<p>Sounds like we are all weathering the ups and downs of transitioning to being parents of college students really well. DS hasn’t been much for communicating, but we are falling into the pattern of a Sunday evening phone call and an occasional “business related” text. My heart was warmed this week with an e-mail from DS. He forwarded a very complimentary message from his Ancient Civilization TA with feedback on a presentation he made to class and told me he earned an A on his calculus quiz! I was walking on a cloud all day long not just because of the contents of the message, but because he shared it with me!</p>
<p>So I figured it out. I have driven to and from D’s school 6 times in 4 weeks. After a midweek computer failure (not her fault- it was catastrophic and even campus IT agreed it was not working) we had to deliver another, working computer to D yesterday. But each time we visit she seems happier and more at home. She has given up on the dining hall except for one meal a day (mostly lunch with friends from classes). She enjoys walking over to the adjacent produce/gourmet market and eating what she likes. I think D is going to be cooking more in the big kitchen as the year continues but we will see. She is much more relaxed and not doing things because it is the “right thing to do” (keeping her door open all the time, going to a meal which she does not want to eat) and doing what fits her comfort level. She has made a few friends not on her floor that are more kindred spirits.</p>
<p>She loves, loves her classes. Not hearing any complaints about work load or interest. She says she is well on her way to being “teacher’s pet” in one of her ecology classes. This teacher always asks her to do stuff (like put fox urine on peanuts as part of an experiment :eek: ) which she takes as a mark of respect. Not something I’d want to do, but there you go. She called about getting some outdoor chalk “for something she was planning”- I didn’t even ask. I think it may be one of those things I’d rather not know.</p>
<p>So overall the chickie is settling in nicely.</p>
<p>Yay yay yay!</p>
<p>Yea for happy kids Kinderny! Doesn’t it feel like a farmer’s market kind of day? Feel like I should be picking apples or looking for pumpkins or corn mazing. Just sudden fall.</p>
<p>Yea for all the great kid news.
Kinder-it chalk so it can’t be too bad! ;)</p>
<p>Happy news from my ds. He climbed the rope in rotc with no problems and did it quicker than some. He wasn’t sure he could do that! He got asked if he was a veteran the first time he wore his uniform and was humbled by the thought (dh is a veteran of several conflicts). He also got talked into participating with the band for tonights football game! So he’ll have a great time at the game and I bet he continues with band, time permitting!</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC App</p>
<p>Good to hear that, K!</p>
<p>Boychild called yesterday needing money to buy cold weather sailing gear so I took my chance and asked what was up. Everything is great and the two papers he had to write he got good comments on from the Profs. A lot of reading but he is keeping up. Last night he was going to a concert on campus (some Seattle band) and tonight a dance. </p>
<p>Amanda, it’s not very sunny here - was supposed to be but the weatherman lied! We are going to the apple farm but not to pick our own. </p>
<p>Hoping tomorrow is nicer as DH & I want to go to Saratoga Battlefield and bike ride.</p>
<p>1st box of requested items for D2:</p>
<p>One item of clothing that was forgotten
Two pairs of shoes, including exercise sneakers
Five books of vocal music for her new voice lessons
One theatre book she didn’t think she’d need but finds she now does
Irish chocolate she left in the fridge
A small pot to make soup/pasta in
A Disney World lanyard
One gameboy game
Star Wars and Lord of the Rings DVDs since H just bought them on blue-ray
Her cat
Her boyfriend</p>
<p>She still has her sense of humor, as evidenced by the last two items. The Walmart dresser is pretty much assembled, and it will fit her needs just fine. She has a few plans this weekend. That’s good enough for me.</p>
<p>Minnymom–so glad to read your wonderful post about your S’s excellent grades in college so far–and his desire to share them with mom. I was holding my breath, hoping things were getting better. What great news. My own S has had no graded work at date. His first exam (computer programming in some new language I’ve never heard of) is next week. You all may recall S2 has had his test-stress issues in the past. And, by the transitive property, so have I. 
</p>
<p>OWM–Thanks for sharing all the happiness from parents weekend. It is hard to imagine how things could be any better–so it feels (to me anyway) like Mizzou was just meant to be. </p>
<p>kinderny–fox urine!!!</p>
<p>Slithey–S2 has 2 (!) classes that start at 8 a.m. Couldn’t be helped; he had no choice. However, what a surprise! He finds he actually likes to be up early (not to be confused with liking to <em>wake-up</em> early) since he gets so much more accomplished on those two days. Gee. 
Best part for me–Mom gets no fallout from those early days as I don’t have to watch/hear him grumble around in the early a.m. This is the part I really really like about having college kids living away.</p>
<p>I am discovering other benefits to have one away in college:
- less laundry each week
- lower grocery and dining bills
- lower energy bills- DS 1 loves long, hot, daily showers
The pittance we are saving at home is going towards the huge tuition bill!</p>
<p>Has anyone bought Thanksgiving airline tickets for college student to come home? We did last week-end. Tickets in and out of LAX on Southwest at the cheapest price were gone! We routed DS through Burbank (same distance from campus) and got good times for cheapest price. Now we are thinking about Winter Break!</p>
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</p>
<p>Tina Fey says the only way she’ll travel is crated, and sedated. Maybe try it for these 2 items. :)</p>
<p>We moved our younger D in today. Her RM is moving in tomorrow - good thing because the room would be very cramped with 6 adults in there at the same time. She managed to get most of her things unpacked and into the closet…still figuring out where her shoes will go. Hit the bookstore and picked up a couple of sweatshirts and walked around the campus.</p>
<p>Since the school is only 75 minutes away, we’re going back tomorrow for the parent/family orientation. When #1D started 2 years ago, she did a week of pre-orientation adventure, plus orientation and parents’ sessions (with wine reception). #2D, going to a public in-state, has kind of gotten the short-shrift. While attending the P.O. isn’t required, I think it makes her feel better. (It also gives us a chance to bring up the things she forgot.)</p>
<p>As it is, she’s all set up. Her boyfriend is at the same school (and they’re not joined at the hip, nor are they in the same dorm) as are several kids from her HS. She is so excited about starting…it makes me happy. No need for tears - she’s on her way.
