<p>1) I scanned in the Health Insurance, Prescription card, eyeglass prescription, and dental insurance card and emailed them to D so she will always have them.</p>
<p>2) I just got the 5th or 6th panicked call about the schedule. I think it’s all worked out now, but shopping period has turned out to be unpredictably stressful with lots of tears.</p>
<p>3) If I’m sending baked goods for the holidays, does anyone have an opinion about when I should bake and when I should mail? I’d like them to arrive before, but close to Sept. 16, and I’d rather consolidate my baking so that I’m not baking separately for D and for us!</p>
<p>Phone call transcript:
D: Am I vaccinated for whooping cough?
Me: Yes, why?
D: My roommate has it. She coughed so hard she threw up and it turned out she was choking on her phlegm and she went downstairs and they said it is whooping cough.
Me: Yes, you are vaccinated. So they are treating her?
D: Oh good. I have to go. I’ll talk to you later…</p>
<p>ReneeD7 – Echoing hsmom2dncrs, I thought of you/your D this morning when I was e-mailed an Isaac outage update. Hope everything is ok.</p>
<p>Things forgotten (or really not even thought of) … For one reason or another, S never learned to ride a bike when everyone else was doing so. On his Europe trip this summer, one of his German “host brothers” taught him. Inspired, he wanted a bike for campus transportation, so we got him one. Now we’re discovering all sorts of bike accessories we never knew were “essential.” He had a flat yesterday, so we’ve just now added mini-pump, spare tube, and patch kit to the list. Before we’re done, the accessories are going to end up costing more than the bike. Where’s the “D’Oh smack” smilie when I need it?</p>
<p>Final walk-throughs … Between the time the band got back from Europe and their “mini tour” in Michigan, S stayed in his GF’s parents’ basement. When I went to pick him up after the mini tour, we were about to get into the car when GF suggested a final walk-through of the basement. He was pretty confident he’d gotten everything and was in the process of balking when I gave him “the look” and suggested he do it. I felt like saying, “Yo, High Density Lad,” (How’s that for a “superhero name?”) “you might find your goodbye kiss down there.”</p>
<p>S is being driven nuts by people asking why he hasn’t left for college yet. Stanford, Northwestern, and U Chicago, looks it’s down to us. :)</p>
<p>DS was missing swim trunks and needed more dress clothes for a required weekly meeting, so I had to send down more shirts and ties (never thought DS would request so many ties).</p>
<p>Coming out of hibernation to say I am enjoying all of the launch posts and learning so much from the 2016 parents (as I did on the application thread). Nothing to contribute as S is going to U Chicago and so is dead last to launch . All his friends are long gone and it’s sort of like living with a zombie, poor kid. Fortunately, he can continue to go to his summer job as much as he wishes so that means a time-filler and a wallet-filler too. His friends at various east coast unis are inviting him to visit but we don’t think that’s such a great idea so early in their first year, but neither does his older sister and I think he’ll listen to her. I’ll check back with our launch, though it will be nearly October and you all will likely have moved on to other topics!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on chairs eyemamom and mihcal1! And thanks to everyone else for additional items to bring or things to do before we leave. S and I are off to the bank today to finally open a checking account. I hope he’ll get the debit card before we leave in a week and a half. I suppose if he doesn’t he’ll just have to use the ATM card he has with his savings account to withdraw cash.</p>
<p>At first I thought a late launch would be nice because I’d have more time with my S. However, it’s beginning to wear on both of us I think. It’s time to just get on with it! I feel kind of like those of us who are left to launch are coming at the end of a party that’s almost over and most people have already left.</p>
<p>Exactly mom2jl. S had a great summer but this wait only adds to the nervousness. I’m afraid H and I are not as exciting of company as his friends.</p>
<p>S got his computer last weekend so he is having fun setting it up. We also took a trip to the bank and got him a credit card.</p>
<p>And thanks to everyone for all of the great suggestions. </p>
<p>Since S flies off a week early for his pre-orientation trip, H and I will be the responsible parties for anything left behind. Ah well, we’ll be there for parents weekend a month later, so there is very little that can’t be bought or brought in a month’s time.</p>
<p>I have to admit I’ve been lurking for a while and this is my first post. I want to thank you all for the support you don’t even realize you’ve been providing to many of us lurkers. And for the considerate tone of the board - something that is often difficult to find.</p>
