Move-in weekend? - Page 2

Chedva · 06-30-2008, 12:36 PM

My d's school had "Parents' Orientation" the day after move-in. We went the night before (6 hr drive), moved her into the dorm in the AM, helped her unpack, coordinated with roommate's parents on Walmart trip, got various electronics, etc., set up while the girls were out doing college-type things, went to the various activity setups (helped get ID, etc.), had dinner together (planned by the school). Then went to Parents' Orientation the next day, which included some events with the kids, said goodbye before dinner & left for home.

Check to see if your school also has such a "Parents' Orientation".

HisGraceFillsMe · 06-30-2008, 01:51 PM

mom60-a very good point.

My older sister still technically lives at home, but is actually very rarely AT home.

The only problem is that my parents both work from home, so they HAVE to be home by Monday (it's difficult for them to get time off/they work from wherever they are, so they wouldn't get much of a vacation).

skiers-mom · 06-30-2008, 02:02 PM

This is probably a moot point for HGFM, but for other parents - MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS NOW!

Last year on move-in weekend for 1st year students at my S's school there wasn't an empty hotel room for 40 miles (according to our hotel). We were shocked that every place we called was full a month ahead of time. We ended up booking a suite, which was nice but a bit more money than we usually spend.

cat_with_1kitten · 06-30-2008, 02:12 PM

Would it be appropriate to stay in my son's room overnight after the move in? He has a single room, and I will be the only one coming with him, so I'd like to save money. The college does say visitors are allowed to stay the night...

Chedva · 06-30-2008, 02:17 PM

I'd advise against this, even if permitted, cat. A lot of "bonding" goes on in the dorm (and probably behavior you're better off not knowing about!) that first night. I think having a parent there, even in a single, would put a damper on all of that.

I'm also not sure that they envisioned "parents" as "visitors" - you might want to check that out.

gladmom · 06-30-2008, 02:30 PM

At both of my kids' schools, parents are not allowed to stay over, even in a single room. Even if it were allowed at your S's school, you might want to check with how your S feels about it. My kids would have been dead set against any parental overnight in their dorm rooms.

cat_with_1kitten · 06-30-2008, 02:31 PM

Yes, I am sure he would be against it. I was hoping I would be able to say "many parents do it, and their kids don't object." But probably that is not the case...

calmom · 06-30-2008, 05:06 PM

Its ok for overnight parental visits later on, but not for that first week. I've stayed overnight for several days at a time visiting my daughter in her dorm, and my son's father stayed with him while visiting -- but these are visits done much later in the year after everyone is all settled in. By that time it will also be obvious what the predominant lifestyle of the dorm is -- I was surprised at how quiet things were on my daughter's hall when I visited, in part because I remember the "animal house" atmosphere of my own freshman dorm.

ucsd_ucla_dad · 06-30-2008, 05:54 PM

cat:

I don't think it's a good idea to stay with your S even if it's allowed. Firstly, he should be getting to know his neighbors, participating in the events, etc. and this can include having his door open most of the evening. Secondly, he might be in for it if his neighbors get wind that his mother stayed the first night with him. Compared to the cost of college getting a hotel room for a night isn't much of an incremental expense.

ingerp · 07-01-2008, 04:07 PM

My $0.02--my oldest will be moving 7 hours away on the one day (of the whole year) I can't miss work. I went ahead and made hotel reservations for the night before and the night of move-in day. My husband thinks he'll drive up the day before, spend the night, move the kid in (late morning), and head home.

I'm going to *make* him keep the second night reservation.

There are events for parents scheduled til about 8:00 PM on move-in day. *I'd* feel better if my husband were around for any last-minute things the next day, and he can decide to cancel the room until late afternoon. I'm hoping he'll stick around just in case, though. If the kid is too busy settling in, they don't have to see each other after move-in day, but at least my husband will start the trip back well-rested.

I guess my bottom line is it can't hurt to have hotel reservations for any night you think you *might* need it. You can sort of play it by ear when you all get there.