<p>DS is packing up, flying out to first year of college Tuesday. What to do about the beloved stuffed animal that has been in his crib/bed forever? When he was younger and went to camp, animal would stay here to keep the rest of the family company. But now such ambivalence. Ah, Freud would have fun.
He certainly doesn't want to be made fun of nor have the animal turned into a football by dormmates. This animal mysteriously appears on the bed of anyone
else in this house who is sick or feeling sad. It is a very special stuffed animal.
Any suggestions, son doesn't know what to do?</p>
<p>Take a picture of said stuffed animal and send with son. He can stick it on his bulletin board. Keep physical stuffed animal at home. :)</p>
<p>Thank you anxiousmom, what a wonderful idea.</p>
<p>Jeepers. Either way. His bedroom at home will still be "his bedroom" for a year or two, so no harm in leaving it there. If he wants to bring it with him, he can hide it in a drawer or "forget" to take it out of a duffel if he doesn't feel like owning up to having a stuffy. I would bet anything that if he takes it he won't be the only boy in the dorm with one, though.</p>
<p>Isn't he bringing it with him? Plenty of female and male students bring stuffed animals to college.</p>
<p>My S brought along a huge panda bear to his college. Friends of his used to sit in it!</p>
<p>Take it with him. It's something that makes him feel safe and reminds him of home. Why does college have to be about surrendering all of the innocence of childhood?? Or, leave it on his bed, he'll be back before he knows it.
Sorry, I'm a little sensitive on this topic now. Daughter is in the last stages of packing to leave tomorrow. This morning I went to ask her to go running and found her sleeping on the couch,(her bed is covered with clothes) toe to toe with her best friend who doesn't leave for another for another week. My daughter was holding a stuffed animal that is wearing the shirt her FRIEND gave her before he went off to boot camp. She looked so beautiful.</p>
<p>Picture idea is great or bring generic substitute until he gets a sense of what his roommate/friends are like.</p>
<p>I have my stuffed animals here...my special pooh bear that my boyfriend gave me and my vermont teddy bear...and if anything people think they're cute.</p>
<p>But I'm also a girl, so who knows. I think your son will see more stuffed animals than he'd think.</p>
<p>I think it is up to your son and I'd stay out of it other than to say it is FINE to bring it if he wants and stand back and observe what he chooses to do. My kids' beds are FULL of stuffed animals at home. One particular child has two favorite teddies complete with many outfits (and she is NOT the doll type whatsoever!) that she has always slept with. When my kids went to overnight camps every summer, they brought these along. I noticed when they went to college, however, they chose to leave all of these at home in their beds. I asked them if they wanted to take them (showing it sure is OK if so) and neither opted to do so. When they come home, they sleep with them and their rooms are like they left them. If your kid takes it, he won't be the only one, I am sure. If he is ambivalent and can't decide, he could always take it and decide later to leave it in a suitcase or bring it home the next time, if he changes his mind.</p>
<p>I like the pic idea. </p>
<p>My two younger brothers have always had...don't laugh...Curious George in their lives. </p>
<p>You can use your imagination and make the stuffed animal a myspace page or some other kind of personal web page. One of my cats has a myspace page. Seriously. </p>
<p>The pic idea does rock, though. What with him being a fellow and all. Most of us girls would find that to be a darling thing, a nice young fellow, who has a framed photo of his favorite stuffed animal near his bed:)</p>
<p>This is the myspace page my younger brother did for our cat...</p>
<p>Don't laugh:)</p>
<p>Thank you all for responses, I'm doing college packing 101. I went to an all commuter school and never even set foot in a college dormitory until looking at schools with DS. Feels a bit like I'm sending him off to a black hole. Honestly don't know what I would do without the wealth of knowledge cc contributers pass on.</p>
<p>merlinjones-just looked at the myspace for your cat. Trust me, it gave me a
big smile I needed right about now.
Perhaps I'm the one needing the stuffed animal! Son ran off carousing with friends instead of finishing packing. grrrr</p>
<p>DS opted to leave his beloved (and well travelled) stuffed animal at home his freshman year of college. However, it's still here and in an honored spot in his bedroom. DD will be taking her favorite, Jane (a bunny she's had forever), with her to college. When I asked, DD politely said..."Mom...Jane is going to college."</p>
<p>My S took Beavey (which he's had since age 3 months) to school with him... then brought it back at spring break. He'd decided it was too special to risk damage. He has a day-glo green grinning stuffed fish on his bed instead. Stuffies are no problem at all on his floor in his dorm.</p>
<p>The photo is a great idea!! My son is in 10th grade, and he has a dog that has been everywhere - it has ridden to the top of Pikes Peak - I think I will use the photo idea for him when the time comes. Not only is there the "guy thing", Big Dog is too fragile for college life, and too big to sit on a shelf. That was my other suggestion, would it go on a shelf? If not, could it be a tie to him, especially since you said it ends up in the bed of any sick people.</p>
<p>DD did not take her special bear from babyhood, it has a safe place in her room, but Sheep did make the trip. She got sheep on a trip before 11th, it looks like a sheep, but when you pop the Velcro, it unrolls and becomes a small comfy travel-size pillow, covered in real lambswool - all teenage girls, and most Moms love Sheep.</p>
<p>Stuffed animal dilemma is solved. 15 y.o. sister volunteered to take good care of said animal while son is at school. They are both happy with this arrangement.
We will definately send son some pictures though.</p>
<p>Aww, that's cute. I'm taking my teddy bear with me :)</p>
<p>Kudos to MerlinJones. Our D sleeps with one of our dogs, who is nine years old. Taking the dog is not an option but the myspace page will be a great way to allow her to keep up with dog's goings on...</p>
<p>I didn't read the whole thread, but here's my story/advice.</p>
<p>I'm 24 years old, college graduate, just successfully defended my master's thesis starting a PhD program in a few weeks, engaged, and still sleep with two beloved stuffed animals on my bed. Call me weird (I know it...) but if someone is going to make fun of him for a precious object in his room that is 'childish', just tell him to laugh it off or make some funny quip about it.</p>