Taking my son to first year of college tomorrow...struggling

[gacook]

Wife and I have raised a blended family (2 of hers, 3 of mine). We're down to one minor child left--my youngest son.

Her younger son is in the Army--was hard for her to see him go, but it's great seeing him do well. We're both very proud of him. He goes on his first deployment very soon.

My oldest daughter is starting her senior year of college. Wasn't hard to let her go, because school is only an hour away. I'm loving seeing her make her own life. Can't wait to see what waves she makes in the world after school.

Middle daughter is just starting college--community college. She moved out of mom's house (we shared custody) and into mine. It's great having her there, but being an adult is freaking her out. She's always been the one who requires the most attention. She'll be ok, though.

My son's future is still unknown, but I'm looking forward to him moving on to his next chapter in 3 years.

I love my kids dearly, but seeing them progress through the chapters of their lives is the most rewarding part of parenting to me. Even though that means letting them go. At 18, I give each "the speech"--You're an adult now. You're on your own, but I'll always be here to pick you up if needed. I am always willing to advise you in anything--what you choose to do with that advice is up to you. Enjoy life.

That last part I really mean. Life is meant to be enjoyed. I think it's important as a parent to step back and let them find what gives them enjoyment in this huge world.

[Jolly Amaranto]

When we dropped my daughter off, it was very emotional. We trusted her and she did not let us down. She had taken a "gap year" and backpacked around the UK and Europe so we knew that if she handled that OK that she would be alright. One of her birthday presents right before college was a tool box full of basic stuff like screw drivers, wrenches, a hammer, small saw etc. She was the hit in her dorm. She kept a check-out list whenever anyone borrowed anything so she knew where to get it back. My son two years later was quite different. He did not want to go the same place as "Big Sister" but they had the classes and majors that he wanted so he ended up there anyway. To embarrass his sister he had his hair cut to a spiked mow-hawk and stood out like a sore thumb at a very conservative University. Everybody was commenting on the freshman with the mow-hawk and she did not claim his to be her brother. Eventually he started a fad and when a bunch of other guys started wearing similar hairdos he shaved it all off and grew a normal hair cut. By the next year, they had bonded and started hanging out together, something they had never done before. Sure surprised my wife and I. They both graduated with honors and are now successful in their carriers.

[beatnavy]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Enjoy that crappy drive to Blacksburg. Also, get used to the 300% price hike in the local hotels, even as far out as I-81 when Va Tech has some event, including move in weekend. I will recommend the Fairfield Inn and Sweets at Christiansburg exit on 81, nice to have a Cracker Barrel next door.

^^ Yup ^^

We stayed at the Econo Lodge in Christiansburg right off I-81 a couple of times. Not because it was a good place (it wasn't), but it was cheap, right off the highway, and right next to Fatback Soul Shack (good food and live music). Some motels in the area are pretty nasty. Last time we stayed at one of the new(er) hotels on the other side of the school golf course, across 460. Nothing right next to them but they are pretty close to campus and town. And they're new and don't smell like a**.

Beretta, now you can turn some attention to your 8th grader. High school is a minefield for young people nowadays, as you know, but especially for girls. Good luck to her and your whole family.

[Cdnone1]

Here is a little of what we went through

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/613180-after-four-long-sometime-tough-years-my-son-left-morning-4.html

[carambola]

Went through something similar
I figured if I didn't crack
The homesick would be easier

[sugarwood]

Parting with $200k will make any man cry.

[Roswell]

^^^

yep...

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Thanks all. Blacksburg bound tomorrow afternoon. I do think it’s the right place for him but am already counting the days to thanksgiving break.

Congrats man. My son is a senior and Virginia Tech is his #1 choice. I am already thinking the same thing, I am going to be a mess sending him off.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Parting with $200k will make any man cry.

Those are rookie numbers.

[berettafan]

The money is a tough one for sure but honestly not the hardest part.

Couple days ago my daughter came in the front door rather noisily and my wife instinctively said 'Oh Jack is home from work'. Then we were watching the O's game and it was a crazy one with a ton of home runs and wild plays. Wife says 'omg if Jack was here he'd be going nuts!'. Sad moments for sure.

We got a call from him Friday. Sounds like he's enjoying himself and likes his roommate. Thank goodness. That took a HUGE weight off our shoulders. We are seeing multiple 'my kid called and wants to come home' posts in the parents groups. Has to be a nightmare for those parents. More experienced parents have chimed in saying 'give it two to three weeks before you rush down there and rescue your kid'. Other experienced parents are saying 'be prepared for the coming 'my professor is awful' and 'this is impossible!' texts and calls in the first couple weeks of school.

Been really busy since then with work and this past weekend had a major 3 day clays tournament that involved 12 hours total in the car (yep, thanks to tuition costs i'm driving back and forth each day instead of grabbing a hotel) and 450 targets. Cool part about the event was I met 3 Hokies who were working it as trappers. Chatted with two and came away impressed. Certainly helps to validate the choice even if it was just 2 of 30,000 kids.

[herr_oberst]

I'm impressed with the quality of craftsmanship of those shotgun steadyrests! Good lumber selection, tight joints, looks like they even plugged the screwholes.

Good luck to you the next 8 or nine years while you deal with the college deal. You're a good dad.

[bivenator]

Dropped my daughter on Saturday. Brought her home on Sunday. She tested positive for Covid and will now miss at least the first week. Not the start we had hoped for.

[Jolly Amaranto]

I married into a Virginia Tech family. My wife and one of her brothers graduated from there and both my in-laws graduated from VPI in the early 50s. "Mom" was one of the only women on campus at that time but her dad worked for the university. My father-in-law ran track and still keeps up with all the sports, only giving up his season football tickets a few years ago when Mom 's health issues prevented them from going.

[beatnavy]

Originally Posted by berettafan

We got a call from him Friday. Sounds like he's enjoying himself and likes his roommate. Thank goodness. That took a HUGE weight off our shoulders. We are seeing multiple 'my kid called and wants to come home' posts in the parents groups. Has to be a nightmare for those parents. More experienced parents have chimed in saying 'give it two to three weeks before you rush down there and rescue your kid'. Other experienced parents are saying 'be prepared for the coming 'my professor is awful' and 'this is impossible!' texts and calls in the first couple weeks of school.

That's all good. I don't, however, understand those parents that entertain the idea of "rescuing" their kids. They'll never grow up if that happens.

My wife took our son (also Jack) to the overnight orientation they did for them in like June or July prior to showing up for freshman year. The first day there she made small talk with a mom whose kid was sure he wanted to go to VT. They actually sold their house in Hawaii and moved the family to Virginia to be in-state. After the overnight orientation the kid was like "No! I don't want to go here!!!" The mom was actually thinking "Gee, what should we do now? He doesn't like it." Darn good thing that wasn't my kid.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by bivenator

Dropped my daughter on Saturday. Brought her home on Sunday. She tested positive for Covid and will now miss at least the first week. Not the start we had hoped for.

Ugh!!! That is gonna be a lot of work for her. Hopefully professors are a bit more practiced at dealing with this nowadays.

[Rikao4]

had a met up from Jungle school ;
Panama Red days ..
Al and I go ...
well there and then are some places.
best forgotten and not talked about...
his son looked was just flabbergasted..
a true joy and evening...


Rika.