I have high school baseball withdrawal even though he is playing this summer, but realize that as of the end of day today, he has 35 days left before he moves into his college dorm for the first time. These are interesting times for me and mom, to say the least. Our son is not wasting a moments time while spending it with his friends. We hardly see him!!!!

Just was curious too see what other 06 grads parents, and even parents from previous years, what you are/have experienced during the summer before the kids left home for school, maybe for the last time.

Boomer, been there, done that....lol

The closer it got to Dday (dorm day) the harder it got! Nerves tend to get a little raw, don't know if its cause he was nervous or I was! But,
when the day came, as much as I didn't want to
admit that I'd do it, I cried like a baby and
so did his dad. (and I think he did too). It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done as a parent! Leaving your kid, who knows no one, 4 hours away from home is HORRIBLE!!

But, he survived and so did we! In fact, he will be leaving again in 25 days (not that I'm counting...lol). I think this time the tears won't be as bad for us and non existant for him!
lol

Enjoy this time with him...put away in the back of your mind all the little memories, cause now
the fun begins...for him especially and for you.
There's nothing like College baseball, especially when it's your kid on the field!

Good luck to you and your son.

23 days
564 hours
33885 minutes
2033104 seconds

Nervous? Yikes!

Excited for him and yet I am freaking out a little too.

No Dorm. He's renting a room at a house near the campus with a kid from Canada, eh!

mom.....

Thanks mom! I'm looking forward to the games and college atmosphere. At least in the beginning, we are going to travel to Florida for a week next spring to see his games.

Just a thought.....drive to Rochester, 9 1/2 hours....

flight to Rochester, 1 1/2 hours....

cost to attend school at the University of Rochester.....priceless!

sox fan....

Because of the large freshman class, they have done some remodeling and made some "triple" rooms, from the usual doubles, and reduced his room-and-board by 20%!!! It will be very interesting too see how three guys get along instead of just two.

No Dorms At Mesa CC. We found a nice 4 BR house in Tempe. It's about 2 miles from Mesa CC and 2 miles from ASU. He will room with one of the kids on the team. He's from Canada. Not too sure who else, other than the owner, nice guy from MN.

114 degrees in Phoenix today. Yikes!

Not a parent here, but I believe my nephew is headed south to Athens, Georgia on the 10th of August. Seems pretty early to me. I'll miss him being around of course. But a great time to be him! And his younger brother, and often his older brother will be around. I believe my sister-in-law will have the toughest time, but she's already planning a trip for Dogs vs. Pups weekend. Good luck to all of you with sons departing soon. What a great time in their lives!

You guys are starting to scare me... and I still have a year to go!

Ok, I just found out that they have a Monsoon season in Arizona...

What the....OK it can't be any worse than a good rainstorm here in Chicago, right?

22 days
549 hours
32988 minutes
1979293 seconds

But I'm not counting! LOL

There is nothing like driving through Pennsylvania, near Lake Erie, during a lake-effect snowstorm! The wife "white-knuckled" it for about an hour. Doesn't want to drive with me anymore in bad weather!!!!

Interesting topic. This is my 4th and last to go away. 2ndbasemom is right on. The closer it gets to the day, the more tense it gets. Remember from your child's standpoint, they have mixed emotions...joy of "being on their own", yet a fear of that unknown. So, I have found that as a "coping mechanism", and in order for them to "break away", there is a lot of arguing and short-tempers. Just try to take a step back and remember how you felt when you went away (underneath the bravado). This will really help.

I have also found that kids want to talk to you, and they will when they are ready. The more you press them or try to engage them, the less they seem willing to open up. Just be patient (I know it is really, really hard).

Have fun going to the store and buying those supplies for school...make an afternoon out of it (or an evening if you are so lucky to have your child give up part of their evening to go shopping with mom/dad). Go to one of their favorite restaurants...make it about him/her and enjoy it.

One last thing (I could go on forever about this subject), when they come back for winter break (Thanksgiving is always a little tense), and thereafter, you will still be getting your little boy or girl back...only an improved model. It is just a very cool thing to experience.

Speaking from experience... monsoon season is when the prevailing winds shift to the South and bring in moisture to Phoenix. The general result is a build up of thunderstorms every afternoon with a chance of a spotty thunderstorm. Generally, all you get is 10 minutes of wind & 10 drops of rain. The best thing about it is the temp drops- maybe only 100, instead of 110!!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by boris:
"The closer it gets to the day, the more tense it gets."

Boris, It's just the opposite here. He is cool as a cucumber. Maybe too cool!

I think I'm the one who is gonna lose it. He is just worried that I might lose it at his going away party. A couple of his friends said that they were gonna cry...so, I told them then they can't come. LOL

We won't know how anything will turn out until it all happens.

I am just so excited for him. What an opportunity.

He won't be lonely in AZ. There are 11 kids from his graduating class that are either going to ASU or Mesa.

sox fan...he may be cool now, but just wait for that goodbye at his room....it'll tear your heart out...(and as much as he doesn't want to admit it...his too)

Boomer, I'm glad my kid went down to a warmer climate. I hate driving (and flying) in the snow. Being in Rochester though, he'll probably have more games on the road at first.
That's a good thing! Florida is GREAT in the
beginning of Feb lol. Great weather and Great
Baseball!!! Best of both worlds!

Good luck to all of us who have to "let go" for
the first time or AGAIN!

sox fan, you have a pm

Boris,

You have a PM

Boomer,

Spent the day "peddling my wares" in Rochester today and drove past the University of Rochester campus a few times. It is certainly a beautiful place and the city is in growth mode.

Being a year removed from the departure experience I remember the hide and seek about the emotions involved sending your child away from school from all the parties involved. My son is about 35 miles and it was tough. The University made it even tougher on the family day.

As many of you know my son attends and plays for the University of Chicago. The family day
format had a several members speak to the parents and newly admitted students at the breathtaking Rockfeller Cathedral. At the end of the program, the students are lead through the campus by a large group of bagpipers. The cathedrals clarion bells add additional emotion.The students stop in a courtyard and , after hugs and tears from parents, proceed through parent-proof massive iron gate. They hook up with their house leaders for a night of fun. The parents are escorted stage righty promptly. Talk about pulling the blanketed infant from the parents arms.

The good news...stage right consisted of wine and beer and fancy snacks. Oh well...the beer was cold.

boris....

We're going through that "arguing and short temper" stuff, to the point where when I finally capture him to discuss a few things, he's moving around the house to where we might misunderstand what the other said, because voices don't always carry around corners!!!!

Then we get cranky, and then I finally loose my train of thought (it's easy now at my age) on what all the things were that I wanted to discuss with him, then he either leaves to go do something with his friends, or goes to his room and closes the door.


mom....

THANKS!!! Andy's our last to attend college, and the brightest, but I must say he is really a great kid, with many friends, and he at times can be pretty cool. Sometimes!!!!


Isc59....

He was really considering Chicago, and was accepted via Early Action, but for some reason, probably money, he changed his mind. I know, I know, the University of Chicago is a great education, but they only offered a small fraction of the cost compared to Rochester, Tufts and Tulane. I mean a small fraction. Dunne, our second baseman, was offered the same money, and he turned it down also. Coach Budeselich was not happy to hear about that. Anyway, I guess we will see one another during the UAA Tournament. I don't know how 'ceremonial' things will be at Rochester, but I'm sure tears will be shed!!!