<p>It feels surreal to be sitting in S’s dorm on campus, checking College Confidential …good internet connection though…</p>
<p>Wow the days run by!</p>
<p>I’m not sure how S13 knows his roommates were all vals, but it’s not because they talk about it - one of them still hasn’t been in touch. Perhaps he was doing a little research of his own. Two of them are mentioned in their high school newsletters online.</p>
<p>momofzag - I hope your D is calmer now. I’m sure she’s not the first to have a bit of self-doubt at the beginning of a production.</p>
<p>tougis - lol! I almost went with the recorded version with just the lyrics posted, but I thought maybe it was only me…</p>
<p>Also, I am working very hard not to make judgements based on val status - the val and sal of S13’s school were twins that he went to grade school with, and good friends. I’d be thrilled if one of them was his roommate.</p>
<p>Dropped D15 off yesterday. She started packing the day before. She didn’t finish. Had to run out to Walgreen’s for a shower curtain and I also have a list of what to bring for Parent’s weekend. And she was there last year!</p>
<p>RobD - yes! I need another list. No wonder I’m stressed out, I’ve finished the last one (due to the events already happening, not finishing all items 
)</p>
<p>Kelowna - I broke down in the driveway yesterday loading up D15’s stuff, and she’s only 1/2 hour away, and comes home at least once a month for a long weekend. I thought it would be better this year so was surprised how hard it was. </p>
<p>SomeOldGuy - let me know if you have any extra velvet rope!</p>
<p>surfcity, I can so relate. S13 and I both drink lemonade/iced tea/fruit punch, etc. and we generally keep one pitcher in the fridge. Rules are: you must leave at least 8 oz in the pitcher if you put it back in the fridge, whoever empties the pitcher fills it, and whoever fills it gets to pick flavor. Yesterday I was filling the pitcher and realized that he only has 3 days left to drink whatever’s in the pitcher and then I can make whatever I want all the time… needless to say, I made his favorite, not mine!</p>
<p>DDHM - that’s my rule too - although I asked for twice a week. I told him that his sister went from every day to twice a week by Thanksgiving so he should just humor me.</p>
<p>Wow, sahp - was that just a year ago? And the Common App was so significant and intimidating… you’re right, that does make me feel a lot better. Thanks :D!</p>
<p>ahs - D15 has a college-sized double and she took 14 pairs of shoes, with 7 pairs left for me to bring on Parents’ weekend. When she’s home in October she’ll decide about winter shoes. I was never a shoe person, so I just nod and smile - it’s her space. I took two boxes of books to college (fiction fun reading) and everyone thought I was crazy. S13 has two pairs of flip flops, two pairs of athletic shoes, boat shoes, converse, marching shoes and dress shoes. He has refused to wear boots for years, but may change his mind once he’s walking between every class. If not, he’ll have wet feet.</p>
<p>MSNDIS - S13 and GF are breaking up also - and also at the last minute. They will only be 3 hours apart, but have decided it’s better for them not to try the long-distance thing, at least in the beginning. I hope it’s not too overwhelming in the beginning… but I’m right there with you on the distractions.</p>
<p>Yay for MichSon - aren’t those moments wonderful?</p>
<p>Great tips, ahs - not sure we can do the hanger thing but definitely we’ll do the drawers.</p>
<p>Apollo - S13 has 18 and is missing one one-credit course that’s required for music majors. He’ll have to find out on campus how he can get that in. But he’ll have 19 without the credit he’ll get for an ensemble, and possibly one for music lessons. I’m really glad now that he didn’t place into higher Chem or Physics, since hopefully some of it will be review. That also includes credits for PE, which hopefully won’t require too much time out of class.</p>
<p>FWIW - I signed up for 18 credits every semester of college. Then I frequently dropped something that was either not a good fit for me or when I was working too much, but three semesters I actually finished the 18. It was a good system for me, and I never freaked out about dropping that one “bad” class because I still had enough credits. Our last drop date was in October for fall semester – I don’t recall if I had W’s but it never affected me. However, I never went to grad school - would that have been an issue?</p>
