<p>Viewer, I heard a great advice from the dean of student affairs at Duke - some kids are “dumpers”, they will call and dump everything that is heavy on parents, they need to unload and that is how they do it. He said not to worry about those phone calls, listen but don’t lose sleep over it. In majority of cases kids don’t remember on the following day why they were so unhappy to begin with ;)</p>
<p>S2 is a “dumper”. He called us last summer from his summer music program saying that he hated it and everything about it - the dorms, the town, the other kids, the food. Two weeks later, when I showed up, he had completely changed his mine and that ended up being his favorite school. Cancelled his auditions to everywhere else once he got in, and he will start next Wednesday. I am prepared for some major “dumping” during the first few weeks of school. Although H emailed me (from his office in London) today and said that we won’t have internet at home for 3 more weeks!! So, S2 will have to dump to his sister for a while. :)</p>
<p>I heard through the grapevine that S is enjoying his pre-orientation program. In his school’s case, it was a leadership program you had to apply to. Only 50 kids, they did community service, team-building, and lots of interaction with faculty and upperclass leaders. I thought it was a great opportunity to meet some freshmen early on in a smaller atmosphere. They also had some camping trips you could chose too.</p>
<p>Tomorrow is regular move in and then they still have quite a bit of fun sounding stuff to do until classes start. I can see how it will be a letdown when the regular routine is in place. (“What? No sundaes at midnight at the library??”) </p>
<p>S is not a big communicator. I don’t think he’ll dump or rave about anything. I’ll have to rely on body language or info from friends to hear how things are going. </p>
<p>IT seems like all of his friends leave today or tomorrow - good luck everyone!</p>
<p>~sigh~ I find myself struggling with not knowing how he’s spending his time. Not like I’m worried or anything. It’s just going from knowing what he had for breakfast because of the remnants left on the kitchen counter to not knowing IF he had breakfast is a difficult transition that I hadn’t considered previously. I jokingly referred to myself as being similar to the mom in the Taco Bell smothered burrito commercial because I was asking him every detail. Like if he liked how the 3 in one bath wash smelled that I bought for him.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh Reinezz, I am feeling the same way. I have been texting all week about books, computers, money, food and I’m running out of things to check up on.</p>
<p>I’m sorry I butchered your name. I was typing so nervously. I thought I was the only one.</p>
<p>This is so funny. I’m asking all kinds of crazy questions too. And, it’s even crazier by text. Last night I was asking him how the bathroom routine was going. haha I meant shower, shaving, etc. I’m not sure what he thought I meant, but it got comical.</p>
<p>And, yes, he IS a “dumper.” That’s great information. I never thought he was a complainer (or communicator) until now. I don’t think he has said one positive thing since he got there. That’s not like him at all. I’m starting to take it all rather lightly. The first night I was losing sleep over it!</p>
<p>They’ll adjust.</p>
<p>Just dropped ds off at SUNY Buffalo. What a whirlwind. </p>
<p>Earlier in the week Obama decided to stop by on move in day. We go permission to move ds in a day early. No crowds, no waiting for the elevator and no roommate. </p>
<p>The day before we waited in a two hour line for Obama tickets. Today, we waited for over an hour in a huge line to get through security. It was exciting to hear Obama speak on reform of costs of higher education. </p>
<p>Then we went to the dorm and met the roommate. Leaving ds was pretty quick with less than a minute of tears from me. </p>
<p>My plan is to let him text me first. We’ll see if I make it. As you all are doing, I keep wondering what he’s doing at any given moment. </p>
<p>Not a bad first day, a speech by the president of the US! Last time a sitting president has been to UB was in the 1890’s.</p>
<p>Just got home after launching S’13 (or should that be S’17 now?). And, just like some of you mention, I just keep wondering what he’s up to. Funny. He’s been so busy this summer I often didn’t know what was up until the next day (or maybe the next), but I knew I would find out eventually (at least the interesting stuff). But I guess this is the new normal.</p>
<p>It all fit in the car. I still don’t know how. To celebrate, I drank way more sweet tea than usual and nominated myself for the Nobel prize in physics.</p>
<p>There were a lot of things I wanted to say to the kid, but he probably wouldn’t have listened to any of them and I didn’t know how to get the words out. Instead, I watched him scamper off with his dorm mates and thought, “My work is done here.” Then we drove home. </p>
<p>The younger kid starts his junior year of HS on Monday.</p>
<p>Tomorrow is official move-in day. Since S is already up there with all his stuff and I have nothing to worry about with him, I am now obsessed with what I should wear for move in!!?! I want to be comfortable because we will have to do some walking to the caf and arts center, but I also want to look nice (I’m sure all his hallmates will be ready to judge him by how Mom dresses). 
I think I just need something to obsess about that I can control.</p>
<p>He said the pre-o program was great - his roommate ended up coming up tonight so he has already met him. Don’t know what to expect for tomorrow in terms of emotions.</p>
<p>Oh, and add “Circle Game” to that playlist. It has been going “round and round” in my head all week.</p>
<p>I too wasn’t sure if I could say what I wanted to when I dropped dd off a week ago so I slipped a letter into her pillow when I left her room for the last time. About 2 hours later I just got a three word text “love you too”. Worked like a charm to get the first text!
