<p>DS who is almost 18 and a rising Senior left Thursday to attend a 4-5 week Summer College Program at Univ. of Ala. He spent a couple of days with his dad in B'ham and then arrived on campus this afternoon.</p>
<p>I miss him already and keep thinking of something I want to tell him only to realize that he is gone. I have plenty to keep me busy with work, grandchildren etc but am definitely feeling his absence. I can only imagine how I will feel next summer when I have to say good bye for the next four years except for breaks.</p>
<p>I heard from him this afternoon, got the I arrived ok call. Things seem to be going as scheduled. He has a private room in a 4 bedroom suite set up. He did mention that a couple of the guys were telling get drunk stories. This was not particularly encouraging to him since he does not drink and was hoping to have suite mates of the same mind. </p>
<p>I thought it would be a good way to get a taste of what college life will be like while under a little supervision. He will be independent as far as getting himself to class and other things but will have a 10:00 p.m. curfew and can't leave college campus without parental permission. I was also a little worried about next year and him having to do everything for himself. I think of this as a mini trial run. He is a great kid but sometimes just forgets to do the practical stuff. </p>
<p>Does everyone have the same jitters about their children being able to take care of themselves when they send them off to college? </p>
<p>I'm just thankful that I have one more year. It seems to be moving at an alarming pace. Just a few short months ago it seemed like we had plenty of time and now it's almost time for the applications. </p>
<p>I'm sorry I'm rambling but I think that I'm just a little nervous about him being on his own. Thanks for listening!</p>
<p>Jitters about taking care of self, yes! I have one graduating from high school and one at West Point. Ignoring the scary military stuff, older son will be in charge of 20-30 people in a couple of years, and I worry that he can take care of himself.</p>
<p>One of ours asked if we were always worrying about them, I said yes.. I am sure my last breath will be reminding them about one more thing forthem to do :) Find a hobby like scanning threads in CC</p>
<p>My D (who was a rising high school junior) did a similar program last summer, and it was a great experience giving her a "taste" of college life, with at least some supervision and only one class to begin with. I found it helped my jitters to stay in touch with her by email. Less obtrusive than phone calls -- because I wasn't as likely to be interrupting something, and she could respond back at her convenience (and often did with very chatty and news-filled emails). For my S, who is now in college, I find instant messaging works well. First, I can tell if he's in and on-line (sometimes that's all a mom needs to know!), also I can have a brief chat just to touch base and see how things are. It is tough letting go, but it's amazing how well they often due and what maturity is hiding under the surface....</p>
<p>Does everyone have the same jitters? Absolutely! No matter how well prepared they may be, there is always something that you wish you had taught them before they leave the house. </p>
<p>I was surprised that one of the kids in S's dorm this year had a mom that was hovering way more than I was on drop off day. She lived 20 minutes away, and her S was the president of several clubs, held a great part time job, etc. Her S seemed twice as prepared to live on his own than my kid, and she was way more jittery than I was, reminding him of a zillion things. </p>
<p>Once they get to school and into a routine, you'll be way more comfortable about him being on his own.</p>
<p>Definitely. Son went to gifted 3 week programs during some HS summers so although he was young when he actually started college I knew he had the dorm experience and could manage laundry et al. My biggest worry was his not making it to classes on time because of our needed efforts to get him to wake up in the morning during HS (it is so annoying to hear his alarm down the hall...). He has done fine for two years, but when he is home for the summer I wonder how he did it- there must be something about being at home that turns off the practical brain... They do rise to the challenge, without parents to lean on and wanting to be there makes all the difference (it was amazing how easily son got up extra early for Saturday CC meets in HS, no missed alarm clock then). Behavior at home is not the same as away at school. He will be ready, and if he is normal you will be more than ready to let/make him leave the nest for college.</p>
<p>Don't feel bad. S2 went away for a 2-week summer program between soph & jr years at age 16 at urban campus he will attend this fall. I was away from home at a meeting and H was out of the country. At 11 p.m. he called me to say he heard gunshots. At first he thought it was firecrackers (near the 4th of July), but then he heard the police sirens. Campers had been instructed not to leave campus for any reason, and you can bet they followed that rule. </p>
<p>He wanted to see what was happening, but I told him to stay away from the window, especially if he had the light on! I didn't sleep much that night. But that didn't deter him from wanting to attend the school.</p>
<p>I sent my older son to a three-week camp on a college campus a few hours away. A key reason: I needed to get used (more important, get overprotective dh used) to the idea he'll be leaving home one day.</p>
<p>He enjoyed it so much he went back for two more years, and now his little brother is doing the same this summer. I feel good that he's had exposure to different kinds of living arrangements (two years a suite with bath, one year a communal bath), laundry, navigating a college campus and roommates, dorm food, etc.</p>
<p>Our D was away for 6 weeks the summer before her senior year. It was a great thing for both of us (though we missed each other). She had a taste of what college would be like. They had classes all day and they had curfew, but other than that a lot of freedom. And I had the chance to see that she was responsible with that freedom. I know it's a lot different than actually going to college, but I seem to have a greater comfort level about her ability to handle it than some of my friends whose kids didn't have that experience.</p>
<p>Of course, college is a lot longer than 6 weeks! Now that she's going in August, I'm having real separation anxiety.</p>
<p>All of you are so great for replying. I feel much better now and I know that this will be a great experience for him. He did call me today to let me know which two classes he will be taking. Infinite Math or something like that and Chemistry 101. He sounds very excited and was fixing to leave to go find his classes for the morning. </p>
<p>I had to laugh (to myself) at something he said. He was complaining about the price of a Chick Fil A sandwich and a coke. It was around $4.30 or something like that. I told him that was about normal. It sure seems different to them when it is their money they are spending.</p>
<p>S went to a pre-college program in Florida, and we were worried he'd fall asleep in the terminal and miss his flight. (Don't laugh - he and I almost missed a flight returning from overseas because we both fell asleep!) Now he's 25 and we still worry when he travels - needlessly because he's successfully flown halfway around the world several times on his own. But it never ends, does it?</p>