<p>proudmom ~ beautiful post. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end…”</p>
<p>Proudmom- very beautiful post.</p>
<p>We dropped off D1 with no issues. Only 4 field hockey players were able to help, since the rest of the team was stuck in Miami after a tournament. The 4 girls who helped were great. All of the girls on the team, and their parents seem really nice. We are so glad that she was able to move in when there were only 5 other people moving in, since the school is building a new athletic facility next to the dorm, and parking and traffic is quite tricky. </p>
<p>D1 was also able to get the pick of the beds, which is key. I think that 80% of the freshman are in triples this year. Her dorm has larger rooms that were meant to be triples, and the furniture is lofted, with the desk underneath, so there is plenty of space. I think D1 hit her head about 4 times on the bed frame when she would get up from under the desk. She was surprised that she will not be able to sit upright when on her bed, and she is not tall at all. </p>
<p>We took 2 cars, and H left after lunch. She wanted me to stay to help her organize her desk and the rest of her room. When it was finally time to leave, she walked me to the door, and I noticed a tear in her eye, which of course set me off. We finally realized that she is going to be fine and said our goodbyes. Luckily, one of the other families of a girl on the team were also leaving at the same time. She went to spend time with the girl before they had fielf hockey practice.</p>
<p>I left with a list of things to bring back on Sunday when we return for orientation.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone else who is moving in soon.</p>
<p>Well, I was all set to write up a quick summary of d’s easy breezy move-in and then got a call today indicating the roller coaster is back at the bottom of a hill. Sigh. But let’s just recap that smoothy groovy move instead, shall we?</p>
<p>Okay, okay, we live 20 minutes from driveway to dorm, so it would be a bad sign if things hadn’t gone well, eh? D and I are both totally disorganized and she was packing at midnight the night before (move-in was Thur 18th). H took younger kids to school and I was supposed to leave early with d to beat dorm traffic. We left late. But it didn’t matter! No traffic, plenty of parking. </p>
<p>Oh, this is funny – dog got out while we were moving a big bin and jumped in the car. Would not budge! Did not want d to leave without her! (I understand). We finally had to man-handle the 70 pound German Shepherd back into the house. Phew.</p>
<p>So, at dorm, with parking. D’s boyfriend (also a student at U) and best friend (off to St. Olaf soon) came to help, along with H. Two trips and not even enough stuff that everyone had to carry things. D did most of the unpacking/bed-making/putting up, with some assistance from me. Made a list of what we forgot. </p>
<p>Roommate came just as we were finishing – seems very nice. Didn’t need any help. I said “We have to blah blah blah missing furniture blah blah see the RA.” Husband says (rightfully) “WE don’t have to see the RA. Ahem.” Hey, I could have been much worse!</p>
<p>Took the kids out for pizza, joined by boyfriend’s mom, ready for his move-in at noon. Everyone laughed at “Go the f*** to college!” story from cc (have repeated to several friends – please, make the video!) Dropped kids off at boyfriend’s dorm, where they apparently carried 7000 pounds of Dungeons and Dragons books to his room. I went to Target to pick up missing stuff [NOTE: Don’t wear red polo shirt to Target on local U move-in day! - “Rugs? Umm, I think they’re over there…”]</p>
<p>Brought stuff back to D’s dorm, where she and friends moved it up. Went to dorm parent meeting. Felt lonely and read cc, wished you guys were there.</p>
<p>Met with H and the younger kids to see D’s performance in the local Fringe Festival – show was better than I expected. Felt weird just leaving her there. She was getting ready to head off for dinner in the dining hall with St Olaf bound best friend who she is going to miss terribly. Came home and had a dream last night that she was back in the morning telling us she missed us!</p>
<p>See, now I’ve forgotten all about today’s phone call and am back in time where D was mildly enthusiastic and looking forward to “launch.” </p>
<p>Believe it or not, I caught up entirely with the thread! Been great to have all this company through the slog.</p>
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<p>LOL! Now that’s a piece of move-in advice that I’ve never read on CC before. :)</p>
<p>I was soo cool, just about to post that here I am, 2 days after leaving S2 on campus, and I was feeling much lighter/springier than before. Then I read ProudMomofS’s beautiful post of lasts (and hoped for firsts) and I lost it. Thanks for writing this.</p>
<p>And momjr, thanks for writing this:
[quote]
Be thankful that your children are mature and healthy enough to take this step.[\quote] Not all kids are able to make this leap easily (or at all). Each step in the journey is also a little risky. I guess I hope for the courage to be there for our kids whether it’s easy or not-so-easy. There are moms here with older kids who have had their trials–and I admire your good spirits and… courage!</p>
