<p>@2016BarnardMom I’d be happy to send you a care package! This wasn’t the first package I’ve sent, but the others were for mundane, non-fun items. Like others, I used Amazon Prime so it was easy easy. This is the first box I sent with more “Mom is thinking of you” items.</p>
<p>I packed the cookies in a plastic container, which I figured he could reuse. It was one of those cheap ones so I won’t feel bad if I don’t get it back. And because I wanted the cookies to stay fresh for as long as possible, I wrapped them individually in that press and seal stuff, put the lot in a couple of ziplock bags, and then in the plastic container. Tetris is exactly how I packed the box! Very little empty space and what there was, I filled with a combination of bubble wrap and packing peanuts.</p>
<p>DH flew out this morning to watch the first game, and he will head to target with the boy at some point to get more stuff (primarily food items). Good thing DS is playing a varsity sport or he would surely be packing on that freshman 15. We don’t snack at night here at home, but it think he is eating earlier to work around class and practice schedule, so he gets hungry at night. </p>
<p>I sent a care package at the end of D’s first week on campus (mostly mundane useful items). It took her more than a week to actually pick up the package! Even longer to look in her mailbox for her first letter from home.</p>
<p>Spoke with D last night and heard words that a parent loves. “I think I am getting spoiled here. I love ALL my classes.” She had a rough start initially, homesick and wanting instant friendships, but seems to be settling in just fine now. Big sigh of relief.</p>
<p>I have had to shipped several care packages already to my son. First one included brownies, popcorn, some snack fruit items, his favorite trail mix. He requested some dri-fit shirts for running, so I got those and put them in a huge, padded envelope. He loves them. The other day, he sent me a text asking for his cross country shoes and track spikes from high school – he had the option of getting a new pair of training shoes or spikes from his coaches and chose the trainers. He said that he burns through lots of shoes! He also wanted his workout videos, and I sent along another bag of his favorite trail mix. </p>
<p>Yesterday, he telephoned me and we chatted for an hour! He had had issues with his phone. Something about downloading apps. He walked a little over a mile to the AT & T store. He had the options of going to Apple for assistance or getting a new phone. Knowing I was teaching, he called his older brother for phone advice. He was just six months from getting a new one anyway, so he traded in the old model, ponied up the needed cash and bought a new phone. He told me that he’s doing very well in classes. Gave a lot of credit to his high school teachers, especially his AP physics teacher, as he knows everything so far thanks to her. Accepted a bid to a fraternity – two of his teammates either belong or are joining, too. Has found time to do his studying and laundry at the same time. Also asked for his soccer cleats from high school – I told him that Family Weekend is in a couple of weeks and I’ll be down. “I forgot all about that,” he said, and was thrilled that I was coming. Of course, I still need to register for it. Then, he said something about going out for a good steak dinner. </p>
<p>Oh, and he texted me later in the evening to say he loved his new phone and thanks for letting him get it. </p>
<p>I’ve sent two packages so far. The first with a raincoat, her favorite stuffed animal (her roomie brought hers so I guess D figured it was acceptable to have one too), and a few other items. The second was mainly formal clothes and dress shoes she had left behind. I haven’t sent food, but D has her car and has already been to the grocery. Maybe I’ll bake some brownies or cookies and send those next week. She texted today and said she is finally almost over her cold, and is still really happy, making lots of friends, and likes all of her classes except one. Ironically, the class she doesn’t like was supposed to be her fun class!</p>
<p>DH reported that he and DS bought a cartload of snack foods at Target – goldfish, granola bars, cereal, beef jerky, etc. DH wondered why DS just didn’t buy this stuff himself at the nearby grocery store, and DS responded that this way was free! Free to him, of course, but not to us. :"> </p>
<p>DS has a 17 meals/week dining plan, plus $150 in “Case Cash” for use at other places but apparently last week he only used 10 meal swipes. He’s never been a big breakfast eater so he usually just eats a granola bar or some cereal in his room before heading to class. He’s also had some rush events this week where food was provided. And today the girls in his dorm made a game day pancake breakfast for the guys on the team. And then he had a pre-game meal later in the afternoon. I’m hoping he gets more out of the meal plan than this from now on though. Unfortunately, he is already on the minimum plan for freshmen so we can’t switch to one with fewer swipes.</p>
<p>We are texting and sending stuff (Sunday arts section from NYT - its the broadway issue; comics from younger brother). But I did take some time to write a letter. When I was in college, letters from home were rare and treasured.</p>
