<p>drusba, we had a similar conversation. We didn't go. It's a long drive and airline tickets have gotten pricier, as have hotel rooms.</p>
<p>We always attend freshman year and even bring Grandma and Grandpa along. We don't always do the scheduled events, but we do enjoy going to the football games and spending time with our kids and their friends and families. In subsequent years we usually schedule a trip at a different time of year to take advantage of other college offerings like concerts, lectures, basketball or baseball games. We love visiting our kids' campuses and I think they enjoy having us there.</p>
<p>To answer your question, no it's definitely not necessary, but it is nice. I also think it's easier to schedule the time with your kids on PW because all their friends are also making plans with their own parents instead os with wach other.</p>
<p>My feelings are the same as my-3-sons, not necessary but nice. I went to our son's freshman and sophmore year but won't go this year (he'll be in England) and probably not senior year. Son's school has many events for parents including some sort of evening entertainment where both kids and parents can go. We also went out for dinner with friends and parents one night. I really enjoyed the activities and meeting the friends I had heard about. I felt there was less pressure on our son to figure out what to do with us because the college gave us so many choices. I did some with son, some with another Mom but skipped most of them. There was no pressure to do anything, really.</p>
<p>We went to Parents' Weekend, freshman year, for both our kids. We enjoyed going to some classes, meeting some teachers and advisors, meeting quite a few new friends, being shown favorite places around campus, and meeting other parents. There was no fundraising, but there were many scheduled events, some of which were very informative for first time college parents. We enjoyed the activities but did not go to all of them. Also, since our kids did not have cars on campus, it was a fun time to go shopping and out to restaurants with them and their friends. We had to fly cross country for both colleges and, while it was not necessary, we were glad we went.</p>
<p>It would cost us $750-1,000 for the weekend, even doing things on the cheap. DH is going to be in Stockholm on business through that weekend (now THERE'S a trip I'd like to take!) and S2 has a football game. S1 told us he didn't want to subject us to the school reaching into our pockets any more than they already do. How generous of him. ;)</p>
<p>DH also goes to S1's college town for business regularly, and S2 plans to visit campus, so there will enough chances to see him in his (new) native habitat.</p>
<p>At D's school, PW is the only time visitors can park on campus for free. We went 1st year and had a great time, went last year and had an ok time during the <em>day</em> (football game was fun even though we lost) - but at <em>night</em> she really wanted to be alone with her friends (and keep tabs on the guy who became her bf later in the year). </p>
<p>If we go this year, it will be for just one day and evening a performance at her residential college. But even that is unlikely because PW is at the end of September and that's so soon - won't be over move-in costs by then!</p>
<p>I'd say in our experience more girls parents visit than the guys and way more freshman parents than any others.</p>
<p>We'll go this year (freshman year). But in future years we'll go another weekend--when there's a better football game.</p>
<p>H is going to D's parents' weekend and he is also planning to visit his friends in the area. We were told that about 4-5 weeks into the freshman schoolyear, the novelty of college life could start to wear off, and homesickness could strike even the most independent kids. So H thought that it would be a good idea for him to see how D is doing, bring her some winter clothes, and take home the shorts and sundresses she's been wearing so far. Her school is small and very organized - crowds would not be a problem.</p>
<p>We went freshman year and are going again for sophomore year, but I totally agree with others. Many (most) parents don't go and you won't be hurting your D by not going. She will understand. My son's campus is in the Great Midwest and so are my aging parents, so it really works well for us to go out there. If you want to go and money and time off are no problem, but it's really ok not to go.</p>
<p>And my son's school also does nothing about trying to get money out of parents at this time--except, I guess, showing them a lot of love.</p>
<p>For us we've attended at every one of our kids' PW, every year even if we had to fly cross country.We loved seeing where they were living and meeting their friends. We've always taken their friends out for meals so they wouldn't feel neglected if their parents couldn't make it.</p>
