<p>OK Z mom, you are grounded. Now I can’t stop the waterworks. Been doing so well, too. That quote is priceless and will certainly be shared with D for her plane ride to NYC.</p>
<p>zm - I love the quote and once again you have made me cry! Although at this point in time it is not too hard to get me to shed a tear.</p>
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<p>Buncha wusses, you are! I’m tough.</p>
<p>I love all these ideas - am sending myself a list to remind myself to do IT!</p>
<p>My son might not appreciate sentimental stuff as much as some of his friends that are girls - but he knows it will mean a lot to me, so I’m sure when he gets some gushy stuff, he’ll be sweet about it. He always is. Some times guys just have to realize their moms just can’t help it! </p>
<p>It’s good practice for later when they might have an overly sentimental girlfriend/wife who wants them to pull out all the stops for Valentines Day or something!</p>
<p>Oh, zoosermom! What a great quote!</p>
<p>Not move-in gift, but I still found it incredibly sweet… During my junior year of college, my dad came up to visit me one weekend while my mom was out of town (he said he was lonely). I had to go volunteer or see friends or something and thus wasn’t around when he left to go back home at the end of the weekend. I came back to my dorm to find a $20 bill with a note that said “[Name], Thank you so much for spending your weekend with me. I had a wonderful time. Love you, Dad.”</p>
<p>Thinking about the note even now makes me tear up a bit, to be honest.</p>
<p>Zmom, there goes my mascara. How sweet!</p>
<p>I love the $20 bill idea. That’s hysterical.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, do NOT do what my MIL did. She moved H into college - he was in a 4 person suite, getting to know all the guys, blah blah blah – and then just as she / FIL were about to leave, she pulled out his old childhood teddy bear and gave it to him, saying that she thought he’d want it. OMG, was he embarrassed. My MIL is sort of a Joan Rivers type, if that gives some context.</p>
<p>Too many great ideas. I love the Build A Bear. I was going to get my D a stuffed schnauzer because she is going to miss the dog. Maybe I can “Build A Schnauzer” with a voice message. D is off vacationing with her grandmom for her final goodbyes. I don’t want to be there for those TEARS. She’s the only grandchild.</p>
<p>Okay, lost it with the quote. Just lost it… How am I ever going to get through the drop off!!! What a great quote.</p>
<p>It’ll be ok momfirst3!!! Awww, I wish I could give you all hugs. Your sons and daughters will be ok!!! They have RAs and professors and advisors that all have their best interests at heart, and they will be home for breaks at the very least. I’m sure you all raised them very well and they are able to handle anything that comes their way!!! =)</p>
<p>I’ll take the hug… This is my youngest and he is going the farthest away. I always knew he would be the one to do this. I am so happy for him and so very proud of all he has accomplished. He is going to his dream school, and I know that he will thrive and enjoy every moment there. However just the thought of not seeing him for months at a time, of not being there to wish him happy birthday, and other moments like that is just really tough for me. I raised all of my children to be strong and independent. They are doing exactly what I wanted them to do, but my it is tough as they fly away. So very, very tough…</p>
<p>It is tough, momfirst. zoosermom got me going to - I just put my D on a plane this morning for fall semester abroad. I’ve gotten used to her not being here much the last 2 years, but Europe is farther away! My D is not a sentimental person, she has learned to tolerate my crying when she leaves, but I think it bothers her a bit. I’ve never gone to move-in, just send her off with H, works better for us that way.</p>
<p>mamabear1234, my S was in Europe last spring. I was teary when he walked thru security alone, turned the corner, and vanished… heading for another country without knowing a soul there. He had an amazing time, of course, and came home safely and full of stories of adventures, but just thinking of watching him leave still brings tears. It was early January, and in the international terminal I think at least 2/3 of the people leaving were kids going on study abroad. Watching the parents say goodbye and give their hugs got me going before it was even time for S to leave!</p>
<p>And ZM… you and Winnie the Pooh are in time-out until you learn to play nice and STOP making the other mommies cry. So there.</p>
<p>Sniff.</p>
<p>Well fine, then. I’m taking my bear and going home!</p>
<p>hahahahaha… As for study abroad, my daughter will be leaving in January for Spain. So I’ve got my youngest heading off for college and my only daughter (we are very close) leaving for Spain in the same year!!! Ahhhh, love the transitions of life. :-)</p>
<p>And I have my S leaving for college - and while I take him there for move-in, H will put D on a plane for a semester in Europe.</p>
<p>Oh no, that’s brutal! I feel your pain.</p>
<p>When my S first went to sleep-away camp, I hid candy throughout his trunk and he loved it … I like the idea of hiding money or gift cards.</p>
<p>Love it! Reminding my son to wash his sheets became a joke with us.</p>