The kids are gone…Now what?
A quick story about our move in day: Let me just tell you that my son is a bright kid, very mature, and pulled together. He had put a lot of thought and preparation into this move in day. He was excited and ready. But when he opened the door to his room and saw the size of his new living quarters, he froze. He couldn’t make a decision on even the smallest things. His mood was foul and generally unpleasant. I don’t think he really recovered until after we left. If you knew my son, you’d know just how out of the ordinary this was. We all process things at our own pace and in our own way. For him, it was when that door opened. The reality sunk in and hit him like a ton of bricks.
Hindsight’s twenty-twenty. If we knew then what we know now, there are some things we would have done different to make the whole process smoother. We’d like to share some of the tips and tricks we wish we would have known ahead of time:
Room Amenities – Know what’s included in the room. The furniture that is provided in the room can be obtain from the school website. Often times, the measurements of the room are provided as well. If the school website doesn’t provide it, you may find a social media post or YouTube Video of a student that lived in your child’s dorm the year before. Having the measurements can be helpful in determining what you’ll need to bring with you and what will fit in the space. A word of caution on this though: My son got the measurements and figured everything out down to the inch. He even drew up a plan and shared it with his future roommate. When we got there, we found that there was one column of rooms that were a slightly different size due to the architecture of the outside of the building. And wouldn’t you know it, my son had one of those rooms.
Appliance Wattage – Keep in mind limitations are often set for wattage, especially if the building is older. Every school is different, but it’s worth knowing ahead of time if that mini fridge or microwave your child is planning on packing will be within those guidelines.
Now the hard part… In the midst of unpacking, lofting beds, and putting together wooden shelves, you’re going to be faced with the reality that this whole day has been one big crappy march towards saying goodbye. You’ll feel the clock ticking and the minutes slipping away. I can tell you it’s all going to be OK. Now is the time to be strong and focus on the task at hand. It’s likely the tears will come at the most unexpected moment, but try your best. Your kid really does need you to be strong.
So be aware that this is an exciting time for your child, but they’re dealing with a lot. It’s a big change. Be patient. Be strong. There will be great days ahead.
Parent Tip #35,422 – Pack your patience. But if your child freezes like ours did, you may need to get them out of the room so you can get stuff put away. Send them on an errand. They may not be thinking straight, so you need to.
Check out our article on must have products for your child’s dorm.
When it comes to choosing a laptop for college students, there are many factors to consider. Some key features include battery life, portability, processing power, and storage space. After careful research and analysis, we’ve compared the best laptops for college students.
Whether they’re casting their lines at the crack of dawn on a serene lake or battling the roaring waves of the open sea, there’s something
10. Wireless Earbuds Useful for listening to music on the way to class. Depending on your child’s phone type (Android, Apple, or Other), here are