<p>missypie–I join you in your (Don’t panic) mantra. </p>
<p>I got one text yesterday (we are using Skype IM) since I am always online and S2 sounded busy and rushing to meet… friends. Ahhhh! Music to this mom’s ears!</p>
<p>I love all the move in stories! I think the last person to move their kids in is going to have a big advantage, they’ll have all these extra hints (don’t pack a red polo, bring a hand truck, etc.) - AND a really packed vehicle with all the must have items!</p>
<p>As far as proof of insurance, we had to make a claim a couple of years ago when our vehicle was broken in. For proof we were able to find most of the receipts on-line from Amazon, New Egg or Costco. I didn’t realize until then how smart it had been to shop at those places.</p>
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<p>You know it, sister!! Southern Oregon will be amazed at how well-equipped DS is when we roll into town. I keep a tab open to my “college stuff” Google spreadsheet while I browse CC, just so I can add items to the list on the fly. And yes, “hand truck” got added the other day, in fact.</p>
<p>ok/ Hoping I don’t have to ask my IT nerd H. How do I get cc to send stuff to my droid? Finally got a smart phone. Feel like a ludite. I actually wanted a BB but Verizon had a 2 for 1 for droid and S wanted a droid which is what I ended up with. I have to travel Thur for work I can’t wait to scan my phone for my boarding pass. :)</p>
<p>Mamom- I can’t figure out how to quote but I can tell you how to get CC on your phone. Go to market(the little green Droid guy icon) in the upper right and corner type college confidential in the search (by the magifying glass) - Select it from the results and click the install button. After you install,you can find it by opening your appps (probably looks like a button with a row of lines in the bottom of your main screen)</p>
<p>My Toshiba Thrive tablet arrived today and I had some time to play. I even learned how to video chat with Google and my son was kind enough to be patient and practice it with me. We also moved a bunch of things to the final staging area and added a few items to “the list”. Scissors anyone? I also realized I have a serious office supply addiction and have sworn off post its and highlighters for a while…lol</p>
<p>I’ve been following so many of your stories through the past year, but wanted to add my name to the list of moms about to launch a child. My D1 will be starting at Olin College of Engineering next Saturday, August 27, and I’m having a hard time imagining the house without her.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the tips and launch stories (what a great word: LAUNCH - who came up with that?). It gives me hope that I’ll somehow make it through the next couple of weeks. I’ve planned a party for the day after the launch for a bunch of my mom friends - so that we’ll all have something to do and look forward to!</p>
<p>MarthaW, another participant on this thread, FlMathMom is on her way now to Olin with her son. Maybe you two will meet.</p>
<p>What is the trick with hanging clothes? Did someone wrap them all in a sheet?</p>
<p>ShawD’s spirits are up again – she and ShawWife went shopping and she worked with her cousin on sorting clothes that stay and clothes that go. Yesterday, they talked about ways to organize her school work. App for Android or Blackberry, a sorting app for gmail called Hazel, talking to the learning center/study skills center folks when she gets up there. </p>
<p>momofzach, I’m sure you are all over this. ShawSon strongly remembers a high-end stapler. He says that kids forget staplers and they always have to staple papers or lab reports or problem sets before handing them in and run around the dorm trying to borrow one at 9 AM.</p>
<p>We have additional complexities – getting a new phone since she’ll be in a new country and organizing health insurance. I asked her to get her prescriptions refilled before we leave.</p>
<p>Shawbridge- We have a very large suitcase that we put all of 1’s hanging clothes into yesterday when we moved her in. We put the clothes on the hangars first, and when we unpacked, we just hun gthem in the very tiny closet. We brought the empty suitcase home with us.</p>
<p>I have heard of people on CC that use a bed sheet, but since we had the suitcase, I thought it would be easier to move than to carry the sheet.</p>
<p>D1 let me take photos of her during move in day, and I posted them on FB for my friends and family to see. All of the comments were about how happy and confident she looked. When I was leaving her, I reminded her that when we first visited the college in her junior year in HS, she said that she wanted to apply before we even got out of the car. She is in her happy place. I hope she continues to thrive.</p>
<p>Hi all,
Got to VA late last night, very rough rainy drive for 3 hours. People were pulling on the side of the road. We drove at 30mph for what seemed a long time, and finally reached beautiful C’ville.
