@dyiu13 My mom says we are definitely packing the car the night before. There’s just no way we can pack it in the morning and still be out of the house on time. I think we will just be too emotional and worrying about last minute things to do it then. Plus whenever we do it, my dog will go nuts. He knows that packing the car means people are leaving. He freaks out when he sees a suitcase by the door.
@sseamom or anyone else who has used the tote-a-ton bags, do they have a shoulder strap? If not, how hard are they to carry? It seems like they would be difficult to carry when full. I’m thinking of finding another type of duffel that has a shoulder strap, possible something a little smaller.
We have a late move in from 3-5 so we’ll be packing in the AM
Same here @carolinamom2boys - we move in anytime from 5-9pm so, we’ll move dorm mountain from DS’s room to the car in the morning.
They don’t have a shoulder strap, which is about the only downside to them. But we got one of those carts at the airports and at the dorm you could bring one of the school’s carts right to the car. And D lives across the hall from the elevator, so there was almost no actual carrying involved. I’ve seen something online that add a shoulder strap to any bag. Don’t know the prices on those, though.
No worries about shoulder straps here. DS is tall enough to manage them on his own. AKA not my problem. >:)
@Undercovermom1 Thank you. I literally feel like the life is being sucked right outta me. I was walking in to my office today and someone who works on another floor says “Good morning, how are you?” I instinctively say “Fine and yourself?” Before I knew it I was crying on this guys shoulder saying “I’m not fine, my only child is heading off to college and I’m absolutely sick to my stomach with fear that she won’t need me anymore or God forbid, something happens to her!” This guy is a recent graduate of Syracuse University at 6’6 and 300 pounds (he was a linebacker for SU). We sat in the lobby area and he listened to me talk for 20 minutes. All of a sudden he began to get emotional saying “now I understand why my mom said she felt like she was grieving when I went from California to New York for college!” I saw one tear drop from his eye and I’ve been crying off and on all day! I saw him later in the day heading to lunch with a group of guys and he just gave me a huge hug!
I got all teary in the grocery store today because I only needed to pick up a small container of milk. I think it will be awhile before we all find our new normal.
Also had trouble at the grocery store today- basically took my breath away making a last purchase for DS.
9 days 15 hrs and 25 minutes to move in. Trying my best not to get emotional. It’s been hard because my boys have been spending so much time together . It will be a huge adjustment for everyone .
Um. When I asked D16 how often we should have a phone call, she suggested twice a month. Um, no. I need a weekly call. Unless she wants to meet up with me twice a month and then call on the alternate weeks. 
I don’t want to meet up with her twice a month, actually. But, I really need weekly calls. Will use the brilliant “text DC for a call time” technique mentioned above. (Thanks!)
Roughly 30 hours until we leave.
The last minute store purchases are getting to me, too. The groceries will get to me more once S leaves- he’s a vegetarian, and once he leaves, my weekly shopping will likely include some meat for H.
Next week at this time we will be getting home from move-in. Lately when I look at S, I almost immediately feel tears spring to my eyes. I need to get a grip.
D called tonight to tell us what she’s been up to, but she kept having to stop and tell this girl one thing, another girl something else, give a third one directions, and explain tomorrow’s schedule to yet another. It’s obvious that’s she’s bonded with some of the girls and is having fun. They’ve found a Sonic, which we don’t have here, and have walked to it both yesterday and today. Someone also drive them to the Cold Stone. Then Saturday she’s going thrift shopping with her group leader. She liked the book discussion and the formal dinner they had tonight. Tomorrow is a day of service in the city at a food bank. She had more to tell me but whoops, she had to go…
I’m going to have to get used to that. She barely scratched the surface of all she’s been doing and I’m used to hearing all about everything every day. But she’s happy. That’s the important thing.
@sseamom so glad you are getting enough news that you can tell she is happy!! I fear we will not. DS does not share much now and I will have to work hard not to be jealous when he chooses to share with others and I am left with very little contact. Not looking forward to that.
@sseamom I love that your D shares so much with you. While my S shares in person at particular times, I’m afraid it will be less likely to catch him in the right mood for sharing once he is away.
Groan. Wouldn’t you know it? D16 is now requesting a doc appointment to address a host of issues, both basic (eyelid infection) and mysterious (persistent lack of appetite), etc. I can imagine if we can get a ped appointment, there will be referrals to specialists with openings after the start of her semester. Sigh. This is going to be complex.
HI All,
We are a week away from driving D to school and I am officially stressed out. Between worrying that I am forgetting something, rethinking decisions we already made on what she will need to bring, and worrying if everything will really fit in the car I am a wreck. I haven’t slept well all week as these types of thoughts keep running through my head. What makes it worse is that D has been working 5-1 lately so I haven’t seen her in a week and we can’t talk about all this stuff that is driving me nuts. Even yesterday I managed to get out of work a little early and though I’d be able to talk to her, but when I got home I found that she had been called in an hour early so she was already gone. We both have tomorrow off so hopefully we’ll work though some of this stuff and I’ll be able to relax some.
One thing I don’t worry about is D contacting us. In fact if she doesn’t I think that’s good. She’s a no news is good news kind of kid. She will come to me when she needs help or something isn’t going right, but if everything is moving along fine she doesn’t bother me with details and I am OK with that. I really don’t expect to hear from her very often. As an aside, I think back to the stone age when I went to college 1000 miles from home, and there were no cell phones and long distance was really expensive. I think I called home about once a month. My Dad did write me a letter every week so I knew what was going on at home, but I know I didn’t communicate back that often.
@me29034 It’s going to be OK. As long as your DD has what she’d need for an overnight, she’ll be set. All else is gravy. You got this.
@me29034 - we also leave in a week and I can feel my body in full stress mode, which includes terrible sleep. I am logical and know none of my worries are really a big deal, but tell that to my involuntary reactions to my youngest leaving!
S is balking at calling once a week. He is not a talker (king of the one word answers), so it will be interesting to see what info we can coax out of him as the weeks go by.