Please post your tips and tricks to those of us facing this parenting challenge....
from advice on handling the emotions to what to pack and do not forget....to funny stories!

Oh, and to how to handle the son who just doesn't seem to get it and is waiting for the last minute to get his act together.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I liked to give my ds magazine subscriptions so he'd have SOMETHING in the mailbox when he got the blues. I'd also send cards for Halloween, Christmas, etc. Packing, forget it..my son is aspergers so half the stuff stayed in the suitcase LOL.
Remind him to change his sheets frequently ! I can't tell you how many CS forget to do that. I had to throw out my ds's pillow , it was so rank.
Pack cold meds and assorted health needs. The kids pick up quite a few colds.
GOOD LUCK!

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Live, Love, Laugh

Thanks for the idea on the mag subscriptions...we at MC now how to find those free or cheap!
I'm pretty good at the care package thing....I'm afraid that he's going to have pretty high expectations there! His birhtday is two weeks after he is gone....so I definitely need to get thinking on that.

Thanks!
cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

When we took DS1 to drop him off, the college had a big parent/student orientation in the auditorium. At the end of the program, the students got up and went out the front doors, and parents were instructed to exit through the back to symbolize the separation. This was after a very emotional speech about children leaving the nest and heading out on their own. I don't think there was a dry eye in the place. I bawled half the way home.

Discusss the meal packages with your child and try to be reasonable. Many colleges offer additional flex money, which we thought was a big waste.

Here's what not to do. Don't be tempted to buy those silly "care packages" offered as a fund raiser for some group or the college. They are ususally pretty lame, and not always delivered to the right person. Sometimes they are left outside the student's room if they are not in....and other people on the floor enjoy them.

I'd put things like razors, fabric softner sheets, phone cards, etc on my cs's care packages

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Live, Love, Laugh

We are in the same boat-we are taking Patrick on Monday-I can't believe it. I do think it would be a lot easier taking a boy to college than a girl-he is not bringing that much stuff. One thing that was recommended to use is to buy cinderblocks to raise the bed; therefore allowing room for storage underneath. Also, figuring he would not be getting up @8am for breakfast, we just got him the 2meals a day program with extra flex bucks. So, I think we will be stocking him up on pop-tarts as well. Knowing him though, they will all be gone the first week of school! They do have a microwave and a fridge in the room, so I am going to get some Chef-Boyardee single serves so that he doesn't blow all of his flex bucks whenever he is only a little bit hungry. I appreciate all the tips too.

When my oldest went to college, part of his scholarship included room and board. I told him to take the 3 meals even if he did not eat them all, he had the choice. Send lots of socks, boys can't keep track of them. Boys take less stuff. My son was going 800 miles away so it was easier than my daughter going about 100 miles. We had my son put on our checking account so that we could get him money if needed. He was good. He only need it a few times in four years and he always asked first. He had a monthly stipend as part of his scholarship.

You're right LInnybop, it is easier taking a boy than a girl!! Although I think my son came home with more stuff than he left.

And, my dd was ready way ahead of time, and my dd probably didn't pack till the day before!! It's the nature of the beast I"m afraid. LOL

This sure is a hard time for mom's huh?? I'm still sad my dd had to leave. She went to college at 17 and never came home. I hate that......


Melissa

CJ, I can't believe this time has finally arrived for you!! I'm so happy/sad for you.

Obviously I have no advice - my people are still in the single digits...

But I remember in our dorms "back in the day" that we couldn't have enough Lipton Cup-A-Soup in our rooms. I had a thing called a "Hot Shot" that boiled one cup of water in one minute. Then poured in that dehydrated soup mix. I lived on that with crackers - whenever I missed a meal. And, of course, granola bars. Can't have enough.

Don't foget the flip-flops, so your DS doesn't pick up athlete's foot in the showers, if he shares a common showering area with others.

You're going to get through this! HUGS!!!! You're a great mom- and I'll bet your DS will be the most prepared kid at school! (Let me know if he needs any Irish Spring...)

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I also talked to my BFF today-she had a really good point-vitamins. Apparently, those college campuses are just full of germs-who would have thought-a bunch of teenagers that can't clean a toilet! I am sending him w/ a bunch of Lysol wipes, and a full supply of Airborne. As a 17/18 year old boy, I doubt he will use any of it, but it makes me feel better.

DS is going to school about 900 miles from home, so I also have to balance what to take vs. what to buy when we get there. But vitamins we can fit - good idea! And of course the distance means that we won't be seeing him on weekends. I think that's OK because I do want him to become independent and ready for the real world, but at the same time, I want to be able to catch him if he falls...

Appreciate the ideas...keep 'em coming! It is definitely bittersweet.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

cj, I forget, is your kid coming to Va?

