<p>Thanks! You guys are great! I don’t mean to make S1 sound immature or completely dependent on his parents. It’s always just take a lot of pushing and shoving to get him out of his comfort zone. He’s a great guy with a huge heart. </p>
<p>I’m still sitting on the fence. Nodding and agreeing with kathiep that I would probably take over instinctively and lead the way for him if I went. But also knowing that he has a lot riding on this trip and agreeing with Emmybet and momofboston that it might not be best to send him alone on something where his state of mind or stress level could impact his future. In the end, I think I’ll do what SlithyT suggest – just ask him straight up. If he want me to go, I’ll do it for this one interview…look at it as a training experience (with a little mini-vacation for me!). And yes, AmandaK…close enough to Miami for it to be a beach vacation!! He’d be at the interview day, I’d be at the beach. That sounds fair.</p>
<p>I’m hoping he’ll say he’s got it and, with some careful planning, will pull it off on his own. But if he wants company and if it will allow him to go into an interview less stressed, I’ll do it for him.</p>
<p>Blue and Amanda – Yes, I know I shouldn’t beat my self up over his lack of travel experience. Maybe we all have some things we wish we’d done differently or better. He’s turned out pretty well – in spite of it all!</p>
<p>Absolutely do what you think is best! Please take this with the gentle spirt in which it in intended…if your son does ask you to go along for company it may be a good idea that you suggest he not say anything about it to the university he’s interviewing with and/or the interviewers. You know this is simply to help him for travel purposes. The information could be taken out of context and possibly held against him in the evaluation process if they feel he is not completely independent. That would be an unfair assessment. I would never suggest someone lie, and I am a stickler about lying by omission, however somethings are just not for sharing, kwim?</p>
<p>Again, I just wouldn’t want this information used against him in an unfair way…not making any judgements whatsoever!!</p>
<p>BI: Absolutely understand and agree with what you’re saying! I took a few minutes this morning to read a little of a message board on Student Doctor Network and found some threads regarding parents traveling with their sons/daughters. I don’t like to frequent that site as it seems to be a bunch of stressed out pre-meds and they tend to add to their own anxiety. My son says that you have to read for the information you need and get out. Anyway, I was shocked (!!!) to read of parents not only accompanying their students for travel purposes but also showing up at the interview WITH THEM. Whoa! Talk about killing their chances, I would think. Anyway, plenty there said that they viewed travel assistance/company to be okay, but to go to the interview alone. Gosh yes! </p>
<p>Well, we’ll see what S1 feels is best regarding the travel. The funny thing is, in the same situation, S2 would be – are you crazy? There’s no way you’re going with me. Totally different kids. And from the same gene pool – makes you wonder sometimes.</p>
<p>Now what would be better than traveling to the interview with his mom? Traveling to the interview with his mom and 15 or so of her CC friends!!!</p>
<p>My son also has struggled with anxiety from time to time but I may be confusing your son with your daughter?</p>
<p>Well anyway, I think either way is fine. No one knows him like you do, right. I think I know enough about my boy to know when it’s time to push the issue and when it isn’t.</p>
<p>It sounds like you two are very close and can have an honest discussion about this. That is what I would do. </p>
<p>I see all our friend’s here are itching to take this trip with you-I don’t fly so I will have to catch you guys somewhere else. :)</p>
<p>Kinderny - Almost cross-posted with you! And what I was going to say is weren’t we meeting at your house?
Pepper - That’s fine, I thought we were going to drive anyways - if I can’t afford to ds to fly home for Thanksgiving (making him take a bus!), there’s no way I would be able to fly to Fl.
Am I the only who didn’t see Road Trip (w/ Raven Symone) until recently? Now that was exactly what I was envisioning - including the sky diving - and the golf cart.</p>
<p>Ohiomom - go with your gut and your son’s! Traveling these days is so stressful and for a kiddo not used to the security, any possible re-routings due to weather, etc., could add too much angst to an already fretful situation. My DS has had anxiety issues for years; we have traveled by air with him extensively but he is still, as a freshman, not ready to fly on his own. I pass no judgment on this. I simply go with his flow. That said, we have for the past several years made him carry his own tickets, deal with security on his own, so he could feel more experienced and comfortable. He is 2,000 miles away; his first trip home will be for December break and I am flying to get him. My hope is that this will be the only time I need to do that, but if not, that’s ok too. I am psyched that he thriving 2,000 miles away from home considering many sad memories from his early years. Kids are ready to do things at different rates; I sometimes wish I had an outgoing, “easy” kiddo, but I’m really proud of my introvert who will…as he has all his life…do things in his own time.</p>
<p>Siemon, I’m glad to hear that your son is thriving! </p>
<p>I agree that as parents we know our own kids best, and need to do what works for them. My friends thought my H and I were nuts to drive D1 back to school after our long drive to Boston to drop off D1. She could have managed on her own and taken the train, but she really appreciated that we drove her. We enjoyed spending the time with her and sharing her last college drop off.</p>
<p>Mnmom: I’m glad to hear that things are going well for your D at my alma mater!</p>
<p>ohiomom24–It is very thoughtful for you to consider this question of whether to accompany your S. Every individual is different, right? Seems to me there is no real right or wrong answer here. So feel good, no matter which decision you and S end up making. And hey–congrats on his interview! </p>
<p>As for the call for a road trip, I get it. I’m the one, after all, who daydreamed of my S2 attending colleges in New Orleans or Coral Gables and us spending Parents weekends in cool places.</p>
<p>Slitheytove–I was delirious upon moving into our new house with the huge mahogany walk in closets, so I bought up BBB for those skinny black velvety hangers. In a fit of happiness, I even color coded my wardrobe! (Must tell you all–I am not the organized type, so this was mega.) I still love the look of the hangers, but I’ll admit: the grippiness sort of bugs me as it makes it a little harder to take things off the hangers. No slip means no slipping easily off when I need something. But otherwise, cool. :)</p>
<p>Much as I love you all, the idea of heading somewhere warmer than it has been here the last few days fills me with horror. I will pretend to be a good mother and hang here with S HS’14, attend his xc meet on Saturday, drive him to the debate tournament on Sunday, etc. It is a good thing that D left for college (her sports and extra-curriculars used to dominate the weekends) so that I have time for this. It’s probably good that his is ramping up as hers has disappeared, so that I don’t get too maudlin.</p>
<p>fogfog - my first response when her hand is on the door and she’s like “well this is really goodbye” was - wait, didn’t she JUST get her keys and what the parents disappear??? they don’t have to set up the room and lug everything upstairs? And you KNOW that girl would have suitcases just devoted to shoes or whatnot…I thought it was ridiculous, but I just wish I had seen it while we were on our college road trip last summer. And I love that they had pics at Pitt (although it could’ve been a movie set for all I know)</p>
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