<p>Took today off work and spent the day running errands and helping S pack as we drop him off tomorrow. Doctor, CVS, bank, Target, grocery store (twice)…</p>
<p>I was so proud of Eggson today. There was a constant barrage of texting and phone calls from friends. He told all that today was his packing day and that he could not hang with them. Even when the doorbell rang and Eggfriend begged him to come out for a few hours, he resisted. </p>
<p>He arranged for a confab this evening, though, and plans to have everything packed before he goes to meet with a few friends. </p>
<p>I will miss these extra boys in the house. One we have known since both kids were 6 months old.</p>
<p>eggmom, oh yes, missing those other kids - the “extra children” some of us acquire over the years. We missed D’s friends terribly after she went to college, and there are two of S1’s friends we will miss just as much.</p>
<p>Good luck tomorrow.</p>
<p>ilovetoquilt, love the brownies and cold milk combination.</p>
<p>ilovetoquilt / Modadunn, when D went away three years ago, the three moms of her closest friends and I took a bottle of wine down to the riverfront and consoled each other as the sun went down. It worked pretty well. </p>
<p>rrah, the roommate sounds like a very good match. Hooray.</p>
<p>NM, cherish those hours with her.</p>
<p>missypie, totally agree; you’ve summed up the way most of us interact with other parents in the soccer/dance/drama/etc. groups. We’re all lucky if one or two stick as true friends. It’s still hard to lose those freewheeling sideline socials, though.</p>
<p>We had a mother-daughter get-together of D’s K-8 cooperative girl scout troup last week. </p>
<p>I think the moms had as much fun as the girls and many of us commented that the moms needed to do something once the girls were gone. I think I’ll need to make sure that it happens.</p>
<p>spent the day shopping for S and had to laugh at the little pile compared to my D when she left for her first year.</p>
<p>One thing I wrote about a long time back (we all have HISTORY together, do you realize!!!) is that I told D’s friends that I would send them a care package if they emailed me a hi and their campus address. If they sent me an email thank you they got a second care package. It was lots of fun for me and I actually still go to happy hour with a couple of these kids (without D even) 7 years later. It made the transition easier for me and was nice for them.</p>
<p>Went out with girlfriends tonight…so wonderful to have supportive friends! Lots of wonderful food and fabulous wine. They thought I was too down in the dumps and arranged an intervention. I love my friends! Everyone thinks I need to get a “real job” now that I am an empty nester. Ha! Interesting concept!</p>
<p>NMinn, I have a girlfriends’ weekend scheduled in October. 5 of us (2 of us are only-child empty nesters) are converging here (we’re scattered all over the country) for a long weekend of chatter and not taking care of other people. We’ll sit by the pool and drink frozen drinks. Having that on the schedule is going to do wonders for my spirits, I think.</p>
<p>oregon, I love the idea of the care packages for the friends! I’ve been stashing stuff away over the last few months to send my D (halloween room decorations and the like), but knowing me, I’ll have a surplus. :-)</p>
<p>You know, I didn’t check this board for a couple of months, but I’m checking in pretty often – even if I don’t post – now that the time is getting close. It’s circling the wagons for me.</p>
<p>We pack up the car soon. I think Son will take his meds…just having a few days without because I think he likes how he feels not taking them…wears the rest of the world out, but he thinks it’s cool.</p>
<p>I’m at peace with Son’s schedule…Choir, voice, swimming, frosh seminar and only 3 academic classes. Maybe he’ll do fine with only three real classes.</p>
<p>missypie - I’ll be thinking of you today, especially at move-in in the midst of the Texas heat. good luck and take plenty of tissues - I hear this can be an emotional event ;)</p>
<p>Based on some great feedback on this board on the vacuum space bags I bought some last night to help with D and S packing. Now of course I have some questions that maybe people on this board can help with. I used a jumbo back to put all of D bedding, towels, and sleeping bag in. It all fit with room to spare. I was just really trying it out as D still has 2 weeks. I used the vacuum to see what it would go down to and wow what a space saver!! Thanks all. Can I leave it that way for the 2 weeks or should I “re-inflate” it until closer to time to pack the car? Will things be wrinkled (more worried about the comforter than anything else? Not sure that I folded it great to put it in – my arms aren’t long enough. She is now thinking that that may be a good way to pack some of her clothes. Thoughts? Any information on what you may have experienced with these please let me know. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Best wishes to those launching! It’s so bittersweet.</p>
