@Ballerina016 there are several brands of oatmeal breakfast “cookies”. Would those work? Some are even by “healthy” brands, though I don’t know about the sugar content. My D’s caf serves fresh oatmeal every day-your D’s doesn’t?
I was going to suggest those oatmeal bars as well or those little individual servings of oatmeal that you can microwave @Ballerina016
They have microwave in the kitchen. She didn’t buy a meal plan since she is in a cooking dorm. She can swipe her card for a meal, but it is like $11 for breakfast and she eats very little for breakfast. I just used Amazon prime to send her toaster. Other parents suggested Instacart to send groceries. They have free shuttle to Trader Joe’s on weekends but she is not used to it yet.
@Ballerina016 Trader Joe’s has a frozen steelcut oatmeal. Place in a bowl and microwave on high for 2 min, stir, and then 1 more minute in the microwave. I just did a quick search for ready made oatmeal and this seemed like the closest to what she may be used to. The review says it’s sweetened but not candy sweet. There is also this one: http://www.pacificfoods.com/food/meals-sides/oatmeal/organic-unsweetened-steel-cut-oatmeal.aspx. They have a find in store near you search box.
@texaspg @NoVADad99 - at least as long ago as the late 1980s, MIT men were permitted to take classes at Wellesley and the MIT course catalog (on paper) chortled about how Tech men would be known as “coeds” on that campus, Har de har har.
On text, DS just said I was the “best ever curator” in terms of the stuff I packed - for which I pass along the credit to all of you guys here! One of the photos that DH sent included at least two of the doorstops in use.
And I passed along the towel advice that I eavesdropped on, which is, “a clump on the dresser may stay wet and get yucky fast”. He said, “I will be doing laundry at least every four days and I’ve already done it once [since arriving yesterday evening]”
Also, “This is so definitely the right place for me; I’m really really happy”
Ah, but the one issue: “Somehow I only packed three pairs of underwear” - unclear how this guy won as many math awards as he did, with those counting skills. 
He’s being a good sport answering my questions and bossiness, and I last texted him and really feel, “I’m so happy for you and simultaneously I feel like a part of my heart was ripped out and is walking around New Jersey at the moment”.
Thank you @livinginLA Actually this might work.
The deed is done. We left Friday morning for move-in, and I’m typing this on my phone as I fly to Southern California to spend a few days with my BFF before heading home. We had an uneventful but long flight from Hawaii to Boston. When we got in at 6am we took at shuttle provided by Northeastern for international students. I guess they consider Hawaii close enough to being international to count. We actually met our first student waiting for the shuttle to start at 8am. He is from New Zealand on a rowing scholarship. Very handy with all our heavy bags and he and my D have since become friends. He and his rowing buddies were over last night to play cards against humanity with the girls on D’s floor.
We get to the school, load up the big bin and walk on a beautiful summer morning to the dorm we knew was cute (a converted brownstone) but the big question was what would the room be like. Because this school is a financial stretch for us, one cost cutting measure was getting a cheaper triple. D has been fretting about storage and also did not want to be forced to bunk her bed with a desk underneath. Well, woohoo! The room in huge with great natural light and a good size walk in closet and the bed is on the floor. The next few hours are a blur of unpacking, Target run, package pick up from the mail room, meeting one of the roommates and her parents, and a Trader Joes run. At this point, we are both working with no more than an hour or two of sleep in the last 24 hours and I’m amazed neither of us has lost it.
We did not go to any orientations over the summer so we wouldn’t have the expense of making the trip twice. This last orientation is somewhat abbreviated compared to their others. The first day is parent orientation, then yesterday is students, today I left first thing in the morning but D has a second day for orientation. Tomorrow all other freshmen move in and they have a they have a slew of fun activities until classes start next Thursday.
I’d never been to Boston but now I see why D fell in love when she visited last February. I love the size, the history, the beauty, and the surprising friendliness. D said I was too “Hawaii friendly” when we were packed like sardines in the subway and I’m visiting with the people next to me. When we got off D told me its an unwritten rule you don’t talk. Tough darts kid, I’m gonna make the best of a bad situation. So I tried a subway for the first time since I was a student, an Airbnb, and countless Über rides. I’m so glad I didn’t rent a car. Driving in Boston would have turned my hair completely white.
