Parents of the HS Class of 2018 (Part 1)

Parents Forum Class of 20xx Community
16421

I think my daughter is going to go contrary to popular advice and bring up her winter coat, hat, gloves and boots when she leaves in 2 weeks.

Could someone check my reasoning?

We live on Long Island, so all that stuff is currently in the basement. We already know from years of experience that she hates being cold.

Her winter clothes aren’t a real issue, since she would be bringing them anyway. They consist of sweatpants, jeans, sweatshirts and layering pieces that she’ll want as soon as the weather starts to turn a little chilly.

She’s traveling 5 hours north, without any traffic, to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I know that, around here, I always take out the winter stuff during Columbus Day weekend, in mid October. While rare, there have been one or two times when we’ve had snow before Thanksgiving. In fact, we had snow just after Superstorm Sandy, around Halloween in 2012… anyone who experienced it will understand why that particular snow and its timing is burnt into my memory.

She’s not bringing a car to school, and I’m not sure whether we’ll get up for Parents Weekend in late September. So her transportation for Thanksgiving is most likely going to be either in the car of some other kid from the island, or bus-Amtrak-LIRR. Either way, I just can’t see her schlepping her winter stuff back on the return.And besides, she may want it before that time.

She can fit the coat, boots, hat and gloves into one of those blue Hefty storage bags. It can fit behind whatever under her bed, in the least accessible part of the dorm.

And if there’s really no room when we move her in, we can bring it all back home and find another way.

Does this sound reasonable?

16422

Yes, if you have room, and aren’t close by, I see no reason to delay sending cold weather stuff.
We have had snow in PA as early as October.

My D usually wears a fleece jacket with a vest or a peacost in fall/early winter, but I see nothing wrong with your plan @bjkmom

I am planning to send a pair of boots with my son, because his Converse just won’t cut it in rain and snow.

16423

I agree that it sounds like a good plan, @bjkmom. If there isn’t room, you can just ship it to her later.

We missed the local summer send off event, @Meddy.

We are less than a week to launch and D is out of town until tomorrow. So much to do and so little time!

16424

Annnnd, the stuff we ordered for Sunday delivery isn’t going to get here until Monday, or maybe Tuesday. We leave at o’dark Monday morning. Figures. >:P

16425

@DiotimaDM, that’s such a bummer. I hope it’s stuff that he can live without for a few days. I’ve been on Amazon today quite a bit, and there are some things that I was ready to hit the purchase button for until I saw they would not get here before we take off. Frustrating.

16426

Ugh! Is there anyone back at home that can ship the stuff out to you @DiotimaDM?

16427

Try to change the ship to address on Amazon. It might be faster if rerouted within their system and less costly as well.

16428

Well, now the tracking says all of the packages are “Out for Delivery,” so maybe we’ll get them after all. I should have had them shipped straight to the dorm. Ahh, well, live and learn.

His dorm said they’ll hold stuff if packages arrive in advance of move in.

16429

Packages arrived safely. Crisis averted.

16430

Ack! We’re leaving next Wednesday, very early.

She sent in her availability to work. Regardless of when she said she’s available, she was put on for 6 of the next 7 days, as was her younger sister. Both my girls have been complaining all summer that he needed to hire more kids. Apparently he only realized last week that he would be left short when the college kids went back. And 3 kids are on vacation this week, just to add to the mix.

She juggled a few of the shifts, but is still a bit anxious about getting everything in-- particularly getting to see everyone she wants to spend time with. Unwarranted anxiety is NOT what she needs right now.

But if he thinks my younger daughter is going to be responsible for keeping his business running at age 15, he’s crazy. She’ll be allowed to close one school night a week. (Once school starts, the hours are cut way back. By mid September, they close at 10.)

She’s not sacrificing her grades and her health because he couldn’t see the handwriting on the wall in July!!

16431

@Meddy , we actually hosted the Summer Send Off event at our house. It was very nice. The local FSU alumni group co-hosted with us and catered the event. About 12 kids are going from the metro area, six of whom came to the party with their families. We had about 35 people there. Since there are not a lot of FSU kids in the area compared to other schools, it was really nice for S18 to meet some other incoming freshmen and exchange contact info. For the parents, it was fun to connect with the other parents (they were all so nice!) and share our experiences and any concerns. Highly recommend going to yours if it is still on your schedule.

Six days to move in! We spent yesterday setting up D15’s senior year apartment at USC. Got her bed frame put together, AC window unit installed, etc…S18, our most laid back child by far, is starting to panic as he thinks of all the stuff he needs to do this week. Mostly he is stressed about finding a way to see as many friends as possible!

16432

Working our way to Thursday drive and Saturday move in. We have been working through the issue of how we were going to fit all the stuff and the four of us in our vehicle as we have no roof rack. Finally convinced D to return larger stuff she bought at Target and buy through BB&B which we can pick it up in South Carolina. Amazingly the Target closest to Clemson doesn’t participate in Target’s college shopping program. She also finally followed my suggestion to buy those bags that you suck the air out with a vacuum. She couldn’t believe how well it worked and had fun with it.

Went grocery shopping yesterday and was getting a little melancholy with the things I wouldn’t have to buy because DD is not going to be home. Excited for her and a bit sad at the same time.

16433

Classes started for DD last Thursday. This morning, she starts her first full week. I am headed out to the local UPS store to ship out a few additional items that “can’t wait” for parents weekend in three weeks!

16434

@vistajay Sounds like a great time. We will attend D18’s next week and I am really looking forward to it!

16435

S18 left today. He has Fish Camp Tuesday-Friday. We are driving down there with his stuff on Friday for early move-in. We had already packed his bedding, bathroom, electronic/school stuff. He separated the clothes he wants to bring. I told him to put anything else he wanted to take into the guest room before he left. He chose a basketball, football, soccer ball, and frisbee from the garage and we put it in an underbed cube. Guess he is planning to play and have fun.

16436

T minus 22 hours for us for move in. Some random reflections from the most recent stage of this long journey.

Amazon (for books) and merit scholarships - much love for both this week.

The closer you kid is to home, the more chill move in can be. He is insanely close to home (essentially just moving from the suburb to the city), so it is kind of like don’t worry about it too much. Just start with the basics. See what others are bringing or doing. Can always improve the situation later.

He is ready. He needs this. We’ll all miss him. Mom will eventually be ok :).

16437

We had a mostly successful drop off this weekend at Alabama, and DP Jr. is fully engaged in the “Outdoor Action” program this week before school starts later next week. He has started to get more information on his research program, met some of his roommates, acclimated to campus … seems to be doing about as good as his parents, which is “okay”.

Roll Tide.

16438

Classic, @LOUKYDAD - “Mom will eventually be okay.” That’s me. Move-in for S18 Friday (hour away) and D16 leaving Saturday (5 hours away).

16439

S18’s move-in is over a month away, because NU is on the quarter system, and seems to start later than other quarter system schools. Looking forward to the extra time with him, but almost all of his friends will be gone and his summer job will be over, so I hope he doesn’t get too itchy to get the heck out. We are taking vacation with him Labor Day week, so that helps break it out, and he’s still got to do all the going through his stuff that most of your students have finished by now.

16440

Well we have a 12 hour drive to drop off D18, starting later today. I think we’ll be glad to be rid of her after being cooped up in the car together for a day and a half :wink: