A good quality mattress pad! According to my rising college sophomore, it was the best investment we made.
A gift card for Panera Bread (or whateverās close to the dorm/theater etc. that your kid likes) can be handy for those crazy weeks when they have 20 minutes between class and rehearsal to eat.
^ Yes!! Eating out, especially during the first few weeks of school, was very important to son, and his bank account took quite the hit for it. He was a kid who never asked for money when he was home, so we were surprised how quickly he burned through cash the first month or so. Having to fend for meals on his own this summer while performing in a show taught him about budgeting, thank goodness! 
A used bicycle and a good lock.
A small fan. W got a tiny one at target last year, I noticed the other day they have it again. Dās dorm was āair conditionedā- but not really ācoolā, and the fan helped.
Good one @toowonderful! No A/C at BoCo!!! (Been there done that!)
A humidifier. My Dās dorm room was so dry she could barely croak a note. Every MT kid had one by the time they got back to campus in January.
I also invested in a very good trunkā¦not the junk you can get at BB&B or the Container Store. I figured that it would last her for years if (no, when!) D goes on tour! She and roomie put it between their beds and used it as a table.
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I second the humidifier - and get a good one - we started with a cheap small one, that just did not do the job. When she called in January telling of the tonal harmony class that she completely missed because she spent it in the bathroom trying to stop a bloody nose, I found one and had it shipped to her right away.
I also agree on the humidifier. My daughter was using a travel one and wore it out. A good humidifier will get sent at the beginning of this new school year!
@EmsDad - Grand Rapids airport is less than 1 hour from WMU and is VERY easy to fly in and out of. This is our part of townā¦let me know if you need anything at all!! Winters are CRAZY here - more snow than you can imagine. The Sorels will be put good use! Welcome to Michigan! West Michigan is actually pretty amazing.
@mommabears26 - thanks. We figured out that we can fly non-stop into Grand Rapids from Texas and one-stop with a plane change into Kalamazoo. D is excited about the prospect of lots of snow. She is a good skier, so the possibility of skiing only 30 minutes from campus is icing on the cake (pun intended). Its not Colorado, but, to a Texan, *Any Hill Will Do/i.
God, Iām going to miss my MT kid.
She has two more voice lessons before we move her to Nebraska. Her voice teacher is almost an hour away and while sometimes the three hours (one hour there, one hour lesson, one hour back) has made life tricky over the last 4 years ā¦ I wouldnāt trade it for anything. Sigh.
Iāve loved hearing her progress over the years. Iāve loved hearing all the MT soundtracks sheād play in the car. I loved hearing her practice her pieces on the way. Iāve loved sitting through those lessons ā¦ albeit in the next room. I am totally not musical AT ALL (how my kids are I have no idea) and Iāve learned so much by being there.
Iām so excited for her! Auditions start pretty much the second she steps foot on campus and she found a great new piece that is perfect for her. She may have found a job in the theatre on campus. Sheās found a great roommate. Sheās excited about her classes.
But dammit if Iām not sad that I canāt be there to see it all first hand.
It was rough when her sister went off to school last year ā¦ but this is going to be horrible. Two gone. Empty nest.
Maybe Iāll get a bird.
You have our shoulders to cry on, @KaMaMom! Just wait 'til she comes home again; youāll notice her growth and maturity as an artist and a personā¦that makes it all worthwhile!
@KaMaMom I did miss the running around and being part of the day in and day out. Although, I have managed to make a couple trips to Nebraska a year. That is the hardest part adjusting to not seeing/hearing them day in and day out, seeing the progress and all the shows. The first time she comes home and you hear the progress you will be amazed!
You do have a lot more time to work and do whatever you do and maybe get to know your husband again. Itās not all bad.
And things that you have tidied up often STAY tidy (counters, shoes etc) ā¦ At least until your husband gets home
And gas costs are MUCH reduced (but I certainly know those feelings).
I was soooo involved with my daughterās theater life. Heck, I even worked at her theater camp. It was truly a bond between us and I expected to be a bit lost when she went to college. And I was, a little, but as those above have said, you can take solace in little more āmeā time and a neater house. It wasnāt as hard as I expected. And unlike in times past, we are lucky to have 24/7 phone access, email, texting, and even FaceTime. Also, these kids really need us to move on. They are starting a new chapter in life, and donāt want to be responsible for our well being. We have done our jobs and now are turning them over to the experts. Hopefully. Of course we miss them. Itās hard, but normal. Seriously, a dog is a good idea.