Year 2 … here we go!
Whew Sally22, early start! D leaves Aug 20 and plans to bring a car back. A college friend is flying out to road trip back with her. They’ll pick up another student on the way and spend 10 days making their way across the country. That means D will have spent a whopping 27 days “home” this summer. Not much, but I am glad that she had some time with us! I don’t think she will really be back for more than winter breaks now. I am trying to get her to go through the clothes she left behind and determine what she wants to keep and what we can donate.
Boyfriend spent five days with us last week, lovely young man. Now she is spending time with boyfriend and his family. A great cap to our long summer in the states. Next weekend we leave her back at school then head back to Asia. Can’t believe it is year two. My heart aches but at the same time it has been and is exciting to hear about what she will be doing next.
Due back to campus on Sunday…No Packing done and due to leave in less than 48 hours…I guess old habits are hard to change 
D had a week off in May before going back to school for summer session that just ended last Friday. We moved her into her new dorm room on Saturday and now she’s home but not for long. She’ll be here just three weeks before flying back for fall semester. Last night we talked a little bit about her possible travel plans in the next year or so, and I get the feeling that this may be the longest we’ll get to hold on to her for a while. Something that makes me both excited for her and a little melancholy for myself.
DD moves back in next Wednesday, 19th birthday is tomorrow, she is taking her car back but we will still go too with larger stuff in my SUV, but she plans to be home in a few weeks for a family event. Next summer she has requires summer school, so this summer was bitter sweet. Not sure if having car there will mean she that she comes home less or more this year - we will see…
D’s freshman roommate, whom she became very close with, decided not to go back to their school. Another good friend is going elsewhere this year. And just today D’s boyfriend, whom she met at school last fall, announced he will take a gap year and not go back for sophomore year. D is supposed to go back on the 21st and now is saying she doesn’t want to. Sigh. For some of us, the whole churning school decision thing is still a work in progress.
That’s a lot of relationship changes all at once for your daughter @Barbalot. Hopefully as the initial disappointment wears off over the next week she may be able to regroup.
@Barbalot My DD’s freshman roommate joined a sorority. But DD will be sharing an Apt with someone else from her floor.
@Barbalot, I hope you D moves past her dissapointment and goes back to school. Unless, oc course, she really didn’t like the school or it isn’t a good fit. It is really hard for our kids sometimes.
Oh @Barbalot, that stinks! Is she serious about not wanting to go back?
She’s going back since it seems the best path for her to be on. Her only other option so late in the game is community college. She’s pretty sad about the boyfriend’s sudden decision to spend a year pursuing a music career. I would be just as happy if this helped push him out of picture, to be honest. But I can’t tell her that. He lives just 30 miles from the school, so she could easily see him.
Glad for you @Barbalot
Dd moving back into an apt for soph yr, packing her up Fri as the pile grows with must haves like a silk orchid in a pot “for a touch of color” and curtains and a rug and blablablablabla… TJMaxx/Home Goods should hire her as a spokesperson.
@Barbalot, I understand your daughter’s reaction and ambivalence; I would have felt the same way at her age. It’s so wonderful that she’s returning and now she will find a whole new world of friends and experiences that will only enrich her. The transition may be rough but I know it will end up being a positive year. Good luck to both of you! I hope you’ll check in and let us know how it goes.
@amandakayak I was with my D at Target this morning, and said no to the chrysanthemum in a pot. I am moving her into her apartment on Friday. We have already done a partial move of the big things. This Friday shouldn’t be too bad. I will be sad to see her go. And my H is traveling the next two weeks. Thank goodness for the dog.
Good luck to your D @Barbalot. I’m sure she feels like she is starting all over. Hopefully, it’s an opportunity to meet new people.
It really is hard to keep the moving pile at bay. My daughter has a kitchen in her on campus apartment and wants to do cook most of her own food. Even with four students sharing cooking gear, daughter’s share means a few more boxes of stuff. Then there’s the Asian food she shipped!
D’s room at home is a mess as she is trying to pack for her trip back to school. She is a little overwhelmed, but she will get it figured out by the time she leaves.
This year is so much easier than last year. However, I am fighting the tears. Saturday morning when we drive away, and Sunday morning when we fly away are going to be very hard. She has a really great boyfriend now, and she may no longer be ours. Wonderful, exciting and surprisingly sad for us at the same time.