eos1

Guidance please....When do parents leave during orientation weekend? School says "many" parents leave Saturday after 4 pm and "some" stay through Sunday late morning. School says there's a brunch on Sunday, but nothing formal planned. NSO schedule doesn't have anything listed for family past 4 pm on Sat. I don't want to hamper my son as he meets his dormmates, but I want to be sure that he's all set and gotten what he needs from the local stores. I will be driving back to Des Moines to fly out and wondered whether I should plan on driving back late Saturday for a very early flight on Sun or whether I should say a final good bye on Sunday morning and then drive back to the airport.

bethievt

I wish I could help, but I'm almost sure that 2 years ago they asked parents not to come back after the "hug your student goodbye" moment on Saturday. I might be remembering wrongly or things might have changed. Hubby and I did what the college asked us to do, whatever that was. Your kid will find friends and manage with stuff no matter how you do it. This is a very suportive community!

Mary13

Hi eos1, I remembered that a similar question was asked last year. Maybe this will help:

Parents go to freshman orientation?

eos1

Thanks for your helpful comments and link! Made planning easier!

last_kidsmom

I will attending NSO to move my D in. I am planning on staying until sunday. But I think that I will say my goodbye on sat unless there is something that we forgot and that my D needs. She is going to GSP the week before by herself and I will meet her in Grinnell. I am planning a nice evening in town and an early to bed and an early to rise on sun. see you then!!

SoCaDad

On Sunday morning, we saw our son for less than 10 minutes since we had to exchange something for him and he had to head off to some meeting. If we didn't have to give him the item, we wouldn't have even seen him that Sunday. His time on Sunday was fully occupied with many meetings and/or activities. For all intents and purposes, when you say goodbye on Saturday, it's goodbye. Will you go to family weekend in October? For us, it was amazing to see the change in our son after only 4 weeks at Grinnell. Presidnt Osgood wasn't kidding when he said parents would notice a change in their child if they came to family weekend.

eos1

A Saturday good-bye it will be! Thanks for sharing your ideas and experiences!