<p>Just returned from moving my freshmen into his dorm. I was not prepared for just how organized and helpful Columbia was. It ran like a well oiled machine. Very impressed.</p>
<p>Great to hear, Smithview. When my parents moved me in, I was surprised at how quickly they managed to get our rental bin to my room so quickly. Out of curiosity, where did you park?</p>
<p>Didn’t park. Took a cab from the hotel, unloaded on Broadway and was met with the free bins and the workers took it from there. Went to a local discount store and when we returned via cab the same was repeated. We then enjoyed the free shuttle to BB&B. The student volunteers were very helpful as were the Hudson movers that were very happy to lend a hand.</p>
<p>The move-in was unbelievably smooth. From the time we arrive with 2 car loads of stuff for my daughter, we were met by a very attentive, organized staff of students who had her stuff up in her room in less than 15 minutes. It was amazing. A very impressive start… whoever came up with this program is a genius!</p>
<p>What did I say about being discrete…</p>
<p>^ My two friends were the coordinators for NSOP this year, so I’ll pass your comments along!</p>
<p>Move in was very well organized. I could not picture how we were going to get all that stuff
from the hotel to the dorm room, but it worked. Now if I could just have some communication from my son, I would be a happy mom. Everybody ok up there?</p>
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<p>Don’t be a helicopter parent. If he calls, he calls. If he doesn’t, be happy he is moving into adulthood and be thankful for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.</p>
<p>I understand that “helicopter parenting” is unwelcome, but college freshmen need to understand that their parents would like to know that they are ok & need some communication on a regular (which is not to say daily) basis. With today’s electronic communication, it’s not hard to send a text or email & it would be most reassuring to the parents. Even back in the Stone Age when I went to college, most people called home at least once a week (on the 1 phone on the hall in the dorm) just to check in & say hello. IMHO, to think that we’re going to drop an 18 year old off at college & not hear from him or her until Thanksgiving (unless he or she needs money) is pretty unreasonable & unrealistic.</p>
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<p>You’ve just admitted that it MAY BE unreasonable to expect that communication. You just admitted that only “most” of your classmates ever called home. Furthermore, I’m willing to bet that “most” calling home every week is a bit of an exaggeration.</p>
<p>I think it’s important to think about 2 things here:
- How were you parented and how did you feel about talking to your parents on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?
- How did you parent your own children and how do you think THEY feel about talking on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?</p>
<p>I am certainly not trying to insult anyone’s parenting skills, just simply pointing out that you most likely did not parent your children in the same way you were (general anecdotal statement about baby boomers…what you 2 most likely are) and that generally accepted communication quantity/quality has changed over the past half-century. **Parenting only comes into question because different people place different value on communication, be it very open or very closed.<a href=“Bolded%20so%20no%20one%20thinks%20I’m%20insinuating%20bad%20parentage”>/b</a></p>
<p>I understand where you are coming from but you have to realize that the exact thing you pointed out, the ease in communication nowadays, has a very high potential to be abused in this situation. My advice: send your child an email every 2 weeks or so detailing any big happenings at home. At the very least you’ll probably get an email response (if a text is good enough for you then an email should be great) and if you’re lucky you might get a call!</p>
<p>speaking as a new freshman: Do you want your kids to talk to you because they want to, or because they think you’re being overly demanding but know who pays the bills? My point is to let them go at it alone for a while, and then they will come back to you when they get homesick. Or, god forbid, celebrate the fact that you raised a strong and independent child you was ready and fully prepared to go into the world alone.</p>
<p>I’m with FF on this one.</p>
<p>My dad once referred to us being in college as his final exam of parenting. </p>
<p>* Do you actually like me or has it been an act?..Did I raise you kids to be self-sufficient and mature or are you headed for a semen-coated death? <a href=“his%20very%20words%20to%20my%20sister”>/i</a>.</p>
<p>There is no freshmen-don’t-call-their-parents generalization. It’s on a case by case basis. If you’ve smothered them all their lives they may be enjoying their newfound freedom a bit. If they’re calling every morning and night they may not be adjusting too well and may not have been prepared too well for independence.</p>
<p>On my end I still talk to the parents every other day (sometimes it’s 39 second convos) and sometimes they’ll come into the city for a show or a fancy restaurant and I’ll meet the and showcase my gentrified urban knowledge. </p>
<p>Things will regulate; I wouldn’t worry.</p>