<p>OMG dorm mountain is funny! I have to say, I drew the line at “no more will fit in the car” and then D15 fit in 2 more paper boxes, a saxophone, a garbage bag full of clothes, a behind-the-back pillow and a cooler. So… sometimes they surprise you. I expect S13 to have less. Although he will have at least two trombones.</p>
<p>Great first call, ree! I had a smiley-face text from D15 today when I suggested hanging the shoe rack from command hooks, so thanks to my ipeeps!</p>
<p>Great suggestion, Sue22 - lol!</p>
<p>S13 hasn’t started packing yet. Also hasn’t finished alcohol training online, which is supposed to take 3 hours. And hasn’t reported about checking email for 3 days, so who knows if there’s other stuff waiting. This morning he’s driving re-GF around to say her good-byes to friends, then she leaves this afternoon. Hopefully he plans to buckle down after that! He’s going back into the studio to mix a CD tomorrow, but so far as I know that’s the only time commitment left. We leave at 7 am (read: 8:30 am) on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Congrats to everyone who’s launched!</p>
<p>@ MichiganGeorgia-wow it’s amazing how different schools are. D has until October 14th with no penalty. Well after 1st mid terms. Deciding by the 1st week is going with your gut.</p>
<p>D left today for pre-o and it was harder than I expected. But we drive down to meet her on Wednesday so that helps. Congrats to all who launched!</p>
<p>I think I am in complete denial. I keep telling everyone who asks how excited I am for S (true) and how happy he seems and how happy that makes me. Particularly because a couple of years ago I could not imagine this moment due to some challenges we were going through.</p>
<p>But he seems so ready to embrace academics and the social aspect, in a way I never saw him do in HS. </p>
<p>I have avoided thinking about how the day to day life around here will change. I joke that S was so busy and on his own getting to rehearsals and practices etc that it wont’ be different, but of course it will. It will be odd to see his bedroom stay untouched. And it will be very hard for me not to hear snippets of his days or how classes are going. I am hoping he will text frequently because I don’t want to be a hovering/needy mom :D</p>
<p>This time tomorrow he’ll be at his pre-o program!</p>
<p>All I can say is that “launching/move-in” is the most bitter sweet thing I have ever experienced in my life. I am really worried for Triplet3 on how she will do this three days in a row! I have a month in between and only have two, but I feel like I will need that long to recoup before I can do this again. It is emotionally draining. Be sure to take Tylenol even if you think you won’t need it and don’t even bother with the waterproof mascara. Just don’t bother wearing any!!!</p>
<p>So, S13 says today “I really am leaving, aren’t I? In two days.”</p>
<p>{rolling eyes through tears}</p>
<p>I wish ds would call. I know in this instance no news really is good news – they warned they were going to keep them busy 18 hours a day – but I’d still love to hear how things are going. We totally FB creeped on his pre-o roomie, and I’m curious whether he’s like we thought.</p>
<p>And, yeah, maybe we aren’t so sentimental … we’ve already cleaned up his room and gotten rid of a lot of things!! :D</p>
<p>I keep telling myself that taking D this next weekend will be a breeze after letting her go on exchange half way around the world this past year since she’ll only be 5 hours away instead of 7 time zones. At the same time She’s only been home 6 weeks and I’m not ready to let her go again. I’m also well aware of how hard those first few days/weeks will be and how much I will miss the little things like singing along to the radio, shopping together etc. But I know I’ll get through it just like y’all will too. It’s still hard.</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay - 3 years ago when S went to college they told us the same thing. So I purposely did not call him. A week went by and I just couldn’t help myself. I called on a Sunday afternoon. Turns out he was waiting for my call! The school played both ends against the middle and he felt that he shouldn’t call home. He wanted to know why we hadn’t called. Broke my heart…</p>
