<p>Good luck to the upcoming departers! I check back because I keep thinking of everyone who is going thru what we just did almost 2 weeks ago. </p>
<p>cpelz–I am doing SO much better since I’ve seen son on Skype a few times. I do wonder if he doesn’t have as much socialization living in a 4 person suite than he would in a hall (in fact, I’m almost sure of it). But, he’s a pretty social person…he’s already met people thru his honors prgm activities & I think he’ll be okay. I’m hoping that the suite style will pay off in the long run because maybe he’ll get more studying done. :-)</p>
<p>Hope everyone who hasn’t said goodbye yet is enjoying these last few days/weeks! </p>
<p>Btw, can relate to the “Target therapy.” Before son left, I went to Target multiple times, buying him stuff that I don’t really think he’ll need, but seemed like a good idea (e.g. saline to clean a cut–we never even used that at home, just soap & water). Kind of gives you the feeling you are providing/caring for them w/these little items (illusory, but still).</p>
<p>All the posts on the last few days have been very comforting.</p>
<p>My S leaves for school Saturday morning (no, he has not started packing yet) and I have been worried about my DW and how she will handle this.</p>
<p>Based on ideas we have gotten here, her and my D have been busy making a scrapbook, etc. for my S. We have all discussed that the move-in day is about my S and we are all there to support him.</p>
<p>Have done the Bed Bath and Beyond thing (and had everything shipped directly to the school), been to Target and Sam’s Club several times, taken care of doctor’s and dentists visits (and a haircut), and ordered more contact lenses.</p>
<p>Wharever we forgot, we forgot. He has a Rite Aid Pharmacy a 10 minute walk from campus and the school runs shuttles to Walmart (2 miles away) the first week.</p>
<p>We are as ready as we can be (once my S actually packs). Now if my DW can just hold it together on Saturday…</p>
<p>If you’ve been reading these last few pages, you know that you ought to be equally concerned about your own tear ducts. Mom’s have had a lot of time getting used to this, if it didn’t begin when the acceptances came, it was purely on point during graduation ceremonies. We do the planning and a lot of the buying and so, it’s a constant refrain in our brain. Dad’s, on the other hand, think tough man thoughts and are usually smacked upside the head when the emotions finally register.</p>
<p>Apparently H had a little talk with S about “man stuff” during their road trip. I didn’t get any details, but I know there was some talk about the perils of drinking too much and keeping your priorities your priorities (including how time is spent with the ladies). While I didn’t get much in the way of specifics and details, I feel semi-confident that son understands our expectations. But H did mention that S said (kind of ticked actually) that for how much “we,” as in parents, give the lectures and tell the guys to respect the women, he sees a lot more women throwing themselves at the guys vs guys letching on the women and some don’t seem to take the gentle brush-off as answer. And then when guys are more pointed, the girls call them jerks or worse. Just passing it on.</p>
<p>My Son has all the Calvin & Hobbs books, too. I’m pretty sure they all stayed at home (there are a zillion books still in his room, so I’m not sure.)</p>
<p>As for chocolate - I was so craving Junior Mints last night, but for some reason, our local CVS has stopped carrying them, so I was saved from myself.</p>
<p>I’m also not a fan of middle school - I have a rising 8th grader then we’re outa there. High school has an A Day/B Day blocked schedule, so they only have 4 classes a day. Middle school still has eight. I’ve given pep talks to my own kids and others who are heavily involved in ECs about how HS will be so much better and that they just need to get through 8th grade. Wondering how D will get through Algebra - Son had to have a tutor, first D sailed through…who knows about this one? Volleyball tryouts are the first day of school…hoping for the B team.</p>
<p>Our Calvin & Hobbes collection is staying at home, but I gave D her own copy of the original book to take with her to college. It will be interesting to see what other books she chooses to take with her. Books are a big part of our lives.</p>
<p>I’m hoping we can pin her down for an evening to have a last family meal and time. So many friends are leaving and have left, so every night is another chance to spend one last time with …</p>