Btw. My dd has been at school for one week and one day and is extremely happy. Makes it easier for me not to be sad!</p>
<p>DS doesn’t text to me much. I sent a bunch of texts over the first week and got 2 back…
I freaked out when I saw he hadn’t dropped any classes was still at 18 credits and only has until tomorrow at 4:00 to drop anything. So I called him. he has an appt. tomorrow afternoon with his adviser to figure out whether he should drop a class… I’m glad he’s being proactive and talking to someone. However I still think he needs to drop a class. So I’m hoping the adviser agrees with me. </p>
<p>Oh and even more surprising was he got a bid and is thinking about joining a frat.That shocked me … Of course my husband wanted to know why it wasn’t the frat he belonged to since he would be a legacy…lol</p>
<p>Viewer, so glad you’re feeling better about it…I agree that Kelowna’s “dumper” info is helpful (thanks, Big K).</p>
<p>Viewer, I think the work is hard but the money is worth it and their evening activities are fun. Has he made new friends yet? I bet he’ll bond soon. Also, I’ve heard kids doing dorm crew always know the campus better than anyone. I guess I’m glad my DS did the outdoors program and thus can’t contact me–no phones for the whole week and thus less dumping and fewer worries for me. </p>
<p>SOG, wow, were you really as tough as you say? I’m impressed, not only no tears but no lump in the throat!?</p>
<p>AHS, nice report! Dado, we are also having a hard time with the new normal–not having a daily blow-by-blow. DS really liked coming not our room each night to talk over the day. Right now, it’s what I miss most.</p>
<p>Oracoj, what a great first day! Lucky! Surfcity, hope yours goes well. MiGa, don’t sweat the credit hours too much…maybe it needs to be the first learning experience. </p>
<p>Just realized I’ve done this “Confetti” style. Sorry to steal your method, Confetti!</p>
<p>Eastgrad. - If he blows his GPA he will lose his scholarship and then we will have to pay for his tuition. So I’m hoping he just goes along with me on this one.:)</p>
<p>Just had a lesson on shipping vs pay for the extra bag on the plane. Long story short, the extra bag would have been waaaaaayyyyyy cheaper. UPS has raised their prices!!!</p>
<p>SOG and every one else trying to fit two cars worth of stuff into one car, I am nodding in recognition. That was me, three months ago, trying to fit two kids and the stuff into the space for one. (“I don’t care what it is, if its in the trunk you aren’t going to get it untill we get home…NOBODY OPENS THE TRUNK!!!”) </p>
<p>Fingers crossed for all of them and all of us. I feel like I should be used to this after two “first year at boarding school” drop offs, but this time is different. No more counsellor to call if/when we get the “I’m so sad” call. Less reporting from the school. Less structure to hang your hat on. On the other hand, face book and texting and phone calls, as well as the old reliable email, which counts almost as a letter in these new days, can make it feel almost as if they are still in the next room. </p>
<p>We will be heading to Minnesota by plane with (I hope)only one extra bag on Thursday, getting ready for my new act as an Ole parent.</p>
<p>We dropped son off this past Tuesday. The move-in was quick and easy. Took his stuff to the room, left him with his roommate while we went to the student union to do some shopping. Took son and roomie to lunch and then a quick trip to Target for TV stand and 2 bean bag chairs for their ‘living room’. Dropped them and the stuff off and left with no tears. We did no set-up, cleaning, or anything in the room; he wanted to do it all himself.</p>
<p>We stayed the night at a B&B and had a great evening out as empty nesters. Coffee and crepes next AM on a coffee house patio followed by a few hours at the universty’s garden.</p>
<p>Evenings since have been a little hard. Also, wondering what he is eating and doing. We have received a few texts about purchasing books, etc. Siad he met some more people on his floor. He seems to be a great match with his roommate.</p>
<p>Official Orientation type stuff started last night and continues today and Saturday. They had a pancake breakfast for 5,000+ people this AM.</p>
<p>Good morning! We get in the car for the 6 hour drive at 11 AM, then move-in is tomorrow at 10 AM. He has been out every night with friends as they leave one by one. I am working until 11 am so my hope is that I will come home and the car will be packed. A girl can hope at least.</p>
<p>Haystack, a success story! Sounds like a model to follow for the first empty nest night! I do wonder how many pancakes you need to feed 5000 college students.</p>
<p>Good luck, TX5. </p>
<p>We also decided paying the airplane bag fees was cheaper, ssacdfam. Two huge duffels for $60 seemed like a bargain.</p>
<p>Oops, MiGa–I guess this shouldn’t be first learning experience after all. Too risky! Hope he drops something.</p>
<p>Anyone have any experience in transporting an Xbox game player, or one similar, on an airplane?</p>
<p>We’re flying with son for his move-in – east coast to Colorado. Can we carry an Xbox on a plane?</p>
<p>Also considering shipping it FedEx to a FedEx office center near the university and then picking it up there.</p>