<p>We dropped our DD off last Wednesday and then dh and I went on a two day short get away (in a vacation type spot 2 hours from her school) and then went back Friday - took her and her roommate to dinner and left for good. I thought leaving her would be hard but seeing how happy she was - made it pretty easy. Haven’t heard from her in 2 days! I think she will get a text from me tomorrow if I don’t get one first!</p>
<p>Oh, Kennedy, I’ve already texted, lol! We always have texted a lot so I really don’t feel like I’m being intrusive. He just hasn’t responded. Because we’re going up this week, he already called yesterday and talked to his dad about something we need to take up (he called me first, but I didn’t answer; needless to say, I’m carrying the phone with me everywhere today!)</p>
<p>cyclone, when I’m ready for a good cry, the thing I’ll think about is not being able to sing songs with him. That’s something I will miss immensely. Yesterday, after I teared up to the Lion King material we sang a Taylor Swift song. I couldn’t quite get through the whole thing. :(</p>
<p>I’m not sure about grad school but I have a BSBA and am currently attending a public college in Georgia part time. I transferred in for a second degree. I had a couple “W”'s and they treated them as F’s… I was not happy about it. I think the short deadline has to do with refunds. Last semester I had 3 weeks to drop a class and get a refund . This semester it’s 1 week or no refund and I get a “W”… I’m not happy about it. I can’t imagine what it’s like for the young kids. </p>
<p>I’m still hoping DS will drop a class early this week…</p>
<p>I have a question for all you with new freshmen. Is it common to have friends who are still in HS visit? My DS wants to know when he can go visit his friend who moved in on Friday. We feel they both need to adjust to this new stage in life. They still text all the time</p>
<p>Yes, it is. But not the first week. ;)</p>
<p>We’re 10 days from move-in. Clothes were chosen and packed today. The only items to be bought are shoe covers for bicycling in the rain and a desk lamp. D will be on a short house-sitting gig and then have a final week at home. </p>
<p>I relate to the bittersweet aspect of all this. I think D is very happy, and that makes me happy. It will be quiet once she’s gone, but I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like to return to ‘just the two of us’. Wishing at moments that I had more than one child, so that one would remain for a while. But then I think, naw, this is good.</p>
<p>It helps to hear everyone’s experience. Thanks for sharing, all.</p>
<p>Give the person in college some time to adjust first. I’d wait until maybe labor day weekend for the HS student to visit.</p>
<p>We have just started to sort for packing (with launch date of next Sunday early a.m. departure). Literally. DD picks 10:30 at night on a work night to start and she “needs” me to help her for moral support. I have to seize the opportunity though since we are looking at these two suitcases and realize that we are going to have to shrink her hill/mountain to a molehill. LOL.</p>
<p>I have been so busy getting my DD’14 moved into her off campus apartment (talk about “leaving home” feelings!) so I’ve missed several weeks! BUT, now I am caught up. DD’13 comes home from her Camp job this week. She has a week to ‘begin and start and FINISH packing’! She is also already planning on visiting old friends out of state, and wanted to know why she had to go to the bank to open up an account…?! “I dont plan to spend any money mom, I have to begin to save up for a house”… HUH?! Okay, I am going to toss that up to the “soiling the nest” comment a few pages back…I don’t think she has yet figured out what all this collegething is…but, she will…and I’ll cry!</p>
<p>Well this is it. The last night at home. I found College Conf. in January of S’s sophomore year and was totally overwhelmed at everything college. Now, tomorrow, we will drive away and as he says, his childhood will end. He doesn’t want to let go. I didn’t even know he was so attached to it, and so attached to his home, his schedule, his life here. Why now, on the eve of leaving for college does he open up so much? 
I’m really glad he did, though. I wouldn’t want him to leave without feeling like he could share that inner turmoil. He seemed to feel better by the time he drifted off to sleep.</p>