I had homesickness. Mostly for my dog so I skyped with my dog.
People’s faces on blankets and pillows creep me out.
^I agree. I pity the poor kid making out with a boyfriend/girlfriend on top of a throw with a giant picture of mommy. 
The candles that smell like home idea is weird. I don’t normally use scented candles much. So I’m not sure what candles would smell like home. Not to mention candles are probably against dorm rules.
I think a tshirt quilt can be cool if the owner of the tshirts is ok with it. Photos of people on blankeyd and pillows, not so much. And my kids would probably rather have pics of the pets. I send those to S on occasion.
I think the candle idea must mean that if you normally burn lilac or pumpkin spice candles, tuck one of those into your kiddo’s box. It’s not that they’re suggesting there’s a “home” scent. There ARE wickless candles that you do not light. The scent is lighter, but they do exist, so maybe that would work in a dorm.
Right, since I don’t have a typical scented candle it just doesn’t make sense for us. . And even if I did I somehow doubt my son would have any desire to copy that scent in his dorm room.
My kids’ schools don’t allow candles.
I wish I had known about the t-shirt quilts earlier. My son got into collecting Hard Rock t-shirts, from as far away as possible. It made it easy for friends and relatives. I gave away all things too small each year, but had I saved his collection, what a neat quilt!
How I wish I had 2 or 3 more kids, to learn from.
I know you meant this in a lighthearted manner, but one of the things that amazed me when touring schools with my kids was how many schools have amazing food choices and quality on campus. Of course since my D ended up in New Orleans, food choices both on and off campus were not an issue.
My kids went to weeks of summer activities fairly far from home, most of which were actually on college campuses, and maybe partly as a result of that homesickness was not really an issue for us. But it seemed to us that having phone calls (or Skype) at a regular time once a week rather than multiple calls a day (I was shocked to learn this happens, silly me) was better for getting over the homesickness quickly. No special gifts that were tied to home in our case, with either child.
I have to say the blanket or pillow with a picture of mommy and/or daddy seems odd to me. Maybe for women it would be more accepted, I don’t know, but for guys the denigration would be merciless, most likely. I think the quilt t-shirt idea is an excellent one, because it also says a lot about who that person is/was. Makes a statement of sorts.
T-shirt quilts are common among young sorority alumnae, but I agree that photo quilts and pillows just seem weird.
I thought I might get one good idea from the article. Nope. I wouldn’t waste a dime getting a throw with a family picture on it…and candles are not allowed. This article not only is an ad, but it has poor choices for most college students, in my opinion.
Well, in the looking for a silver lining department, sometimes what not to do is valuable as well.
I made D1 a t-shirt quilt as part of her graduation gift. She had so many t-shirts and she loved it! Nice memories of her high school clubs/activities. She’s a junior in college now and it still goes with her and lays on the foot of her bed. D2 had no interest in one for herself. But they both each loved the poster sized photo I made for them of the dog! Our dog is adorable and just looking at his face can brighten any day! 
Wouldn’t these just make someone more homesick? Plus, candles are a fire hazard in most dorms, and I don’t know anyone my age that wants a quilt with a gigantic picture of them and their mom.
Just yesterday my daughter asked for us to make her a quilt from all of her beloved outgrown swim tees. The picture thing is weird – although I can see it maybe with a pet – but if you have a well-done quilt it could make them really happy. I’d ask before cutting up treasures, though…
Do not send a picture of your pet. That will make them really homesick.
This is a complete aside from this thread, but the dog picture reminded me of it… D2 told me a story today about when our pet passed away when she was at college sophomore year. I had been texting her that day to let her know that our elderly dog was very ill and at the vet, and finally we had to make the decision to euthanize her. D checked that text during a lab, and her professor saw her do it. He made her read the text to the class… and then of course was mortified when he realized that it was telling her that our family pet had died. Now… honestly, D2 wasn’t really a fan of this particular dog – if she had been very close to it, I likely wouldn’t have told her via text and during the school day. But the prof was mightily embarrassed. As my D said, “A lesson was learned by Prof X that day”. In fact, he has given her research opportunities and recommendations since then (possibly a bit of guilt? not sure…)
She didn’t tell me at the time because she knew I was upset about the dog… but it certainly seems funny now.
I disagree @MaterS. My D1 has a big collage poster of our dog hanging in her room and D2 will be bringing a few photos of her and the dog. To each his own, though.
I made my kids pillowcases with HI fabrics. They remind D of home and make her sad, so she brought them back to HI to be on her bed. S keeps his pillowcases with all his extra linens under the IKEA sofabed.
Getting pictures of my dog was one of the highlights of my day in college.
Heck, it still is. Both from my pup at home and the one that lives with my parents.
So far, my daughter has been calling me in between classes while she walks to the next class. IU is a big campus and she has gotten lost a few times. The interactive map doesn’t always work with spotty wifi while walking, so she calls me to have me look it up and see where she is going. It’s actually nice because we laugh and I get to help her and catch up a little. She also vents and tells me about exciting things going on. I thought it would be harder, but being able to talk to her every day has made it so much easier.