No, he was accepted at UVa but chose UIllinois - great engineering school! Two of his classmates will be his roommates - that makes it a bit easier.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

My ds would use his coffee maker to make ramen noodles in. We'd go to Sam's club and buy Gatorade, chef boy r dees, etc. He really enjoyed the single servings of Hamburger helper..but they were expensive. My son did not get up for breakfasts either.

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Live, Love, Laugh

That makes it a lot easier. My son is in his last year at Valpo in Engineeering. We are in Illinois and got a better deal at Valpo than Southern Illinois. He was only an hour away, but it didn't make it any easier. I was depressed for a good month the first time he left. But now I can hardly wait till he leaves this weekend!LOL. I can finally get into that bedroom of his and clean it!

They have wonderful sturdy bed raisers at Walmart and Target, if you don't want to use cinderblocks.Make sure you get him a good matress pad and a foam topper. Those matresses are not the greatest! All of Alex's friends used to fight over sitting on his bed. It was very comfy. He had his first room mate that slept on the mattress never put on sheets!!!!LOL
Make sure he has a bike for that first year. They used his a lot, as he was not allowed to have a car. Tool Kit comes in very handy, small vacum cleaner if he has a rug (recommended) He'll need quarters for laundry or money in an account for that.

I also used to send him home with homemade cookies. They made him feel at home.
(((HUGS)))) it will be hard at first but it will get better. You will be surprised at the kids that don't last in college. At his meeting they had all the kids line up and tell them to look to the left and look to the right. They said most likely they won't be here after the first year...and you know what ???They weren't. Good Luck to your son!

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

devinmom - i had a hotpot too, but the kids take microwaves for their rooms these days! j. is bringing the microwave and the rugs (75% off at Target).....oh, and the Irish Spring!! LOL...just kidding.... one guy is bring the fridge, and the other the TV.

i think i need to wait on bed risers. they will probably have the dorm put bunks in for 2 of them, and loft the other bed to make more space. they have a triple.

this is a really dumb question...but how much clothing do you think a boy needs to bring...will he do laundry weekly? does he need enough clothes to last 2 weeks? the kid never wears anything twice, but i'm thinking that might change....or he'll have a mountain of jeans to wash!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Boys never do their laundry! They usually hook up with a girl to get it done. Give him enough socks for a month. When my ds was a senior, we came for parents week in Oct. He had all his dirty clothes in baskets. We took it to my parents house (we lived 800 miles away) and did about 10 loads. My ds went to Marquette in Milwaukee where we use to live. He had aunt, uncles and grandparents close by but never went to anyone's house to do it.

I told him that "all the ladies at MyCoupons" were saying that he'd never do laundry and that we needed to plan for that....he said "you mean I can just not do it?". Ahhhh, he just doesn't have his head around the freedom he's going to have....ugh.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I am so stressing out just reading this thread! My ds is only starting 4th grade -but he is my one and only - and I don't know if I'll be able to handle it if he goes to school 800-900 miles away!!!
A couple of years ago he said he was going to go to Mississippi College (which is like 1/2 mile from our house) so he could come home and eat dinner with me every night - I wish that would happen but I'm 99% certain it won't. Best of luck to all of you going through this now.

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Mom to 3 - one with 2 legs and 2with 4!

My advise is this: Don't go out and buy a bunch of new stuff to send him off with. Give him the older stuff you already have at home. I went off to college with towels, dishes, bedding, etc. that was from home. My mother figured there was no use in spending $ on new stuff that was just going to have a hard life. Better to use the rest of the life out of the older things. Plus, if she sent me off to college with the old towels, she could get new ones for home lol!

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

My dd went to a local community college first. Then she went away to school but started in Jan. She was working at Target so knowing she was going in Jan. she grab all the college stuff when it went on sale. She got sheet sets for $3, a rug for $2, etc. She also bought beach towels for $2 that she took to school.

Oh yeah, he is headed off with almost all of his new things purchased from the previous two years' back-to-school markdowns.....I plan ahead! From his $12.48 microwave, to his $4 XL Twin sheet sets to the $20 5x* room rug - I got it covered. LOL.

Targetgirl....for his clothes, I am definitely doing as you say and not buying new. I figure he can wear that stuff out and toss it and not bring it home. (excpet for the fact that I had to buy new socks and underwear since everyone has said he won't do his laundry!) Am also sending some old things, just for sentimental value.....he is taking an afghan that my grandmother made me that he has been using for the past several years. Just happens to be the one that I took to the very same college as a freshman 31 years ago....

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Weeeelllll.....I got e-mail from the boy last night that he did his laundry for the first time.....he's been there for two weeks, so that's about right given the amount of socks and boxers he had! He called to ask for directions, but didn't get an answer, so figured it out on his own. Smart boy! His only gripe was that he spent $7 doing it. Welcome to the real world, she said to me...

So, so far, so good.....

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Did he mention if the clothes came out the right color and not pink? <Or blue, dh washed my whites one time bfore we was married and he turned them all a awful blue color>

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