<p>Here’s what a pushover I am: we took an enormous box to mail yesterday, and S2 REALLY wanted it to arrive while we’re there, because he “needs a woman’s touch for decorating.” He’s said that a couple of times, when I suggested sending posters etc. separately. This is NOT something he would normally have ever said out loud, and I crumbled. Spent twice as much on shipping, nearly defeating the purpose of not taking everything in suitcases and paying the airline fee… Sent the damn, now gold-plated box. Then I was informed that DH’s and my carry-ons will include either a stick bag (drumsticks), cymbal case or bass. I will take the stick bag…</p>
<p>At D1’s college, far from home, kids could store stuff in the so-called “trunk room” of the dorms. She learned every spring to gather extra boxes for storage, as things did multipy. We did buy some plastic storage bins (the kind with flip open lids, so they didn’t come off or get lost), and those were useful. When we moved her home this spring, she sold some of her things, but also gave away some stuff – desk chair, fan, etc. – to her church for immigrant families they sponsor.</p>
<p>I understand at D2’s school, a number of kids share rent on storage lockers, but I don’t know what the on-campus facilities are like. We definitely do not plan to fly everything home, especially as we are going to buy some items for her dorm there.</p>
<p>Just need to get this off my chest. My d is on her way to UCB today to start band; move in day is Sat. for her so we’ll be driving up and moving her in while she’s away with the band, then see her briefly on Sun and go home. I am putting my d who hates flying on a short plane flight today which will not be easy for either of us even though I’ll see her in a few days. 7:30 this am a phone all; her flight is cancelled and they wanted to put her on a flight 2 hrs earlier----no can do! Anyway, I wound up switching to LAX for a better time but we just didn’t need this today. Ok, I feel better! Thanx for “listening”</p>
<p>We have had a happy, traumatic week.
H, I , S2 and S3 all drove to DC last week to have some special family time together. S1 and DIL llive in DC, where S3 will be going to college. unfortunately, S1 had to go out of town on an unexpected business trip but I enjoyed time with my DIL just the same–she is a sweetie.</p>
<p>S3 moved into his dorm on Saturday. The move was a breeze–for me! S2, S3 and H did all the carrying while DIL and I did the room inventory and decided where furniture should be arranged. The guys moved the furniture, and S3 was all moved in less than an hour later. His stuff was very organized and he’s a minimal needs kid, as long as the needs don’t relate to soccer gear.</p>
<p>S3 took the bed by the window but the way he arranged the furniture left roomie a bit more space as a trade-off. Roomie was not coming until Sunday and S3 did not want the room disorganized. He sent roomie pictures of the set-up to get his ok.</p>
<p>We did a final grocery run and took son to lunch–he couldn’t wait to get back to help others move in. He made a lot of friends that day! He shoved us off campus at 1:30, with us to bring bagels for breakfast on Sunday to meet roomie and his family.</p>
<p>Roomie arrived Sunday around 9, he seems like a great kid and his family too. The boys had a mandatory meeting at 10 for their program, so we left…</p>
<p>and drove directly to the airport to put S2 on his plane for his study abroad semester in Europe. S2 returns on Christmas day.</p>
<p>And then took our 2 day drive home. It’s much too quiet and empty around here.</p>
<p>One call from S2 to say he arrived at his dorm in the Netherlands. One text from S3 to remind me to send more contact lenses.</p>
<p>Two launched boys who are doing great, so we’re proud–but we miss them and the hordes they move with.</p>
<p>We are less than 24 hours now til S leaves. (We go next week after his pre-orient. camping). S is finaallllyyy packing, I shipped three big, heavy boxes yesterday to our hotel ( fedex ground - $50 which I didn’t think was bad - not quite gold-plated SJTH!), and I’m going on a few hours of sleep. Thanks for the many laughs over everyone’s sleep aids (have to try that kids benadryl!) Asked S if okay to scrap the hours long cooking of last dinner (chicken and sausage jambalaya) and though I feel a bit guilty, he said fine. Considering he has spent a total of maybe five hours with us the last two weeks I don’t think he can complain! Inside I feel angry with him for being so absent, but intellectually I know it’s his subconscious way of easing the separation. Easier to fixate on GF leaving and that sadness, then the hugeness of moving across the country away from family.</p>
<p>Calvin and Hobbes discussions gave me an idea - instead of buying a gift to leave in his room, I’m going to sneak in an old copy of Tintin (his all time fave) under his pillow - for those times he has to revert. </p>