Today is move-in.S1 is so very happy to be back,it warms your heart.:)</p>
<p>Good luck to all today’s launchers.</p>
<p>Cheers 
</p>
<p>MarthaW-On our way to Olin. Currently in Richmond VA arriving in Boston Wednesday. Will see you saturday.</p>
<p>MarthaW: Welcome! We’re glad you’re done lurking! </p>
<p>momofzach: I have the office supply addiction, too! In fact, S1 said he is known for being the one in his dorm with the stapler, 3 hole punch, binder clips, etc. When S2 protested about buying and taking all the office supplies on the list, S1 told him “You’ll be glad it’s there when you need it. And if you don’t need it, someone else will.”</p>
<p>2education: Glad you made it safely to VA! Enjoy your day with S1.</p>
<p>Strawbridge: We used plastic garbage bags for things on hangers. Just cut a small hole in the middle of the bottom of the bag and slid the hangers in so that the end fit through the hole in the bag. Sealed up the open end.</p>
<p>snoozn: Loved the red polo shirt story!</p>
<p>fogfog: I had been wondering that about the insurance, too. I’ve made a file of the receipts for new purchases, but now will have to go back and see if I can find some of the receipts for the more valuable older things. (including ipod, phone, sports equipment – tennis racquets, soccer shoes…) Another thing to put on my list of things to do.</p>
<p>Anyone else feel as if they’ve completely ignored their younger S/D? S3 will head off to the first day of school on Weds while we are away launching S2. No school supplies, no new shoes, no new clothing. He’ll be fine, but he’s really taken a back seat. Of course, I’ve been teasing him that I’ll have LOTS more time to follow his every move when S1 and S2 are off to college.</p>
<p>Trick re bedsheet and clothes- the clothes on hangers are stacked on a flat bed sheet with the hangers sticking out of the top of the sheet. One side of the sheet is picked up and wrapped tightly over the opposite side of the clothes and tucked under. The other side of the sheet is tucked tightly under it opposite side of clothes. Kinda like swaddling a baby, with the hook part of the hanger above the sheet for a holding place.</p>
<p>Glad to see the new poster, MartahW, and return of Ren Mom. </p>
<p>Snoozn- I wish you were going to be there with us- sorry the launch is not going that smoothly. </p>
<p>D is sooo not fussed over this- and I can’t quite figure out why. Maybe she is just so grateful not to be going back to that high school.*</p>
<ul>
<li>standard addendum here. 
Still “fighting” with their PR guy to get us off their electronic weekly newsletter. Alumni stuff is fine- but the rest I can do without.</li>
</ul>
<p>Oh my Kinder, do we still hate your school?</p>
<p>D is in the wilderness somewhere in MD with her Pre-O group and no phone. I strip her bed and clear out the post-packing debris today. </p>
<p>ohiomom - yes, younger bro has gotten too little attention recently. He seems fine with it and we joke that he will get too much over the next four years. Today is his first high school athletic event. Today I transition from the mom of a senior swimmer to the mom of a frosh runner. All is as it should be, but I miss D.</p>
<p>Welcome and welcome back to our fellow parents. </p>
<p>Keep the move-in stories coming!</p>