<p>Well we’re also now getting the crying. D is leaving way earlier than everyone else and two friends left for vacation yesterday and they won’t see each other again. She is absolutely living it up going out with the friends and big groups all the time - kayaking, water skiing, paddle boarding, out to bowling, dinner, hanging out, etc. She squeezes in 24 hrs of working each week. She went through a bit of a nasty phase but seems to be turning it around now. I’m afraid we’ll have 12 hours of tears on the way to school.</p>
<p>DS has always been a distant kid but lately he’s been coming out on the back porch to chat with DH and I for an hour or more at a time. It’s been nice to get to really chat with him but I’m hoping it doesn’t make everything harder. He is definitely refusing to actively participate in most of the shopping etc but that’s not surprising. There is a meet and greet for students from our area tomorrow and we’ll be dragging him despite his vehement protesting.</p>
<p>My D and her friends had a “send off” party for each of them, one by one. They made a big sign for each girl and showed up the morning each was leaving. So a few girls brought bagels and donuts and were here when we were packing the car and there was a big sign that said “Good luck at Barnyard” with a bunch of farm animals on the car. A big joke among her friends because some people called it Barnyard all the time. There was much sobbing as they sent each other off. The last two to leave were going to the same school and living on the same dorm floor so it was a little easier for them. It didn’t help that one of their close friends (twin sister to another in their group) died from cancer that summer after battling it their whole senior year. It was a VERY emotional summer- heartbreaking for all of us. </p>
<p>Barnardgirl got persnickety as move in day was drawing near. It wasn’t all out temper tantrums, she was just snippy. On a particularly bad day, I told her straight out that I was terrified when I was getting ready to go to college. That opened the floodgate and validated that it was ok for her to talk about what she was feeling. </p>
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<p>One thing that we were not counting on was that the fridge we got DS1 said you weren’t supposed to plug it in until a certain amount of time (I forget how much - but on the order of an hour or two) if it has been non-upright. Since it was lying down in the car to bring it from Walmart to school, we had to let it wait, and that did mess up our plan to leave him with stuff. Maybe bring some ice packs so you can use the fridge as a cooler until it can be turned on and get down to fridge temperature.</p>
<p>Oldest was queen of nest fouling. This d? Not at all, really. She’s been working about 50 hours a week outside in the heat and she’s tired. I wish she was working less, but it seems like all the other summer help is taking time off right and left and D is around. Irony? She gets in trouble for going over 40 hours, but since there’ snow one else, she can’t leave.</p>
<p>We started packing last night. It seems like so much stuff. But we’ve done this before. I really thought we’d have less than we did with the oldest because we know now that a lot is unnecessary, but the piles keep growing anyway. Ordered a scale last night so she can keep an eye on the freshman 15. More stuff.</p>
<p>Major piles in this home, with the drop-off scheduled for this coming Friday. It seems so fast. </p>
<p>But then I remind myself of a friend who dropped his son off at the Air Force Academy three weeks ago, and feel a bit comforted that we had this much time, at least.</p>
<p>Thinking of you @calla1 as you’re our first launch of the whole group! Remind me… will this be an empty nest for you or are there more at home?</p>
<p>Thanks, @2016BarnardMom. This is my baby leaving (sniff!) He and I have always been close, and this will be very hard. I asked him to at least send me a brief text or email each day - one or two words is fine - just to let me know he’s okay. He smilingly agreed and (half) jokingly told me he’d set up his computer to send them automatically!!!</p>
<p>My other son - a recent college grad - is living at home. He’s working full time, but at a job which doesn’t pay enough to really live independently. He’s trying for a job which is more of a career but no success yet. </p>
<p>Fingers crossed for this coming Friday. I haven’t talked about it a lot, but DS has some health and anxiety issues which make it a bit harder to let go. I do think he’s ready, as does he, and I am positive it is right to at least give this a shot. We’ve set things up the best we can - Disabled Students Program (receiving extended time on tests and any necessary tutoring), single room, etc. And he is within driving distance. I appreciate the positive thoughts.</p>
