Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - We're awesome! - Page 105

Minnymom · 08-06-2011, 03:50 PM

Re: Doing breakfast in the dorm room

Bought DS set of 4 each plastic plates, bowls, cups for under $2 per set at Walmart and a small bottle of dish soap. Figured his could swish them in sink in dorm bathroom and dry with paper towels. Also bought a box of plastic spoons and forks.

Also for snacks bought powdered Country Time and Kool Aid to stir up in room in leiu of sodas and box of microwave popcorn.

yalemom15 · 08-06-2011, 04:27 PM

Seeing the Thanksgiving flight post reminded me, it's always good to wait to make Thanksgiving res's until the semester starts and your kid has all their classes set. S1's college only gets Thu-Sun off, but every year he's been there so far, most of his Wed classes get cancelled (or are made 'optional' by kind professors) and we've been able to fly him out Tuesday after class. However, one caveat: last year all his chem tests were at night instead of during the regular class time...guess what night the last test was? Tuesday before Thanksgiving.. was not paying attention to that one and made reservations for that evening, Paid a penalty plus the difference between that a more expensive flight the next day.... Lesson learned

FlMathMom · 08-06-2011, 04:34 PM

Fortunately DS has entire week off and dorms are open the entire time. He will leave mid-morn Sunday, return late on Friday. Most advantageous use of FF miles. Maximize chance of getting a ride to/from airport too.

blueiguana · 08-06-2011, 04:45 PM

Agh yes, snacks and quick dorm meals. I tried to address this with Bluejr who got flustered thinking he was going to have a pantry of food (popcorn, easymac, etc). The easymac caused stress...where was he going to get water, the bathroom sink?! Well son, yes or most dorms have a kitchen, or I can get you a water filter for your fridge. That sounds like too much trouble. Urrgghh. I decided to wait a few weeks after school starts to try again. Once he's a) hungry and b) sees other kids making it work he'll be fine with making a few things in the dorm. I think he doesn't want to seem like the only one, kwim?

yalemom15 · 08-06-2011, 04:55 PM

^Love the whole week off version- S2 has it and I think he will probably be flying almost the same days yours is (taking into account a major football game the Saturday before that I know he'll refuse to miss).

Complicating S1's already shortened Turkey break is a major football game on that Sat (usually there isn't one the Sat. following Thanksgiving) which he is expected to be present for(in the marching band). I think he might not make it home this year

mnmomof2 · 08-06-2011, 06:03 PM

D spent over $500 on three classes' worth of books. YIKES. And that was with trying all the lower cost strategies, including used books where available. The remaining two classes (no books posted yet ??) should be less. Younger bro is away this week, so she is subbing on three lawn mowing jobs. Three lawns = half a Vector Calc book.

It has been a pricey few weeks: tuition, plane rides, dorm stuff, fridge rental sharing, pre-orientation hiking stuff, books (her responsibility). You all know! I am impressed with you guys having more success with plane rides and book shopping. 10 days left here. D is getting her hair cut/highlight this week so she will look her best (on that outdoor pre-o trip with no showers). Enjoy those kids and special shout out to phbmom and gamom (our first launchers)! Hugs to everyone dealing with aging parents, ailing kids, car trouble, moving stress, and international moves.

Oh, I have been advised to book dentist appointments for Christmas NOW. Just a thought...

redshoes · 08-06-2011, 08:26 PM

Re: doing dishes in the dorm. As much as I realize paper and plastic are the most practical for my not-very-domestic son, the culture is green/sustainable, so I opted for Ikea and Corelle, I'm only sending 2 of everything (he has a roommate) hoping that will motivate him to stay on top of the dishes. Also got a sponge with a handle you can fill with dishwashing soap--so there will be one less thing to manage.

jojoba · 08-06-2011, 08:34 PM

Mathmomvt: you got me thinking a bit about what dishes to send and I may have an interesting solution (we have a similar meal plan to yours with 14 meals per week and the intention to eat a simple breakfast in the room). I'm planning to send plastic bowls and plates, but also am thinking of buying a big pack of disposable large tumblers at Costco to use when in a rush for cereal or whatever is needed. These will be portable and no washing is needed for those days where there is no time or you simply want the convenience.

gsmomma · 08-06-2011, 09:01 PM

Dishes for college:
I had a Girl Scout troop for 12 years. We had 'troop dishes" which consisted of plastic plates, bowls, cups and a set of silverware.We used them for camping trips over the years. For all 6 of my graduating girls, I wrapped up a set of dishes and cups and silverware as part of their graduation gift. Over the years, they had labelled the cups with their names. When the first girl opened the dishes, she said "this isn't my cup, it is B's". After all of the parties, I gathered all of the cups, and made sure each girl got her own back. The best part is that I got to clear out some clutter from my basement!

mamom · 08-06-2011, 10:02 PM

FlMathMOm- thanks for the Sports Authority coupon idea. S will be shopping for clothes in the next few days so we will look online.

