https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/education/edlife/college-shopping-student-back-to-school.html
Just read that. Lots of truisms 
Great article! I actually just confessed to a friend who asked how I was holding up that I was pretty sure I was coping by buying way too much stuff. Glad I’m not the only one.
Before I read it, I was concerned that maybe I should be stressing out because my D17 is on the other side of the country working, so we haven’t even started dorm shopping yet. After reading this, I feel better – whatever she needs will be got, and I won’t fill that void with unneeded purchases like water filters or an iron for her.
Nice, humorous article. How hard it is to let our kids go, whatever the milestone is.
These posts about dorms and packing the car are making me sad. I am really glad that at least I know what to expect this year, but there’s a selfish part of me that just wishes she would stay home and never leave.
To all you parents who are sending your kids off to college for the first time, trust me when I say that it won’t be as hard as you think, once they are actually at college. The worst part is right now. Just spend every day you can enjoying your kids. Even when they make you crazy.
The comments on the article are just silly though. Very high and mighty. How about the one where the parent is contemptuous of their kids housemate who are so “spoiled” that his parents provide him with a Large supply of toilet paper while the virtuous commenters child brought only clothes books and an American flag! There’s a reverse snobbism to these kinds of articles with most trying to outdo each other with tales of how little their clearly unspoiled child brings to campus. Um. Ok.
^^ Hence the advice with which I remind myself over and over: Do. Not. Read. Comments.
I’m taking this one step further - I’ve been doing a lot of clothes/back to school shopping with youngest child lately since D has been working or out with friends a lot. After reading this, I think I’m subconsciously rewarding youngest for not leaving me!
Comment sections are often the most entertaining part.
From what I can tell, both my wife and daughter seem to be going through a process of buying something more each day. Not big/expensive things but just some things. My guess is its part of the comfort process for both of them. If it helps, I am good with it.
Online anonymity is a blessing and a curse. @maya54 I only read comments sections of online papers if I’m in the mood for despairing for the world, or in the mood for the kind of anger that makes my stomach hurt. Otherwise? Avoid.
Haha! I did the Brita filter for D1 in freshman year. And so did another parent in the suite. Never used.
Oh my. My D is headed back for her 2nd year and this article still got me teary eyed. I was melancholy the entire fall last year and expect I will be so again.
fwiw -we did buy the featherbed topper (though exercised some restraint and did not get the $300 version) and it was worth every penny!
@wisteria100 I will but a mattress topper, but it’s not gonna be super high end or anything.
(I say that now, anyway.)
@JenJenJenJen Make sure you use the BBB 20% off coupon for that topper!
Ooooh yeah, @wisteria100 , I knew I had a pile of them shoved in a drawer for SOMEthing! 
LOL ^^^
Personally, I like the buy one small item every day or so and use up those coupons!
That’s certainly one way to go about it, @tutumom2001 ha ha! As for me, I find the big box stores pretty intimidating and would rather only go once per situation. We’ll see how that works out with dorm shopping.