Shouldn’t she be playing with Polly Pockets in the playroom? How time flies!</p>
<p>Zee–sounds like a great drop-off. And yes, I think they should be playing with polly pockets (and thomas trains for my boys) rather than being all grown up. :)</p>
<p>I’m headed up to see DS at school tomorrow at his request. He decided he needs that bike. I’m taking up a few snacks also. Anyone have any suggestions on things to take that might be appreciated? I’ll bake cookies if I have time, but he’s not much of a sweet eater, so it’s not a deal breaker if I can’t get it done. It’s been crazy around here with the renovation and he just told me last night that Monday was good for him (which is because it’s the only day this week I’m available!)</p>
<p>He had a great time with the band last night. They have a scramble band, and basically it sounds like they run around campus before the game and goof around. They surrounded one guy and serenaded him, then swung by the chapel and played for a wedding party outside the chapel. Then they got with an alumni group and played for them. He really had fun, and will probably participate in future, but is still concerned about having time for everything.</p>
<p>VAMom, </p>
<p>I just sent my d a box of snacks on Friday. Without knowing your s, I don’t know what he likes. Maybe he’d like the same as my d? I sent her a jar of nutella, some crackers to put it on, individual vegetarian soups that can go in the microwave, plastic silverware, pretzel m&m’s (her nickname is pretzel, all of her hs friends call her that and now it’s spilled over to college), cookies, poptarts, and I think that’s all that fit. I had candy corn to send but it didn’t fit.</p>
<p>She had told me she had major exams coming up this week, so I tried to get healthy food in there in case she misses a meal while she is studying. I had also sent her some microwave popcorn, and styrofoam bowls with some mac and cheese mix in a previous box.</p>
<p>anyway, hope this helps with ideas.</p>
<p>**The next new student move-ins are University of Chicago, University of California Riverside, Irvine and San Diego move-ins on September 18th - These move-ins are today!
Move-in day is TODAY!<br>
Labor Day is past. Football season is in full bloom. Where has the summer gone? WOW, these schools on the quarter system sure seem to start late in the year. :eek:</p>
<p>[ul][<em>]Stanford University move-in on September 20th is just 2 days to go.
[</em>]The last new student move-ins are the University of Oregon and the University of Southern Oregon on September 22nd which is 4 days to go. </p>
<p>The LAST Move-in day is in 4 days. Now less than a week to go. The launching season is nearly complete.[/ul]</p>
<p>The link to the Move-in Date Thread is <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1141579-hs-class-2011-college-class-2015-move-dates-6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1141579-hs-class-2011-college-class-2015-move-dates-6.html</a></p>
<p>If you son’s or daughter’s move-in dates and schools are not listed please add them to the list. Better yet, just post them here because this countdown is almost OVER.**</p>
<p>great to hear that kinderny D is getting happier.</p>
<p>Our food bill cut in half when ShawSon left for college, minnymom. One 6’4" carnivore and his buddies (several equally tall though not as large) no longer were ransacking our kitchen (I actually wanted our house to be the place they hung out so I made weekly Costco trips to stock the house with the foods they would eat and it worked) left two parents and ShawD, a tall but very thin HS girl who ate most of her meals at her HS (half boarding school and meals for non-boarders were included in tuition.) </p>
<p>I’m not sure how a complete empty nest will affect our bills. We’re looking at downsizing (and also switching to a more energy efficient house) but also buying another house in the mountains. So, costs could go up, but ShawD’s college room, board and tuition are $20K per year less than her HS tuition.</p>
<p>My electric bill went down $50 which I attribute to AC not running 24/7 in his room, less laundry being done, fewer dishwasher runs, and his TV/PS3 not on 24/7.</p>
<p>Also, I filled up my tank when I left Maine on 9/29 and didn’t have to fill it again until last Tuesday (9/14)</p>
<p>Food bill didn’t go down as much because there was nothing to eat in the house at all by the time I got around to marketing this week so I needed everything. But I probably won’t need to go again for a few weeks. :)</p>
<p>I expect my water bill to go down a lot, too.</p>
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<p>Crackers? I thought it was just nutella and a spoon. :D</p>
<p>We saw the big roadside signs last night directing people to move-in at our local UC campus.</p>
<p>nutella and a spoon is always good… though variety is the spice of life and crackers can add to the variety. LOL</p>
<p>Pretzel sticks or rods are very nice with Nutella too ;-)</p>
<p>zeebamom, I had an “ah-ha” moment reading your post–I got to the part about six adults and thought, “zeebamom, zeebadad, roomie’s parents…who are the other two adulllll…ohhhhhh, ah ha!” DS has been eighteen for almost six months and he’s been taller than me for several years, but thinking of him as an adult feels so strange still.</p>
<p>emilybee, I’m expecting our electric bill to go down for similar reasons–no more desktop/monitors/speakers drawing power while he simultaneously has the TV/game console going. Lunchtime around here will probably be cheaper (and more nutritious) now that home-for-the-summer S and retired H aren’t encouraging each other’s fast food bad habits, too.</p>
<p>We are just about ready to be packed up Wednesday night for Thursday’s early morning departure for move-in. Today is one last mom-and-son excursion for picking up a few last items and then lunch at our favorite Thai restaurant.</p>