I plan of sending both disposable and plastic dishes to S at school. I am fairly green, but unfortunatley my S isn't. So while I hesitate to use disposable, he won't and I know it will at least be clean. CLeanliness was one reason I was glad he didn't get assigned a room with private bath, I know it would never get cleaned. And he does know how, S and lil Sis are responsible for cleaning their shared bath on a weekly basis. His school only offers a full 21 meals/week plan so I am not too worried about him not eating.

Plane fare over the thanksgiving break was about 2X normal. I have S's school schedule was warned by upperclassmen that a lot of profs schedule HW,tests and quizes for the last day before break. H booked all flight through Jan a few weeks ago. A little late for me, but i didn't complaing too much.

S has had an on again/off again GF since May. He told us (and her) up front that the relationship ends in Sept. I really like this girl though and even when they are "off" they still hang around together so I think the relationship will continue for a while, even if it is not a formal one.

We attend S's school summer send off tomorrow. I am looking forward to meeting other local parents I don't already know. Ends up the physician hosting the event once did surgery on H.

Classof2015 · 08-06-2011, 10:30 PM

Planning the whole move-in thing is when you realize it would be so much easier if their school were a car ride away...
The latest update (after booking 2 tix for me and D to fly down to Atlanta): Coach said teammates can get her at the airport and help her move in. Would have been nice to know this was an option a few weeks/months ago. But having now done a few "pack and hold"s, I don't know if she can count on those women to drive around Atlanta picking up her stuff. So it sounds like we will stick to the plan.
I don't have the guts to post on the threads "how much have you spent so far???" because I think I'd be the poster child for not using coupons/not setting limits. It seems like every day she discovers something else she has to have. I chalk it up to anxiety over being so far away -- she knows she can't just zip home and pick up her favorite sweater or pair of shoes.
BTW -- no comments or concerns about books or classes. It's as if this part of college doesn't exist. What counts is: having enough towels! Geez!

kathiep · 08-06-2011, 10:43 PM

My son's going to college in Vermont. I've already read things about how the expectation is for recycling and composting. Recycling Guidelines: Sort it Out: Sustainability at Champlain College | Champlain College That's always been the norm in our household so I'm hoping son has taken it to heart. I was talking about giving him some old dishes from the cupboard and we bought a 3 pack of large plastic glasses at B,B&B. Hadn't really thought about silverware but I do have some old secondhand stuff that I bought for camping that we no longer use.

I really like son's Thanksgiving break. He has off the 19th to the 27th and I'm hoping that a neighbors daughter will give him a ride both ways. If not, he'll take the train. I'm sure there will be some kids from at least as far south as NYC so he would have company.

FlMathMom · 08-06-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Also got a sponge with a handle you can fill with dishwashing soap--

Great idea. Love it!!.Thanks.

AvonHSDad · 08-06-2011, 11:18 PM

A couple of days ago I posted how DS has had "p r o c r a s t i o n a t i o n" for most of the summer. Turns out he got his dorm assignment and in the last 48 hours with AvonMom has basically gotten all of his dorm gear, sorted out the TV and mini-frig with his roommate, bought his computer with me last night (Macbook - good deal with the education discount, $100 App card and free printer), got it setup and has moved hundreds of files and synced it with his iPad. We also grabbed his TG airline ticket as the fares went down with the airline tax lapse (thank you Congress). That saved over $30. Looking at Christmas but we need his final exam schedule for his flight home date. He goes back on Tuesday the 10th (cheap day to fly!) and we have 3 airports to choose from although DCA is by far the closest (and generally the most expensive) and doesn't require an expensive shuttle into the city and campus.

He has a steady GF who is in KY at school. He told us he will be home Wednesday evening before TG, drop off his bag and head to see her. He then said he will spend TG with us and Friday and Saturday with his GF and friends. He flys back on Sunday at noon. We think it will last into the spring but are hopeful he will get too busy at school and meet lots of other kids. He also said he is going to see her for spring break. Time will tell.

We are debating 14 or 24 meal option plans. He will have a mini-frig in his room and he got the dorm with a sink in each room so he will take a pair of Corelle bowls and plates with him along with some dish soap and a couple of kitchen tea towels. He is only 3 minutes from the dining hall but he likes to sleep to the last minute and eat breakfast on the run.

About all that is left are books and a few desk and class supplies. Books are on him and he has the list of discount websites. This should be interesting to see how he does.

I'll start the Thanksgiving break countdown sometime in October after all the kids are at school and have settled in for a few weeks. Here's to a stress free, warm, sunny and pleasant Sunday for everyone.

bajamm · 08-07-2011, 12:04 AM

one idea for a quick, dish free breakfast is for your student to have fresh fruit, cereal bars, packets of raisins, etc, that they can eat on the go and not have dishes to wash afterwards.....