<p>surprisingly, the violin turned out to be a good choice -- we thought the instrument might take back place to academics and social life, but as it turned out some of the coolest folks in the dorm seek D out to jam with them</p>
<p>Okay, folks, I really don't get it. Do these kids go to school in the Gobi? Outer Mongolia? If they need an aspirin, or duct tape, can they not buy what they need at the corner market? I can understand sending care packages with homebaked goodies or lovingly crafted turtlenecks, but duct tape? Duct tape?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Duct tape?
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</p>
<p>My son would forget his underwear before he'd forget to bring duct tape somewhere. </p>
<p>Seriously.</p>
<p>Wash Dad, if he forgets his underwear, he can always make some out of duct tape!</p>
<p>These items are more for my own peace of mind (hence my screen name) but I insisted we get a roll-down escape ladder (which stores under the bed) and a plug-in carbon monoxide detector when S moved off campus.</p>
<p>I second Marian on the two loud alarm clocks. Only brought one to start with, we all thoght it was loud enough. Maybe for most folks but not for those who stay up till 1 or 2 every night. Also duct tape and small bungee cords to hold stuff together, cereal bowl and spoon for breakfast.</p>
<p>Framed photo of the Dog or Cat.
Not the sibs, not the parents.
The dog or cat.</p>
<p>Hi, celloguy-
Depending on where they go to school, getting duct tape, etc., may require a car! As for aspirin, I just feel better knowing it's there when he needs it.</p>
<p>Fake ID....</p>
<p>celloguy:
You're right that most of these items could conceivably be purchased locally.
However, if bought on campus, the mark up tends to be very high, especially for over the counter medications. Plus if the student does not have a car, there may not be an cheap places easily accessible to pick up this stuff.
Since my kids are pretty much dependent on MY money, I'd rather buy some of these things, CHEAP, before they get there. They can replenish as needed if desperate. In the long run, it saves me money.</p>
<p>lol>"fake id"</p>
<p>MomofWildChild: how did you ever come up with that name? :D</p>
<p>Some colleges are surrounded by rather unsafe neighborhoods, so I can see parents wanting to supply some basics for that reason too, even if stores are in walking distance.</p>
<p>Because S's room is TINY, I think the best/most useful items (following fridge and microwave) were bed risers (the taller kind) and plastic drawer units that fit under the raised bed (BB&B). Coming next were stackable, plastic-crate storage cubes that fit perfectly on the closet shelf. Great for organizing and storing stuff, and because S's room has high ceilings and he's tall, he could fit two rows. They're mostly used for large quantities of non-perishable food and for some laundry stuff.</p>
<p>The reason I send medicines is that my kids would go to the drugstore and have no idea what to buy. I don't fathom how it is that my relatively bright children can't seem to understand the difference between a decongestant and an antihistamine, though I've explained it numerous times!</p>
<p>His faith.</p>
<p>My son took these, and everyone else is always tracking him down to borrow them: A small tool kit (hammer, screwdriver, wrenches, etc.) and a sewing kit (needle, thread, etc.) to sew buttons back on etc.</p>
<p>I have also send with each of my kids, a small plastic box (tackle box) with medicinal and first aid items - Tylenol, Antacids, Cold Medicine, Allergy Medicine, VITAMINS, bandaids, hydrocortisine cream, antibiotic cream, etc.</p>
<p>There's also a wonderful thing out there called AIRBORNE - it's a herbal thing developed by elementary school students that you start to take as soon as you feel a "bug" coming on - there's also a night-time version that you take every night to help keep your immune system hyped up against all the bugs going around.</p>
<p>Two microfiber bath towels - priceless.</p>
<p>A whistle to attach to one's keychain/ID lanyard. Used it to scare off a mugger one time.</p>
<p>Her Treo and her messenger bag. It allows her to carry her laptop (with writing pad) and her books to class, no problem. Her Treo allows her to Text us during class! LOL!</p>
<p>A bike, I told my son that he needed one all summer long. His reply "NO I dont I will look like a geek" The second day of classes what kind of phone call did I get?
"Mom I need a bike I can't make it to classes on time"</p>
<p>Some day they will learn to listen to mom.</p>