<p>I launched my D at Northeastern last week. Today is the first day of classes and I’m anxiously waiting to hear how they went. She started at 8am and goes until 5:40pm today, so she has quite a full day.</p>
<p>What finally got me to post, is don’t forget the graphing calculator. I know a few kids who forgot this item.</p>
<p>I sent my son with a camp chair. They’re on sale now for usually less than $10. Comfy extra seating that folds up and has its own bag, even. Handy not only for when kids are hanging out in his room but also if he wants a chair to watch a sporting or other outdoor event. </p>
<p>I almost bought a second one, might still. Slides under the bed or in the closet/a corner when not in use. Also if it gets broken or lost, no biggie…the one I got him was $7.</p>
<p>For things like graphing calculators that most students have and that are identical, it’s important to do <em>something</em> to distinguish yours. It can involve engraving your name or a number on it, or decorating it with stickers, or even drawing on it with a sharpie.</p>
<p>(A friend’s daughter has hers decorated like a Tardis, complete with a sign that says “Bigger” on the inside of the calculator cover. She did all of it with duct tape.)</p>
<p>It’s pretty embarrassing to admit that you lost your calculator and that it has no identifying marks.</p>
<p>My D astoundingly remembered her graphing calculator on her own. We forgot a screwdriver and bought her shelves that require one. I suggested she smile prettily at someone in her dorm and maybe one would magically appear and she said she was way ahead of me. She didn’t want a flashlight (said her phone is always on her person and works just as well) and laughed when I mentioned a sewing kit long ago. All of our supply lists are a little bit different, eh? :)</p>
<p>Just saw D1 and D2. What a treat! I needed to be in Boston today anyway so stopped by with a load of forgotten stuff (calculator, rainboots, one box of DVDs forgotten when the car was loaded). Also brought D2 some of D1’s old textbooks - saves a few hundred $! D2 auditioned for an a cappela group at 3 in the morning today (auditions run every 10 minutes all night long - for two nights). She got a call back and is thrilled. Keep your fingers crossed.</p>
<p>She also sang a song at an orientation talent concert about how after one week at college she misses her dogs more than her parents. Good thing she has to see us when she comes to visit the dogs. Classes have started and D2 got the schedule she wanted (lucky registration time), D1 has to drop a class (she has too many credits right now) and is trying to decide which one.</p>
<p>At the moment everyone is pretty happy - so mom is too.</p>
<p>ohiobassmom, great idea! In fact, we already have some of those chairs, which we’ve used in the past for camping and other events. Maybe we’ll send one of those along with S, assuming we have enough room in our car, that is.</p>
<p>I hadn’t even thought about including a sewing kit, until my S asked me the other day for a lesson in sewing a button on his shorts! So now that’s one more thing to add to the list. Does anyone know where can I buy a small one? I have no idea where I got the one I still have which barely has any thread left in it, or any needles for that matter.</p>
<p>We bought our latest sewing kit at Hancock Fabrics for around $7, but I’ve seen them at Target and Hobby Lobby. I’m fairly certain WalMart has them and CVS/Walgreens might have them, too.</p>
<p>Mom2jl, I didn’t even think of it until we were shopping for something else and saw it for like $7. I thought, “why not? If he doesn’t use it I’ll throw it in the car with the others”. </p>
<p>I just sent 2016BARNARDMOM a message but…my son’s camp had pertussis/whooping cough going around. When it turned out a kid in his cabin had it, that moved it up to direct exposure and they put him on z-pack as preventative. He’s 16 and up to date on vaccinations so it’s an FYI to any one else who has a kid directly exposed. they didn’t treat him when it was just a kid at camp, but they did once it was in his cabin. and another FYI, the kid in his cabin supposedly had no symptoms but doc caught it at well check visit days after camp ended.</p>
. All his friends are long gone and it’s sort of like living with a zombie, poor kid. Fortunately, he can continue to go to his summer job as much as he wishes so that means a time-filler and a wallet-filler too. His friends at various east coast unis are inviting him to visit but we don’t think that’s such a great idea so early in their first year, but neither does his older sister and I think he’ll listen to her. I’ll check back with our launch, though it will be nearly October and you all will likely have moved on to other topics!</p>