<p>Glad to hear the West Coast shares that opinion, somemom!</p>
<p>Though I fear your coast is full of brown, THIN bodies if the media is at all accurate.<br>
Around here, I don't stand out TOO badly!</p>
<p>Ha! I am originally a brownie from California, but of late have haunted the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver) and am now as white as every one else. At least I am counter-acting all those summers spent at the beach as a teenager, and hopefully reducing future wrinkes and skin cancer risk. There is simply no sense trying to tan up here, it maybe gets mid-80s, and that's a scorcher for this area :p</p>
<p>Self-tanning lotions do allow me to recognize myself in the mirror. I would say I see fewer skinny bodies in Canada and Washington that I did in Southern California...the competition there keeps you aware of that extra five or ten pounds! Or is it just what the media says and every one is getting fatter. There are many more little fat kids here than there were when I was growing up!</p>
<p>Maybe, with no sun, we have the hibernation instinct and we're all building up fat for winter. The Vancouver area does have quite a fitness component, in general.</p>
<p>Believe me, Momsdream, there was a thread just like this one last year. Stick around so that next year, you can be one of the veterans assuring all the newbys that "it does indeed get easier".</p>
<p>In roughly 10 hrs, we'll be heading off to return DD to school for her sophmore year. Luckly, I've still got a 15 yr. old son at home, who except for a more casual view on the importance of academics, is as sweet as candy.</p>
<p>Susan, I shudder to imagine what it will be like to be an empty-nester, though my H has an annoying tendency of reminding me that that day is soon coming. I'll admit that looking ahead to a time when there will just be me and H at home all the time is a little daunting. So much of the dynamic of our relationship centers around our mutal parenting. It'll be a little bit like feeling, "now what do we do?"</p>
<p>We dropped our D off one week ago and I keep waking up in the middle of the night with pangs in my heart. Glad I tuned in to this thread! </p>
<p>She's barely called except to discuss how to buy books and get cash! I know I should be happy that she is having a blast but am freaked out over her newfound freedom and lack of control (mine).</p>
<p>I was happy to see the "missing the 10-12 year old" because that is exactly what I'm experiencing. I spent the day at the pool and kept imagining her running around being silly from sunup to sundown. I sat alone and was so afraid of talking to anyone because I'd break down and cry.</p>
<p>Funny how everyone is cleaning closets. I went to the dump and Salvation Army today!</p>
<p>I can't even think of my son leaving next fall without feeling a pain in my heart. He's never given me any real grief and I don't have the "please get out of here!" attitude some parents have that I work with. When my friends only child left for college, she was very depressed, didn't really cook for weeks, didn't want to without her son home (husband tried to be patient) and cried a lot. He didn't IM or call daily, being busy and she felt cut off and worried about him. For her, making lists of things to do, cleaning (popular!) and deciding to not only pick up her running, but plan on a half marathon, saved her in a way. She had more to fill her empty time, something to talk to him about he was interested in too and a feeling of accomplishment that didn't include him. This year, she's going back to school at night, but it's easier. Now, it's just when he leaves after his breaks, but she's so proud of what he is becoming. I'm sure many of you will feel the same way.</p>
<p>No tears yet, since mine is still with me. I am ready with an extra supply of tissues after October 3. I'm expressing my pre-empty-nest anxieties by refining checklists, preparing for the trip, and generally playing my usual role, a secretary/manager/nurturer/nagger. I'm really looking forward to our week-long UK trip before term starts, so I can spend uninterrupted quality time with him. </p>
<p>He moves into his single room on a Sunday, when many of the 100 freshers will be there, but there is a little twist on the drop-off - mom is staying in his room Sunday night on the air mattress we're shipping (will be useful later because he is allowed to have guests stay in his room). There aren't any orientation activities Sunday but his 2nd year 'college parents' will meet him and they will probably go out, leaving mom to get the room ready without interference. I'm sure that he will be very glad to see me off on the bus for Heathrow the next day (!)</p>
<p>Today is move-in day for son. Upon waking up yesterday, I noticed that nothing had been packed, organized, or even removed from the drawers and closets. </p>
<p>Soooo, I decided to do the only thing any responsible parent would: TAKE EVERYONE TO THE BEACH! Grandparents included. Son, at first, mumbled something about needed to get ready for college. But, I shot him the "please, you aren't ready yet so one day wiht us isn't going to hurt"....and he shuffled his sleepy self to the car and slept all the way day (we left a 0730) </p>
<p>We packed a picnic lunch and drove 2.5 hrs to Rehobeth, Delaware. </p>
<p>After a lovely day on the beach, lots of laughter, S burrying D, D smacking S with sand balls, everyone swimming, we ended the day with the grandparents offering to take son on a college-move-in shopping spree at Walmart. This was BEFORE son announced that he wants to get a PhD.....and Nana said "are you sure you don't want to be a doctor?" and son said "you can call me Doctor when I get my PhD, Nana"....and you can imagine how the rest of the conversation went......"how much money will you earn with THAT?....."what will you do with THAT?.......how will you pay for THAT? LOL</p>
<p>It was suddenly as if he woke up and realized he was going to be moving into college the next day. We had him held hostage and he WAS going to shop for himself, no matter how much he hated shopping. So we made a list of desired items and packed up the beach party to head to Walmart. </p>
<p>We loaded 2 carts worth of goods and then went out the car, popped the trunk and <em>DUH</em>......it was full of beach chairs, cooler, towels, bags...so we stuffed what we could back there and made the rest fit into the passenger area with us - ugh! Good thing we decided not to get the huge bean bag chair son wanted - or the George Foreman grill Nana wanted him to have. We did get the bath caddy, thanks to the advice here.</p>
<p>After the drive home and arriving about about 10:30pm, son spent the rest of the night packing (right on cue, accroding ot the CC poll about boys and packing the night before).</p>
<p>As far as I can tell, he's all set. I just need to have him login to the Penn portal to print out a couple of move-in unloading passes (so we can park on Walnut Street with getting ticketed) and we'll be ready.</p>
<p>Let's hope the rain stops.</p>
<p>It feels like such a far cry from this time last year when we had just completed the New Englad tour trip and he was less than enthusiastic about all of the schools. The move in feels like such a relief. He's where he wants to be and it all worked out.</p>
<p>Great story, momsdream!
Thanks for sharing it with us.</p>
<p>Today is move in day for our sophomore son. He dragged himself in at 7:30 AM, a last late night out with his buds here at home, I guess.
It IS time for him to go back!</p>
<p>Fingers crossed for no rain, momsdream.</p>
<p>Musicmom,</p>
<p>Aha, so Freshman year is packing the night before.....and Soph year is staying out all night the night befoe and packing the morning of.....</p>
<p>Making mental note.</p>
<p>Hope your move-in goes smoothly!</p>