<p>Our DD's first parent's weekend is next weekend - oldest kiddo on the opposite coast. I am going alone in a wheelchair as I injured my foot, but wouldn't miss it even though my DH has to work. </p>
<p>I am planning to bring a few surprises (a Trader Joe's gift certificate, a few treats and trinkets from her sister and my husband and I, etc) as well as winter clothes. I will be bringing a big suitcase to bring home most of her hot weather clothes and whatever else she isn't using. I am bringing her her paltry collection of winter clothes from sunny CA.
Already sent her a silly skeleton for her door - hope is isn't doing something obscene when I arrive! Those hallmates can be unpredictable! Any other ideas from more seasoned parents on what I should bring or do? Can't wait to see her in her new "habitat!" </p>
<p>We have reservations for dinner with three other families of her best frirends (yeah) and I have a secret agenda of getting some emails/phone numbers so I can mail one of her friends some money to get a birthday cake and surprise in January for DD. </p>
<p>Otherwise, DD is planning the weekend - a bit limited since she will have to push me everywhere but there are taxis!! I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, as my DH had to miss going out for movein for virtually the same reason - we are quite a pair with our matching canes!! The upside is when I called her to see if she wanted to reschedule, she very sweetly said "NO! I would like to push you - I am really missing you guys, and am really excited about you coming!" Not often you get that from a teenager - I'll take it!!!</p>
<p>Sounds wonderful, shoot4moon. And how nice that your daughter is looking forward to your visit!</p>
<p>Sounds like you have everything under control shoot4moon! I am also doing a solo parents weekend trip next weekend. I can’t think of a thing to suggest that you aren’t already doing. Have a wonderful time!</p>
<p>One of my recommendations is to make sure to entertain yourself some of the weekend and to focus on blocks of time with your daughter with breaks. Also to make sure one of those blocks of time is just the two of you. My sons had tons of homework, papers to write and etc. and couldn’t spare the entire weekend despite the distance traveled. They seemed to really enjoy breakfast out with only the parent so a few things could actually be discussed in private that were on their minds. Dinner including friends to enjoy showing off to ‘rents…keeping in mind that freshmen roommates and friends may not be the friends you meet sophomore and junior year as there is a friendly randomness going on re who is thrown together this early in the first year of college. And I am talking about sons here but they would be mortified if I contacted their friends by email, FB etc short of inviting them to our home for vacation trip or event or wedding down the road. I was a little slow on the uptake on this need for more boundaries with my sons’ friends since they grew up in a tight community where all the families helped raise my kids and we were all very close as parents. I particulary recall going to dinner with first son’s freshman roommate and his parents (I really liked them!) and then being (inappropriately on my part) mortified when my son moved on to room with other people and rarely saw that student anymore. Also, I would skip a lot of the organized fun and get away with only your daughter for a few hours.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’re doing it right.</p>
<p>I’ve always found the other student’s parents very willing to exchange email addresses / phone numbers as they are just as interested in getting yours as you are theirs. Also, you shouldn’t have to hide the fact you’re doing it. My kids understood that I was only going to use that info in an emergency and I believe they welcomed the exchange.</p>
<p>Unless storage space is very limited, I’d leave the warm/hot weather clothes with your DD. You don’t want to have to make an emergency shipment of them back to her in the spring when it turns warm again. Depending on where she is, it may turn warm before spring break which means she would have to bring the clothes back with her after Christmas break (and she would still need her winter clothes at that point).</p>
<p>Very good points, especially as it cost me $80 to send more clothes in October! I have a feeling she will need the closet space, but perhaps she can simply pack in a suitcase and stow under the bed…VERY good thought on the blocks Faline. I have made sure she understands that I understand her time limitations, but will reiterate. KathieP, does your student go to BU? My expectations have risen with every event there - I know it will be lots of fun.</p>
<p>My son is at Champlain College in Burlington, VT or I would certainly offer to help with some wheeling! My son’s college has no athletics so the activities are different then traditional places.</p>
<p>We let kiddo know we would be available for the weekend, but knew that she couldn’t just shelve the 2 huge projects that were due w/in the next week to entertain us! There was a scholarship brunch that she and we were invited to, and we all went to that, and she and a friend and friend’s parents decided to make time for the first half of the football game (that’s about all we’re good for!). We visited her in her dorm, took her to dinner the first night. At a study break (she called us), she took us on a walking tour of her classes, but hubs and I also spent some time relaxing in our hotel room, reading books and catching up on personal email, etc. We enjoyed being able to share a meal together, but also tried to remember we were on her turf, in her space…and she had work to do. </p>
<p>We took home summer clothes, too and left the fall items she requested, took her shopping for a warmer jacket and to get a flu shot at the pharmacy. Took her her mail, a few books she had asked for, Halloween socks. All in all, it was a low-key but pleasant weekend for both of us. </p>
<p>Hope you can get around okay in that wc, and that the campus is pretty accessible. Enjoy your time w/your kiddo!</p>