<p>I think DD just discovered that college and 18 hrs represents a lot of work.</p>
<p>So DH sent D an email earlier today asking how she spent her day. She and a friend went downtown to Federal Donuts, which is a popular Philly restaurant where the menu has exactly two items - fried chicken and donuts - then watched the Philadelphia Naked Bike Ride. LOL - not sure what to think. Pretty amused overall.</p>
<p>2014novamom: My son has $75 in meal bucks but he’s only used a few dollars. He prefers to eat his meals at the dining hall, not the fast food places. I’m glad that he wants to do that. He does have some gift cards on him, and I noticed, when I checked the bank statements, he went to Cracker Barrel for brunch the other day. Oh, does he love that place! </p>
<p>Got a facebook message from DD, yay! She sounds busy and happy but needs red shirts, a big binder, and “a real eating spoon.” I’m going to have fun packing a care pkg. </p>
<p>Heard from Spygirl yesterday. She lost the election, along with roomie. But Tracy Flick also lost, so there is a silver lining. I haven’t thought to ask if she has enough $$ on her meal plan, but I definitely will. She did say that Saturday night is restaurant night because the main cafeteria is closed (which is her fave) on Saturday evenings so they go off campus to eat.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with sending chocolate to a hot climate? I want to include some chocolate bars from a local and well-loved chocolatier to DD. But she’s in Los Angeles where it’s been hot and we’ve been in the 90’s here at Headquarters. The bars are wrapped in foil and a paper sleeve. Do you think if I find an insulated sandwich bag, this will keep them from melting before they arrive?</p>
<p>@Agentninetynine – My son lives on Hershey’s bars, so we’re pretty experienced in the ins and outs of chocolate bars. Also, we’re out in CA, with our son in GA, so we’re familiar with the warm climate piece. I would say the odds of your sending those epicurean chocolate bars out to her without them melting is very very small. </p>
<p>I just checked their website. They do ship but recommend overnight shipping in warm weather and that’s $20 - not going to happen. I may try the insulated sleeve and see how it works. If it’s melty she can always pop it in the freezer. How long do those priority boxes from USPS normally take to arrive at their destination? It has to travel 1,000 miles.</p>
<p>I am doing a quick check-in since I have been so busy with the flooded house. I wanted to share a few ideas about care packages. </p>
<p>If you print the label off at home you can usually save between $1 to $1.50 per package because they will give you a discount. I just use “click and ship” from the USPS. I get a bunch of priority boxes of different sizes and put them in my closest for future use. My post office lets me skip the line since the label is already on the package. Super easy. </p>
<p>My DD’s high school has a Parent Care Package Club. Parents meet about once a month at a parent’s home and everyone brings 12 of something and a box. We drink wine and pack a box for our child and get caught up on news. Parents write messages on the outside of the box for every student so the box looks fun. </p>
<p>When I dropped my children off at college I get gift cards for local establishments so that they can new places near their college. I drop in one of these gift cards in the box. </p>
<p>My children missed fruit most from home so I would go to a local produce market and get fruit(barely riped) that traveled well; mangoes; pinapples etc. I would ship it two day priority on a Monday so it got to them on a Weds. They loved their fruit salads. I must confess I would like at the post office when they asked me if anything was perishable. Fruit always arrived safe. </p>
<p>I am heading to Family Weekend on Wednesday. I will try to post how our launch went etc. I have enjoyed reading about everyone’s launch. It helps to distract me about my house issues. </p>
<p>Waaaaa… we just had our first FaceTime with D and it made me miss her much more. But in a happy, good way. She looked so beautiful and poised and mature and HAPPY. So proud of her!</p>
<p>I started today doing a family text. Although not surprisingly my son hasn’t piped in yet. But he’ll at least read what we’re all doing. I’m sending both of the kids apples through honeycrisp apples dot com. My son is not too far from the orchard. In the winter I’ll send them oranges and grapefruits through honeybell. They both prefer fruit to junk, though I think they’d love it if I could send a homemade dinner. You don’t realize how good you have it having a homemade dinner every night until you don’t.</p>
<p>@agentninetynine – so glad Tracy Flick is down for the count! @staceyneil – so happy your D looked so beautiful and settled in (despite how it must have hurt, missing her) @eyemamom – I have sent D honey crisp apples from the same site – they arrived in great shape. Good idea!</p>
</p>
I haven’t thought to ask if she has enough $$ on her meal plan, but I definitely will. She did say that Saturday night is restaurant night because the main cafeteria is closed (which is her fave) on Saturday evenings so they go off campus to eat.</p>