<p>Well I am checking to say hi…I have been extremely busy at work and I’m trying to decide if I will stay at my current job, (doesn’t help that I haven’t been applying to any jobs) It has been a stressful experience - living in a hotel during the week and home /Providence on the weekend. My Husband and son came to Providence last weekend and this one. It really helps a lot.-Lots of fun being together - enjoying quality time! I am surprised S came down two weekends in a row but he likes Providence! He had never been to the Providence Mall & Movie theater so off we went. He does not ask for much but wanted to get some new t-shirts. He likes super soft graphic T’s…we went from store to store picking them out. Kind of fun…we went to Macy’s and found 4 and a really funky Ralph Lauren vest (outerwear) . It is not my taste but I am not wearing it. I wasn’t going to get it but he really wanted it ( the Boy who doesn’t ask for much -how could I refuse!) The good news - it that it was.originally $265 - was $65% off - plus 15% off if we used our Macy’s card - plus it had a little snag and they gave me another 10%. We found out that our account was not active and opened a new one for an additional 20% off! - not bad. Plus the t-shirts were on sale - paid $105 for the vest and 4 graphic Ts. before the 20% that will show up on our credit card bill. Well we thought why stop there…I had planned to Bed and Bath for dorm shopping but we ended up buying comforter, sheets and towels at Macy’s! After the discounts we spent around $79! I can’t believe S picked them out…of course black sheets and black towels ( 2 bath and one hand towel) and a very nice Lacoste comforter. The comforter is a XL twin and he likes it! I am so happy that is over with…I have the 20% off today as well so I am going on line to get a few more things today _( dishes set, mattress cover). I am just so happy to get over this hurtle. Plus yesterday morning , I spent an hour ( at least) on the Sierra Trading Post website buying everything S needed for his 5 day hiking trip! ( something I did not consider when I talked him into going on the Trek trip)…I bought the pack and hiking shoes about a month ago and don’t want to mention how much I spent on all the non- cotton gear I bought yesterday! I just hope he has a great time and wants to go on other hikes! </p>
<p>I am hoping to be done shopping by next weekend…I also need to figure out where to live in CT! My company paid for a hotel for a month…August 1 is this Friday! ugh…I will think of something. I looked at one rental it was in a great location but it was just too small! My husband and dog will be joining me in September so I need to find something that will accommodate the 3 of us in the short run…time to go on line at Macys’. and then go out to brunch! Yum!..This is our last weekend in Providence…I will miss it…wish I could find another job around here…bye for now…</p>
<p>@onlyonemom I hope he’s breaking in those hiking shoes! I loved Providence and was pretty disappointed that neither child got into Brown because I thought the city was so beautiful and a great place to visit. It has a downtown that I could live in and I haven’t felt that way about other major cities where I’ve been. I will definitely visit there sometime when Waterfire is going on- both kids visits were on ‘off’ weekends and I’d have loved to experience that. </p>
<p>@calla1 This is my baby also and I feel like we’ve gotten a lot closer since his sister went away to school and it’s been just he and I. It is helping tremendously that he’s only going to be a 45 minute drive away. I haven’t been all weepy like I was with his sister but that week of move in, that may change. I don’t think it will help that she’ll be home the week before he goes. Every time she leaves after a short break, it is tough so I’ll be sad that she has left again when it is time for him to move in. </p>
<p>We’re going to orientation this week! It’s all getting real now as the family room pile grows and he’ll have registered for classes on Thursday. His football tickets came though!</p>
<p>@onlyonemom, you are a power shopper!!!</p>
<p>I’m another providence lover. I’m a RI native who has lived in NY since 1986. I could see myself retiring in RI. It’s a great state w beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and providence is a cool city with two outstanding schools–brown & RISD–that offer a lot to residents. Great lectures, concerts, theater, museums. Oldest son is a senior at brown this fall. When he graduates, I’ll miss visiting the school as often as i do now. I’ll still get back to the state to see my MIL and my mom. And son2 won’t be far at tufts. He applied ED to brown but was deferred & then decided to apply ED2 to tufts, which is about 1 hour from providence. Not far. </p>
<p>@ calla1 I guess I am a power shopper - I like to get it all done at once- went on line @ Macy’s and bought a few more things - 4 piece place setting, another set of sheets, hangers and mattress pad- the extra 15 % in the store and my 20 % new account also ends today - the double discounts adds up ! Very happy! </p>
<p>@Barnardmom - S has been wearing the hiking boots around - I am going to push him to wear them more. </p>
