<p>I don’t understand why procrastination is chosen once the teen has already experienced the negative consequences several times. For example, D just missed a second deadline and so once again had to send a special e-mail to explain that she had missed it and to request permission to respond late. That, of course, took her more time and effort than if she had done it promptly from the beginning. So, after the first time something like that happened, why does she persist in being late? ARRGH!</p>
<p>You have to consider every factor (and this is to everyone in general). Is your S/D working this summer? I am personally going into my Senior year and missed the date to send in my tuition for the semester and then scrambled to get it in ASAP, but I also have my hands full with two jobs this summer and the deadline slipped my mind, though I am normally a reasonably responsible person.</p>
<p>Also, how far from home is your S/D’s school? Have they ever been that far away from home before alone? If so, it could create some stress and anxiety for them.</p>
<p>Finally, do they have a CLUE of what to bring with them? Sometimes that can be overwhelming. What to bring, how much to bring, how to go about packing it, will I forget something. For me, this was not as much of an issue since I was only moving half an hour away from home, but if your S/D is moving hours away, packing can be stressful because it needs to be more of an exact science as a result.</p>
<p>My mom was much more easily able to help me out because I would accept anything she bought for me as long as it was functional. My sister, on the other hand, is a little more picky (fitting, as she is in school for fasion merchandising).</p>
<p>Just be patient and understand that as stressed out as you may be and as calm as your S/D may seem, they are probably just as stressed out underneath it all because of this huge change occuring in their life. As for hanging out with friends as their priority, sometimes this is necessary to hold on or let go to the people from their life in high school.</p>
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If it’s any consolation, my older son left for his sophomore year (on a plane, 2500 miles away) with one duffle bag, his backpack and laptop, and NO HOUSING lined up. He not only survived, but managed to find a house to rent, furnished it and arranged for us to ship a few extras over the year. They will find a way.</p>
<p>I know a girl who last year, because she was coming from California to Cincinnati, Ohio, moved here with just a couple bags, and that was it (whereas I personally have probably 25 boxes of varying shapes and sizes). She was able to get a few more things shipped from home, I think, but she did manage.</p>
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<p>Same with my D. But I am mindful of the fact that these kids are trying to squeeze in quality time with each other in these last few days of the summer before college pulls them apart. I think it is healthy to prioritize friendship over mundane things like packing.</p>
<p>Huzzah, vicarious. I hope your D appreciates your understanding and patience.</p>
<p>got almost all my shopping done (yay) now i just need to pack…</p>
<p>S had to schedule a physical. I couldn’t do it for him because he was over 18. At least, that’s what they told me, but I’ve schedule things for my husband. Anyway…</p>
<p>He needed to pick a new physician, since he didn’t want a pediatrician anymore. He dawdled on this for a few weeks. He made a decision and I made the switch with the insurance company.</p>
<p>It then took him a bit to call and schedule the appointment. Lo and behold, the first available appointment was October 14th! Now the purpose of this was to make sure he was up to date on his vaccines, but they wouldn’t just give him an appointment for a tetanus booster.</p>
<p>I told him he needed to work it out, since he needed to be up to date for the start of school. He ended up going to the office with the school forms, and booked himself an appointment with a pediatrician for an appointment the week before he leaves for school. </p>
<p>So, I’m very proud of my procrastinator for working it out on his own.</p>
<p>S2 procrastinated so long that the morning he had to leave he just threw things into bags and into the car. Was too late to have his pick of the room places and furniture in the suite. Got there and had left his school i.d. at home. Had to go through the hassle of a replacement right off the bat. He drove me nuts. </p>
<p>He had also procrastinated in registering so he could not get the class he needed and they put him into an advanced class that was over his head. He then procrastinated trying to resolve this and failed the class. Procrastinated deciding what he wanted to do as a sophomore until he dropped out by default. </p>
<p>Flash forward a few years. He has his act together. Most of the time. He is in school again now and paying for it himself. Meeting the financial aid deadlines. Getting his courses. But he did miss one deadline to transfer from community college to the university. He had to stay in cc a semester longer while that worked out. But he got them to accept the extra credit in his degree program. </p>
<p>They have to learn. You can only do so much. If it is not a fatal error, I no longer drive myself nuts.</p>
<p>GFG (or others who might have researched or experienced this) -
Our D is also going to school very far away, so we’re also figuring out what to ship, what to bring on the plane, what to buy there, etc., and we’re also on a fairly tight budget.</p>
<p>What’s the cheapest way to ship boxes of things such as linens, clothes, some collapsible storage bins, maybe some school supplies?</p>
<p>I procrastinated this year. It is my senior year, I move in Sunday, and I still have things to pack. Granted, a lot of my things are still packed from last year, but my clothes are far from packed, and I only have Saturday to do so. (I work all day today, 7:30am-11:30pm – two jobs; work tomorrow til 4 and go straight to school to help move freshmen in, work friday same as today except to 12:30am, and volunteer Saturday afternoon for a couple hours) I also have only half an hour drive from home to school, so if I forget anything I can just come home for it.</p>
<p>I think my procrastination might be similar to freshman procrastination. They are excited about the new part of their life, but also kind of scared. For myself, I am excited to be in my last year of college, but the prospect of facing the real world and getting a “real” job and possibly moving farther away from home after graduation freaks me out a bit. I suspect they are freaked out about moving and having such a big change in their own lives.</p>