GAH! I just chopped off a limb and left it in student halls 3 hours away. How many Boost and Star bars am I allowed per hour?

[ForkTines]

DD2 has shut herself in her room with loud music.
Might buy a puppy.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

We dropped our eldest off on Friday and it was so much harder than I expected. She's being very brave but got upset tonight because she hasn't made any friends yet. I told her it's very early days, but I'm hurting for her so much.

I’m an only child and when I went off to university (in 1997, eek!), every time I rang home my mum was full of all the enjoyable things they’d done; days up to London, theatre trips, lunches with friends etc. I loved hearing this because I didn’t want to be missed, I wanted to know that they were having a nice time too.
They would come down once a term, take me and a couple of friends to Browns where we would eat like kings, do a food shop for me and then leave me to it. Occasionally I would receive, unexpectedly, a parcel with things like new socks, tea bags, sweets and a crisp £50 note.

We also had email for the first time, in a computer room in halls. I would email once or twice a week while my washing was doing. I found out years later that my mum would print out every one of them to read with her cup of tea later. She’s still got them and I’m 46!

Honestly though, she wrote a book a few years ago about her life, and the time when she and my dad were in their late 40s and through their 50s, when I had moved out sound brilliant. They made the most of the freedom, did so many enjoyable things like going to Italy or France on a whim for the weekend. Now they’re in their late 70s they have all those great memories to look back on (even though they still do more holidays than I do!).

DD1 was dropped off yesterday.
The air in the house today is just... different. The whole sensation of the house has changed. It's such a strange phenomenon, it's not like she's never left the house before!!- and yet the change today is so palpable. DD2 is putting a brave face on but is clearly hurting. Same for me tbh. I'm happy for her, excited for her, but by god I'm going to miss her. And yes, I know she'll be back, we can visit, etc etc - but (all being well), this is the start of something new for her, and she'll never quite be the same person ever again. Feeling your pain OP!

DS has been gone for 8 days. It is still surreal. The days of their childhood are long but the years are so short.

He has kept in touch and is enjoying it. First lectures are tomorrow - I hope he still likes it!