<p>RenaissanceMom - I would have loved to have my son go to Brown but he didn’t have the GPA - ( smart lazy boy) but I am hoping he will go there for Grad. school…I have to say that Boston is my first - I grew up in the suburbs and lived in the Back Bay a few years before moving to Maine…but Providence/ RI has easy access to the beaches and has a lot to offer…</p>
<p>I love Providence also and am so glad DD is heading to Brown. We’ve always headed to Providence rather than Boston to see theatre shows because it’s so much faster and easier for us. Plus I also grew up in RI and went to high school in Providence in the '70s and worked there for a couple of years after I graduated from college and lived on the East Side right near Brown one summer. While it’s only 30-40 minutes down, I’ve never actually been to Water Fire. We were originally thinking about going last night but I’ve come down with a nasty cold that was going around the cast of the show I was just producing and there was no way that would work! I am looking forward to being able to visit the city a bit more, even if I’m not allowed to visit DD! The music director for our shows lives in Providence and she said I could visit her 
And DD will have a dog walking job once she gets to school so that’s a plus also!</p>
<p>Hi 2014’ers…came across this and it made me laugh, thought you all might enjoy it too: <a href=“College Essentials You Won't Find at Bed, Bath and Beyond - The Neurotic Parent”>http://theneuroticparent.com/2014/06/college-essentials-wont-find-bed-bath-beyond.html</a></p>
<p>College Essentials You Won’t Find at Bed, Bath and Beyond</p>
<p>Wow @onlyonemom, could’ve used you for all our college shopping! I went into it thinking we didn’t need to spend that much as we bought what seemed like a lot last summer when D went to Governor’s school for a month. Ha! Was I ever wrong! Scary how much money has been spent getting her ready to go.</p>
<p>@calla1 - Thinking of you and your DS, and keeping you both in my prayers.</p>
<p>To make sure that my son and his roommates do not have three or four of everything, I have been working with their moms! Ordered the vacuum. Bought a swiffer so that the floors in the kitchenette and bathrooms are done (well, there is always hope). One of the other moms has stockpiled cleaning supplies. Someone will bring dishes. My son has the silverware – got a set of four of everything on clearance about six months ago. One of the boys has the huge TV. So things are coming together slowly. </p>
<p>BTW, this one is my baby, too. I’ve been all right with his departure. May not be when we say good-bye in a few weeks. His older brother has been a big help getting him ready for campus life, encouraging him with course selections, offering good advice on anything and everything. Makes the transition a little better.</p>
<p>It’s interesting when they get around others… There was a fundraiser spaghetti dinner yesterday for a scholarship fund that the parents of my daughter’s friend who died from cancer two years ago have established. My son and I were there to help work it and a lot of my daughter’s friends were there, two of whom are at Michigan. My son was asking them a lot of questions including “what did you NOT bring that you wish you had?” Both of them said a small vacuum or broom because the hardwood floors they’ve put in the remodeled dorms show the dust a lot. It was an item he hadn’t been sure he would need but it is definitely on the list now. </p>
<p>He was asked numerous times if he was getting excited and he said it hasn’t really sunk in yet. He then said that high school graduation didn’t really sink in until he was on that stage hearing his name called. I wonder if orientation this week is going to make it sink in him for now. </p>
<p>.
As the Parents of the Class of 2014 prepares to launch its first student on Friday (Calla1), I want to thank all of you for your guidance & advise to this Class of 2015 parent. Although, I never posted in your thread, I began reading it last summer as you each began the application process, and learned a lot from each of you, I think my D, BHG, and I are well prepared for the ups and downs of senior year and the college application roller-coaster because of your thread.</p>
<p>Once again thank you, and congratulations!</p>
<p>@BunHeadMom - good luck to you and your D - you are in for an exciting, if a bit exhausting, year!</p>
<p>We had D’s going away party on Saturday. It turned out really fun. We found a local mom & pop from Philly/Jersey who sell soft pretzels & water ice. We got hoagies & TastyKakes, & DH actually made cheesesteaks. He also made a trivia game on Kahoot.it that all the guests (mostly the teens did this) could play along with on their iPhones. The kids loved it & proceeded to play more quizzes with tons of laughing and shouting for about 2 more hours. Then it turned to Cards Against Humanity - anyone familiar with this game? It’s pretty funny - lots more laughing and shouting.</p>
<p>Anyway, the next day we dropped D at music camp for 2 weeks. She’ll be home only 4 days before we fly to Philly, so it feels like she’s already gone. Sigh. But this is how it is supposed to happen.</p>