<p>Hope you will do better than I and not be a crying mess! 7 year old daughter and I both were not taking it well!! At least dad held it together, and son!!</p>
<p>Anyone whose had departure have a thought on calling? I’m trying to avoid texting/calling but broke down last night. I think it’s better for son if I don’t bother him (especially when I say, “we miss you!” etc.). </p>
<p>I think son needs space from over-involved mom.</p>
<p>So sad to go in basement and see the place where he and his friends hung out for entire weekends, for years. </p>
<p>I’m also going to miss the friends. There’s one I will probably run into over the next few days – hope I can hold it together & not cry on sight!!! (embarassing for 18 yo guy, I’m sure!)</p>
<p>YIKES! We leave for Saint Louis tomorrow! Tonight my son and I are playing Scrabble on his iPhone. (It’s his turn right now). I’m going to miss him so much.</p>
<p>Hoping to hear the advice on the space bags. Does it somehow weigh less when you put things in those for us folks flying? :)</p>
<p>Missypie… I was thinking of you today because even up north it was a scorcher today. Friends of our brought their son here from Fla to go to school, they thought it was down right balmy here! Go figure. </p>
<p>Said good bye to a few of S’s friends tonight since they are leaving over the weekend. The time has come, this is certain. And all I have done is the bedding, advil and tylenol, chapstick (he’s a junkie for the stuff and walgreens had 3packs on sale!) and umm… I think that’s it. I did find the costco that is close to campus and I guess we’ll also have to do the BBB thing for garbage can, laundry basket (do they use those pop up things or a real laundry basket?) lamp, fan (which I might have costco ship). Starting to feel a little overwhelmed and have a feeling H will not be understanding in the least. The upside is that the day after we drop S off is my birthday so he HAS to be nice, yes?</p>
<p>We leave on Thursday. I am a wreck. S is super excited BUT has done nothing to pack. Just have to let go…it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t pack something. My office move postponed until Tue or Wed… Just one big moving week!</p>
<p>Missypie, my S has same type of schedule w/ lots of music theory, performance, etc and two academics. OH to be a college student again! :)</p>
<p>ahhhh–I did get a reading light and some sleeping pants and the very last 2.5 frig left in the Best Buy store. Guy said he had 15 in the warehouse and now are all gone but I spyed one up on the top of the pile in the washer section. S–he did get his underwear so is good to go. I brought home a pop up which he declared TOO whatever and a laundry basket that is upright from the storable store which is OK. He also hated the wastebasket I bought so it goes back. and on it goes.</p>
<p>we leave in the morning…waiting for my d to return home. she called wanting to stay out later and I put my foot down since she still needs to finish packing, and reserve energy for the new beginning tomorrow.</p>
<p>my d had her biopsy this morning and being a resilient 18 yr old she has been out since noon, can’t say good bye to friends. I feel so protective of her today, just want her back home. want to see she’s actually okay. oh yes, and she also has to complete packing, can you believe. felt bad she had doc appts and tests this week that I understand she wants to milk the last drops out of life at home. </p>
<p>my older s (rising sophomore) has been a super brother helping my d with lots of organizing. grateful for that. I feel like I’m floating thru this time.</p>
<p>missy–hope your drop off goes well. </p>
<p>good luck to all in these last few days of still being home together.</p>
<p>missypie – I’m new to this thread, but I had to jump in to let you know: You’re not the only just-finished dancemom; my D just completed her 14th year (Company and competition). I’m going to miss the crazy dance world something awful. Once we get home from dropping her at college, I’m pondering a beginning ballet class just to stay plugged in.</p>
She is now thinking that that may be a good way to pack some of her clothes. Thoughts? Any information on what you may have experienced with these please let me know. Thanks!!!</p>