As a vegan, she is not thrilled with the food but all the dining halls are not open yet, and I think she just needs to get creative with what’s available. We did try some great restaurants and food is definitely cheaper in Boston than Hawaii. Our final time together was last night. We were just supposed to stop by my Airbnb before going out to dinner. Once she saw a big comfy bed with air-conditioning, she decided she would rather have a nap. So our last two hours were me watching her like a creeper (her word) while she slept. I loved it. Nothing in the world is like watching your baby sleep. I called the Über to pick her up and it came way to fast. Quick hug and she was gone.
The last text I got this morning was that she was about to meet her academic advisor to try and make a number of adjustments to her schedule. I may not always be this confident, but at this point, I really feel she’s got this college freshman thing in the bag. She’s wanted this so much and for so long, it’s hard to imagine her being anything other than successful. As the late, great Gene Wilder’s character Willy Wonka said, “Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he ever wanted? He lived happily ever after.”
@bgbg4us it has been almost three weeks here and I was doing a lot better. But today I am missing my daughter so much. Just sitting and crying. Not sure why today - but I guess it will be up and down for a while.
@Ballerina016 Has she tried overnight oatmeal? Raw oats soaked in milk or non-dairy milk and honey overnight in the fridge. She can throw in nuts or fruit on top before eating.
Ballerina - does she have a fridge? Can she do overnight oats?
I promise I didn’t read RyanG1207’s response before posting mine! You can also substitute yogurt or kefir for milk.
@fretfulmother - As a guy, I can see his Math works out almost perfectly based on the laundry frequency. If he was doing laundry every two weeks on the other hand… 
Thank you @RyanG1207 I have never tried overnight oatmeal! I will try tonight!
@carlson2 Yes they have full kitchen with two full sized fridges, electric stove and microwave. I think eventually they will get it under control, it just this transaction from hot breakfast waiting for her in the morning to trying to do it herself will take time.
@Ballerina016 If your D16 has a microwave, some water, and 2 minutes, I strongly – did i say strongly?! – recommend the instant oatmeal packets called Better Oats Raw Pure & Simple, Bare (not flavored!). The taste and texture is like steel-cut Oats from scratch. I add a few walnuts halves and some raisins and tsp of ground flax seed with the 1 pouch (pouch serves as the measuring cup and is marked) of water. Zap for 2 minutes in a bowl or big cup. Add a shot of skim milk and a tsp of dark brown sugar.
Heaven every morning . It never gets old.
I have a standing Amazon.com order for boxes for this stuff. I think there are 5 or 6 packets in a box and about 6 boxes in a shipment. I order it because the grocery store just doesn’t stock Bare consistently, and I have no interest in the Better Oats pre-sweetened or flavored types).
It’s made of oats, with some barley, quinoa, flaxseed, and rye grains.
http://www.betteroats.com/product/raw-pure-simple-bare/
Yum!
This wisdom of this group always amuses me. Thank you @dyiu13
I am planning to use Amazon pantry to send her breakfast items and snacks.
So much delight hearing about the launch of all these DC16s. May they be sprinkled with stardust. Congrats, all you moms and dads! Done good, eh? And you too, Readingclaygirl!
The quarter system kids have not launched yet. This usually happens around 20th.
Zimmom, I know that I barely use phone, email, or text to communicate with my most favorite friends. The others get my quick hello, but i feel such a deep desire to share my best self with my most favorite people that they, ironicaly, hear less from me. (This is a bit of a perfectionists’ trait, at least in me.)
Because you are your DS’s “most special” person, you’re not hearing from him. Maybe!? Could it be that’s it’s much easier for him to greet and shoot the breeze with others because he unconsciously feels he would want to be more closely engaged if he’s speaking with you? Maybe he’s saving it up.
My kid has mom-zoned me to only permit Monday night phone calls. I’m gritting my teeth, but surviving. Trying to give her the gift of “agency.” It’s rough. Hanging in there, however. 
UChicago, Northwestern, and other quarters-schools must have freshman ready to burst with anticipation…or frustration. The waiting!