<p>I’m permanently on this thread these days - you all don’t know what a HUGE comfort and aid you all are to me:) Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Ditto here - D is taking a small fraction of her books. I was actually surprised that she did not include any C&H in her pile for school. She did not forget her PostSecret books, however ;)</p>
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<p>I would have driven to the next town for the Junior Mints! Absolutely my favorite chocolate treat especially when I am anxious or sad. And I could eat an entire case right about now. It’s our last day at home, there is still a lot to pack and D woke up with a stomach ache, no doubt due to the anxiety she has kept buried until now. Outwardly I am comforting her; inwardly, I am saying “aauugh! how the $%#* will we get all this stuff packed, let alone into the car by tomorrow morning?!”</p>
<p>We leave tomorrow morning, early. Right now S2 is reading a book. He has not started to even think about packing. In his mind, packing should take about 20 minutes so it is still too early to start. I told him I do want him to put his suitcase in the car tonight. I assume he needs to at least do some laundry first, but I will just leave him to decide. S1 used the same process earlier this summer for his six months abroad. He packed the morning of his trip and says he didn’t forget anything he wishes he had except his Lonely Planet book. Both boys are complete minimalists.</p>
<p>If boys are minimalists, girls are maximalists. My D is also already gone to an Orientation trip and we are following with “stuff”. I was reorganizing some of what she left for transport which couldn’t be put in the car because it had to go in for service today. How many shoes does a girl need? Will she ever wear these? But I guess it is part of separation that I now know better than to edit for her? And it will be her problem to decide how to store or get them home again…</p>
<p>Very quiet here. I am enjoying everyone’s tales of the process we are all in together. Junior mints don’t do it for me; semi-sweet chocolate chips do and they are never not in supply fortunately.</p>
<p>LOL, I was officially looking for the small size, but had already told myself that if they had the “movie theatre” size I would buy that. I was going to settle for York Peppermint Patties but just as I picked them up, the only employee walked away from the checkout station. I figured that all of that was a way of saying “no you don’t need to consume thousands of calories!” so I left empty-handed. Actually, summer is pretty good for breaking my commute-home candy addiction, because almost nothing can take the heat.</p>
<p>Big hugs to everyone who is almost ready to leave!</p>
<p>Last night we were looking at Facebook pictures of a friend’s son’s dorm room. While I was personally appalled that the closets in the otherwise nice dorm room don’t have doors, it was funny to see the *contents *of the closets…each boy had only 6-7 things hanging up.</p>
<p>yesterday discovered bittersweet cocoa shop. i am now an addict.</p>
<p>d is almost packed. she has clothes all over her roon, but of course has nothing to wear. my H will take two pairs of pants and three shirts for movein. There isn’t room for him to take anything more.</p>
<p>for us, D wants to take her Harry Potter books, all hardbacks. I told her I would mail them later if she realllly wants them. If she wants them, I will send her a new paperback set. I have talked her out of many things.</p>
<p>I am almost finished with her quilt- first time making a BIG one. Its all her favorite colors. i bought her material with butterflies to make a pillow case. As a surpise. She had no idea. </p>
<p>So it was a wonderful surpirse when she asked to go to party store to get some pretty butterflies for the walls!! We were on the same wavelength. made me happy</p>
<p>it came in a smaller cup than I expected. But OMG is all I can say. Just picked up D from dentist. Off to phone store. Dropping her and DH to deal while I “run an errand”. Errand may take longer than necessary!!</p>
<p>Visited Ds preschool yesterday. So little!! She just kept saying how she thought it was so much bigger. Its been 14 years. And she confessed she hardly ever used the bathroom there, it was an open sort of arrangement, If she did need to, she asked her BFF (they are still BFFs) to stand guard. Guess girls still do that if the bathroom isn’t ideal.</p>
<p>It was wonderful to see an old teacher who still works there and remembered my D. It was a co-op so parents and kids are still connected.</p>
Mom’s have had a lot of time getting used to this, if it didn’t begin when the acceptances came, it was purely on point during graduation ceremonies. We do the planning and a lot of the buying and so, it’s a constant refrain in our brain. Dad’s, on the other hand, think tough man thoughts and are usually smacked upside the head when the emotions finally register.</p>