Wow, that was painful!

<p>For all leaving a freshman on campus this weekend, I so sympathize with everyone. Saying goodbye to D was not fun. I was both happy and sad! Happy for her but sad for the "new normal" we have to create at home. For all who are thinking about attending Vandy next fall, the move in crew does an amazing job, the RAs seem to be very attentive, and the weekend was flawlessly executed I was very impressed with everyone that we interacted with.</p>

<p>I second the difficulty in walking away and leaving my son knowing that we are both in for a lot of changes. I’m thrilled for him and am confident that he is at the right school. I still pinch myself that he actually got in. Not that he wasn’t qualified, but most of the applicants are qualified and you’re never quite sure what makes the difference.</p>

<p>We went to the parents panel after we left him. Dean Wscilo told the group that as parents we think the time from 0 to 1 year is a lot of change. He said we will see similar change between now and the end of the 1st year. Not physically, but emotionally and mentally.</p>

<p>I sure wish they would have vucast founders walk. I would love to have seen it.</p>

<p>I agree that the move in crew did an incredible job. We left the hotel and 45 minutes later we were in the dorm room with all my sons stuff and they wouldn’t let us carry a thing! Then as we unpacked and put the boxes and garbage into the hall to dispose of later when we done we found they had come by and taken all the garbage. They were the best. I have had harder Costco unloads than this move in!</p>

<p>Our departure too was full of mixed emotions but knowing I will be back in September for parents weekend got my through the tough ones.</p>

<p>There is no other relationship where you put as much love, energy, & effort into it with the goal of having that person leave to become an independent healthy individual. There is an odd combination of sadness going home without them and joy seeing them begin their journey into adulthood. The students at Vandy did not get there alone. There was some great parenting to help them reach this level.</p>

<p>love to all of you new Vandy parents at this moment in your lives. Our son’s 2009 Founders Walk into the gates of campus was on youtube and I watched it a few times. I said goodbye to our youngest son today- recent Vandy grad. He has a job in Atlanta and will be living only a mile from his older brother in a fun, young intown neighborhood with only a few hold ups a month. He had three excellent internships in DC over his Vandy years and each one made a big difference in his overall readiness for the workplace. encourage your sons and daughters to join one or two things soon, to drop out if they aren’t very fulfilled/keen on it and to move on to something else on campus that might feel more like a fit. Highly recommend Alternative Spring Break for all, introverts, extroverts, Greek and non Greeks. Those weeks tend to be very egalitarian, welcoming and worthwhile. Spring break may not be at home with you anymore, so you get an excuse to book hotels in Nashville sometime each late winter or early spring for a visit…find haunts you like in Nashville since it is unlikely your son or daughter can spend more than a few hours at a time with you each day!</p>