<p>With our D's school, parents were encouraged to attend classes with their students(if they have Friday classes) and DH loved the classes and the profs...and he even went to classes with DD's friends.</p>
<p>Dad II, if you can't make it, perhaps you DW can.</p>
<p>Two DDs attended large well known publics, we never went to PW, though we did visit at our own convenience, usually when we could piggyback the trip onto some other air trip.</p>
<p>D3 just started at a small LAC and we are attending the PW, though we are much much closer and able to drive there.</p>
<p>It's nice but not necessary, Dad II. There is certainly merit to visiting on a different weekend that isn't so busy if you prefer. But if your budget only allows for her to come back at holidays and doesn't allow you to go out there -- don't sweat it. Plenty of people are in that boat, and so be it. Your daughter is an intelligent young lady and knows that you love her either way!</p>
<p>I agree with those who say you don't "need" to go. I did not plan on going to D's PW last year, as it was 13 hours from home & just 5 weeks after we dropped her off at school. However, because my D had a very difficult time adjusting to school at first, I did end up booking a flight (frequent flyer miles) & an inexpensive hotel room. She seemed to do better during the time between my decision to go & PW, perhaps because she knew she'd be seeing me soon. By the time I got to PW, she had begun to adjust ... but she was still very happy to spend some time with me ... away from her roommate (she stayed at the hotel with me). We didn't really do much in the way of planned activities. She just enjoyed having mom there. Not all her friends had parents there, and she would have had company if I hadn't come. For us, it was a good thing that I went. If I couldn't have made it, though, she would have been fine. It was nice, but it wasn't necessary.</p>
<p>This year, she is at a new school, but she isn't having any adjustment problems (older & wiser, I guess). I was going to try to make PW, but every hotel room around was already booked solid ... and I figured I would have to park 3 miles away! When I told her, she said no big deal. I would very much like to go see her, but I think I'll save the trip for late winter, when there is a long stretch during which she won't come home. She will fly home for a week at Thanksgiving & then again for several weeks in mid-December. I just can't see flying down this fall, since all is well with her.</p>
<p>I DO want to visit, though ... Nashville is a great town! :)</p>
<p>Not necessary. Haven't been to one yet as we see D1 almost every fall weekend at her games. I think she has had away games on that weekend for the past two years!</p>
<p>I went to S's Moms' weekends, but they also had separate Dads' and siblings! Too much. Do go to D's, as it coincides w/ the only weekend of competion in the fall for her sport.</p>
<p>Totally OT, though, the real reason I posted was to ask camtig how he/she got so many posts in such a short time. (post #24) lol!!</p>
<p>The good thing about D's school is that freshmen parents weekend is in May, so sometime has passed between the time they arrive on campus and you attending. There were a lot of parents in attendance.</p>
<p>The weather was great and I took the opportunity to take some of the winter stuff home (she already had it packed when I got there) :).</p>
<p>It depends on kids. My parents are immigrants. Growing up, they avoided any activities that involved a lot of white people because they just felt uncomfortable. They didn't come to most of my school activities, including parents weekend in college. I told them it didn't matter and I was busy anyway, but I remember it was hard on me to have my friends' parents there and eating at the cafeteria with kids without parents. It's something that always stuck with me.</p>
<p>Last year we went to our daughter's freshman parents weekend. We didn't do any school activities, but it was nice to take her and her friends out to dinner. It was the first time I met some of her new close friends. We are not going this year because it is mostly for first year students. </p>
<p>I would say go if you have the time and money. It's a good way to see the school through your daughter's eyes.</p>
<p>My parents have never been able to come for Parents' Weekend (my brother's soccer club has always played in the fall), but they've tried to make it up for a football game or two at some point during the fall. It's not super far from school to home, so it's not like there's plane tickets to buy or anything.</p>
<p>My friends get most excited about Parents' Weekend for the free dinners, I think ;)</p>
<p>Airtickets: $650.00
2 nites hotel: $300.00
Rental car: $80.00
Gas: $32.00
Meals out $150.00
Cab to/from airport $150.00</p>
<p>Visit with daughter Priceless</p>
<p>I sent my younger child to visit sibling on parents/family weekend She was a jr in HS and she stayed in her sister's dorm. Worked out well</p>