia was very high on my son’s list last year at this time. Such a tragedy.</p>
<p>After I dropped S off at college I went out of town for 3 nights. It’s only been since yesterday that I’m with D’15 - school started - life resuming “as normal” but one shy. Today she has a vball game out of town that I am going to and I find myself wanting to check in with S as to whether he’ll be home for dinner or not. It’s weird and I am not used to it yet at all.</p>
<p>That said, we spoke yesterday about books and I’ll see him in 2 weeks for an orthodontist appointment.</p>
<p>Three weeks still to go to launch and my S is getting more and more nervous. Today, he was practically in tears worrying about how he’s going to make friends when he goes to college. He’s an introvert and most of the friends he has now he made in 1st or 2nd grade, when it was a lot more straightforward. I keep trying to reassure him that it will be OK and that he will find others like him, although it may take time. For those of you with kids who’ve already launched and have started classes does anyone have a shy kid like mine who has adjusted alright so far? I’m just wondering how long it might take and if there’s anything else I can say to reassure him.</p>
<p>BTW, I love all of the launch stories so far. Our late launch date is making me anxious to just get on with it already! Maybe that’s part of my son’s problem–he has way too much time to think about it, which makes him worry even more (me too).</p>
<p>@Mom2jl, it sounds like you have a great understanding of your son’s feelings. I think as long as your remain calm, supportive and available, he will feel he can turn to you at any moment. My s was just like him. He has since graduated from college, but how I remember that anxiousness. I think there is no one timeline for you to worry about in the adjustment, just let it unfold. Good luck with the launch!</p>
<p>Mom2jl, we are also waiting for a late start date, with friends disappearing on a regular basis. I do think it is difficult to be one of the last to leave. Good luck to you and your
S.</p>
<p>S hasn’t said much to us about his concerns, but I’m sure they are there. I have a mental list of things I’m worrying about, but am comforting myself with reminders of his growing maturity in the last year. I’m trying hard to be positive and confident in his ability to handle all of these changes in his life.</p>
<p>In high school my D had daily household cleaning chores…she hated all of them! As we were packing for college she announced in no uncertain terms that she was “never” going to clean again…fast forward to today when I get a text from her…“Agh, you have ruined me! I tidied my room and actually cleaned my sink today and I have only been here a week!!!”
I chuckled…but secretly I’m so proud!</p>
<p>Mom2jl --</p>
<p>My daughter is also shy. One of the shirts she took with her to school says “I’m shy, not antisocial. You can talk to me.” :-)</p>
<p>I noticed a lot of the kids were trying to make connections with each other. “Hi, I’m Jolene. I like racketball and playing the piano.” It’s a hard and stressful time for everyone. </p>
<p>One thing that will help will be if he commits to join SOMETHING. If he can find a group (or groups) that fit his interests, then odds are he will find others like him there.</p>
<p>Renee- DS who is a freshman at the University of Miami just rode out Issac. Although I realize it was a tropical storm not yet a hurricane. The dining halls were closed and they were put on lockdown too. They had a blast! Bonding, playing poker, and sharing snacks! They found someone willing to deliver pizza in the storm?!?! I hope all goes well for your DD and the people of New Orleans!</p>
<p>talaria, Northernwoods and mathinokc, thanks so much for your words of encouragement and advice. And Northernwoods, good luck to you and your S on your upcoming launch as well!</p>
<p>D isn’t exactly shy, but she is fairly reserved around new people. Her RA has been very good about meeting everyone, helping make connections, etc. </p>
<p>Encourage participation in something, anything!</p>
<p>What a devastating beginning to the school year at Columbia and what an immeasurable loss for her family. Tragic.</p>
<p>boyswhofish, I’m glad your son rode out the storm safely. I’m checking out all the tweets from Tulane, and it looks like it is indeed a bonding experience. Hoping they all hang on through the night. They’ve already lost power and are on generators now.</p>
<p>Launched S2 today - the rain forced us to not use the old Ford Ranger but everything fit in the Santa Fe amazingly! The rain stopped when we hit the NY border and so it was sunny for the unloading. A swarm of students greeted us and unloaded everything - it was so smooth. The cafeteria could barely keep up at lunch but everyone got lots of food. The parent presentations were great. S2’s room is larger than most so plenty of room for all of the musical instruments. It was a beautiful day.</p>
<p>I am very sad to hear about the Columbia student.
I hope that New Orleans fares OK in the storm.</p>
<p>Mom2jl, You are welcome. I was thinking about one thing I did differently with my D who I did launch yesterday. When it came to say good bye, we did that away from her room. So, we would not get too emotional. It seemed to work out better than with my son a few years ago. Also, I had a really nice conversation with her a couple of days before telling her that I would definitely miss her, but how we both had to be strong on the very day of moving-in. So, I don’t have any other big tips for that good bye that are a sure thing, but it went well this time. Whew!!!</p>
<p>Just got back from Boston - DD “launched.” She is 2700 miles away from home, so we had to shop for the dorm and some winter clothes - wow, what a zoo. Every store was crawling with freshmen from a dozen colleges. We had to get all the normal dorm items plus a winter coat and some boots. I just couldn’t leave town without confidence my baby wouldn’t freeze to death this winter! (We are from the desert, she didn’t even have a real sweater.) Arrived at campus. Met the roommate. Everything was lovely. The welcoming students were wonderful. Quick hug, handed her some cash and off to the airport. Launched.</p>