<p>MOTHERDEAR & ESQUETTE - Good memory story for where your kids are going - we packed up the mini-van - mom/dad/little sis/college student and stuff galore and off we went from New England - arriving in VA during a hurricane!!! Last car off the exit the day before move in day - flooding - those emergency warnings blasting all over the place - blinding rain - all the power out - you get the pic I am sure LOL........................ we arrive on campus - the eye goes over us - we run and find the student service office - ask for a key if at all possible to get stuff out/off the van - they were sooooo kind - sure - move right in - but no-one can stay there tonite........... OK great.....</p>
<p>Run back to the car - unload in record time LOL - into the dorm - the janitor even came to help us - and back into the mini-van just as the winds and rains regrouped. We had noticed a few of the huge/historic trees down on the front lawn and some other damage. :(. We manage to find our hotel and sit out the rest of the hurricane and the next morning woke up to the most glorious day you could imagine. Back to campus we go - and we could not believe it - it looked like nothing had come thru there - all the clean up was done!!! All the stuff was all set and ready to receive all the new students. It was unbelievable.</p>
<p>is proudly displayed on my bumper. Got an interesting response one day from the school principal as we were waiting in the parking lot. ;-) But I'm sure she could score at least a 2350 on the SAT, if only she could master the pencil grip...</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm loving these stories, brings back memories of my traveling to college story. I didn't visit my school beforehand. (!!) I packed up my beeyootiful red '66 Mustang convertible and my aunt who is 3 years older than me, and we drove the 10 hours to school on our own. San Diego was experiencing an unusual heat wave that week and as everyone was moving into the dorms, the wait for the elevators was too long. So, we made many trips up and down seven flights of stairs. whew! I drove her to the airport that evening and she flew back home. The End. I felt very grown up!</p>
<p>We have another year before my oldest daughter leaves the nest.</p>
<p>Thanks JeepMOM -- great story. Amazes, but doesn't surprise me, from what we've seen so far. </p>
<p>He's a mess right now (literally), one foot in this world as his best friend leaves tomorrow, the other in cyberspace with his W&L classmates. None left to pack up his own bedroom. Must be all that hurricane damage to get through in there . . . .</p>
<p>Very good thread - I have until 9/2 when we drop off our eldest D at school. She's definitely more ready to go then we are to have her leave. </p>
<p>She'll only be 1/2 hour away so we can always go back if there's room issues with too much or too little stuff so at least we don't have to fight that battle. We are still debating whether there's going to be room for the futon. The latest plan is to bring it in a trailer and just bring it back if it doesn't fit.</p>
<p>ESQUETTE - I think the toughest part of leaving for college for my guy was the wait - cuz W&L tended to have a much later start date than most schools and all of his pals had left for school by labor day - that last 10 days was hard - none of his buds around to hang out with - just his parents and his punkin head little sis LOL - but it will come before you know it - and then some true excitement and smiles :) will follow.</p>
<p>He anticipated being left on the ranch after most were gone. One reason he signed up for pre-orientation week. Something to think about for others facing a late start date the first year. And bless the wonders of facebook for the social children among ye.</p>
<p>W&L graduated on June 2 this yr - and I think undergrad exams were after that. So he won't be getting those early bird beach jobs next summer, but he will be spending the glorious springtime at school with his friends.</p>
<p>UWash year is Sept 27-June 8 . Quarter system. Winter break is a tad shorter.
The S and I spent half of the last night talking about this summer and things to come. Some of his friends have already left, some are leaving now, all seem to be eager to move on, parents getting on their nerves just by walking around. And S doesn't seem to be sure how he feels about "flying out of the nest" . One moment he is excited, the next-not so much...There is also a matter of separation from his girlfriend to deal with( she already left, but for now have no classes, just volleyball practices, so S is going to bring her home as often as her schedule allows) . Times are bitter sweet right now.</p>
<p>I have been reading on this site for about a year now. Through you all I have learned so much about this process and as crazy as it seems looked forward to "keeping up" with your journeys with your kiddos this past year. Sometimes it is better than reading the morning comic pages, really.</p>
<p>I wish all of you regulars humor, patience, and uplifting emotions with your move in day and to your children I hope they have the best start to their college years imaginable. You just have to try to come back home and keep posting to help us underclassmen. Think of it as therapy. Although they are all set now and don't "need" you as much as they might have when they were younger, we do! Best to all.</p>
<p>Curmudgeon's post to start off this thread -- besides making me laugh out loud -- set the scene perfectly. There's a little bit of "Beverly Hillbillies" in all of us as we drop the kids off at college. </p>
<p>Well, maybe not for the Yale families. </p>
<p>We still have one year to go before we do it again. But we did drop our son off a few years ago, and I can say from experience that there is no feeling that a parent has that is quite like driving away from the campus for that first time. All the years -- from the diaper changes to the little league games to the senior prom -- come washing over you at once. You can't do it with a dry eye.
And then you keep thinking about those things throughout the long drive home.
I wish nothing but the best to those of you who are sending your sons and daughters off to college this week and next.</p>
<p>This thread needs a theme song. I guess for me it would be the lullabye I sang almost every night to both of mine until they started to prefer alternative rock...</p>
<p>Lullbye and goodnight
Go to sleep now my darling
There's a sandman old and wise
Bringing happy dreams to you
Close your eyes and and go to sleep
As the quiet night passes
You are safe in my arms
In my arms all night through</p>
<p>Of course, with two non-sleepers I sang that song mostly very, very hopefully:). And I sure don't want them in my arms all night through any more. They are both at least 5 inches taller than me and 20 pounds heavier...</p>
<p>Hmm. Maybe "We are the Champions", by Queen, would be better;).</p>
<p>W&L runs on 12-12-6 week fall winter/ spring/ summer terms. They get a very short Christmas Break (report back 7 January). Of course they get Thanksgiving and they also get Washington's B'day week (reminds of my school days in Massachusetts) as well as a week between Winter and Spring Terms. Exams end 4 June.</p>
<p>In terms of classes or credits per semester, the students take 4 classes for the 12 week terms and 2 classes for the 6 week spring term. A lot of students do their study abroad program or their Spring in DC (poli sci majors) or Spring in NYC (commerce & economics studies) during Spring Term.</p>
<p>she's off, she arrived but no suitcase for the pre-orientation trip that leaves tomorrow..since the baggage scare, instead of carrying on everything went through the baggage- no pj's no meds no sleeping bag no swimsuit no long johns no north face no nothing...hopefully it isn't as lost as the person whose kid lost all his stuff for Thanksgiving. Sent her with no credit card since they are camping for a week. Luckily another kid's parents flew with them so I guess they could buy everything we gathered for weeks for this trip. Oh well, if you don't laugh you cry.</p>
<p>Dang! I missed seeing this thread in time to post best wishes to Curmudgeon and Mudgarella. By now, they are somewhere in the wilds of Arkansas, where his vehicle will be greatly admired. </p>
<p>Daughter doesn't go to Carleton until after Labor Day, so she is going through the pangs of watching her friends leave - I think it is far easier to leave than be left. We will probably rent a bigger vehicle to make the drive, but not the Hertz or Ryder truck that daughter has requested.</p>