Page 6 | To ask what emergency supplies you send with your DC when they start uni?

SkylarFerris · 31/08/2021 19:26

Loving this thread. Taking lots of notes.

peaceanddove · 31/08/2021 19:32

@steppemum

I talked about thsi thread at lunch time.

I was smiling at the fairy lights and car full of air fryers etc.

dd1 (16) - but mum, most of the girls going to uni really will have that.
dh - no seriously? scatter cushions and fairy lights? At uni?????
ds (18) - heading to uni in 2 weeks, and currently ill with tonsilitis - medical kit and mugs sounds great mum, yes please.

Love this. Our DD created her own Pinterest board for inspiration for her university room. She's packing several strings of fairy lights, plants, fluffy cushions and a mahoosive velvet beanbag (thankfully being delivered direct).

DH was most nonplussed.

maddiemookins16mum · 31/08/2021 19:51

Hot water bottle.
Mini screwdriver kit/ screwdriver for spectacles (those keyring ones are good)
Nail clippers
Pack of fuses
An extension lead

GnomeDePlume · 01/09/2021 06:30

Doing the trolley dash through Asda and Wilkinsons with both DDs was fun and exciting. The rainy day boxes were just a fun thing put together over the months leading up to their departure. It was my surprise gift when we left them in their new room.

When I went off to uni my DPs were distracted by other things. My DB took me up. I had my clothes, a duvet and a bottle of gin. My DPs attitude was that once I was 18 their job was done. I was envious of other people's care parcels from parents.

Undertheoldlindentree · 01/09/2021 07:13

Not food or medicine....but these are all extra items DS had to get quickly after arriving and seeing his room for the first time:

Mattress topper (same size as the uni bed...often small double size and hard to find in shops). A couple of very long extension cords. Extra bedside/desk lamp. Tiny bedside table (often isn't one)...can double up as plant stand if bedside table already there. Cheap rug for floor. Over-door hooks.

Mini first aid kit is great idea. Make sure all repeat prescriptions are on a postal service and set to term-time address.

Treats...afraid I used the dreaded Amazon to send bars of chocolate, popcorn etc as occasional surprises in the post. Also UberEats to send relatively healthy takeaway during self-isolation/lockdown or big assignments.

FirewomanSam · 01/09/2021 11:14

Something I didn’t have but which I reckon would be so handy is one of those sock airer things with all the little clips. Memories of doing loads of laundry and then having to hang knickers and socks on every available surface in my tiny room in halls!

PlasticOrchid · 01/09/2021 11:29

@FirewomanSam

Something I didn’t have but which I reckon would be so handy is one of those sock airer things with all the little clips. Memories of doing loads of laundry and then having to hang knickers and socks on every available surface in my tiny room in halls!

A socktopus! £3 in Ikea.

newnortherner111 · 01/09/2021 12:24

I get why you are or have considered this, but it does highlight how little prepared many young people are for the adult world.

NerrSnerr · 01/09/2021 12:28

@newnortherner111

I get why you are or have considered this, but it does highlight how little prepared many young people are for the adult world.

I don't think it's about being prepared. My parents didn't do any of this for me when I went to university (about 3 weeks after I turned 18). I was able to buy medicine etc and did but it would have made me feel happy to have received a care package or some essentials.

I was jealous of my friends who got packages through with biscuits, nice bubble bath etc. Of course all of us were able to go to Tesco but it would have helped the transition in my opinion.

Glitterblue · 01/09/2021 12:34

My granny used to collect a box of bits and pieces to send with me - tea and nice coffee, toiletries, nice biscuits, tins of things, lots of little bits and pieces.

ssd · 01/09/2021 12:36

@EmptyNesterSoon

DD2 is off to uni in a fortnight.

When DD1 went I put together a small storage crate full of chemist items, first aid stuff, cough and cold remedies (lucky I did as she was really laid low with freshers' flu within a week of arrival). Emergency hangover kit - long life vegetable and fruit juices like V8, long life milk and breakfast bars so she could lie in bed and restore herself. Homesickness treats - fluffy socks and lots of chocolate and a cuddly toy.
And a few more serious items like drink spike test strips.

When DD's friend went to uni last year I did similar for her too as she has lost her Mum.

Now it is DD2's turn, so I made a start today in Boots with extra advice from a helpful chap on the pharmacy till.

Just wondering if others do this too and if so what items do you put in?

This is lovely of you to do it for dds friend too

Now am going to read thread with interest

steppemum · 01/09/2021 12:47

I was very well prepared, as is ds. Totally independant and no, I don't NEED to do anything.

But we are planning a trip round Dunelm and The Range and Asda, to get things he needs (including bedding) and a box of food/snacks.

I don't need to. He has been working since he was 16, pays for and runs his own car, and has money saved. He could easily sort it all out for himself. He has done all the rest of the prep himself. We didn't go on any uni visits with him! (well, Covid, so he didn't go either)

But it is a nice things to do, and a nice way to send him off with all he needs, and some fuss and love.

(and I might slip a photo of the dog in there, maybe even one of the rest of the family!)

steppemum · 01/09/2021 12:49

unbelievably, yesterday ds said he needed to buy an airer, as he has been reading the reviews and apparantly the dryers are expensive and rubbish!

ssd · 01/09/2021 14:29

Good on him, he's well prepared

nokidshere · 01/09/2021 14:36

I get why you are or have considered this, but it does highlight how little prepared many young people are for the adult world.

They don't need to do it. My two did pretty much everything themselves. They are totally independent of me. But it's nice, and it's fun to add the little touches for their first exciting adventure living away from home isn't it?

It's perfectly possible to raise well rounded independent children and still enjoy their company and doing little things for them.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 01/09/2021 16:14

@newnortherner111

I get why you are or have considered this, but it does highlight how little prepared many young people are for the adult world.

I thought I was a helicopter parent, but even I realise that my son's soon-to-be university city has shops and if he finds he needs a kettle, condoms or extra pan, he can trot along to the local supermarket and buy them for himself!

We don't have a very large car so there's a limit to what we can take anyway.

Doing a care packet for a friend who lost her mum is a lovely idea though.

MumW · 01/09/2021 16:50

This is what I put in my DC's emergency shoe boxes. I also packed a basic store cupboard - pasta, pasta sauces, a couple of tins of beans, tomatoes etc, cornflour, cereals, tea bags, coffee, sugar etc, toiletries and cleaning products to start her off.
Chocolate bar, Hot chocolate sachets, Pens (red, green, blue & black), Pain killers, imodium, Plasters, Blister plasters, face masks, hand sanitiser, Tissues, bottle of water, Screwdriver (for plugs), spare fuses,
Cheap Toothbrushes (for guests who forgot), toothpaste, nail file, Sanitary products, small torch, Paper clips, elastic bands, string etc, Hair ties, Safety pins, Emergency meal (packet of instant pasta), mini box of cereal, Plastic cutlery & paper plate, Pack of cards, Notepad, travel Shower Gel/shampoo, Ear plugs, couple of aa & aaa Batteries, toilet roll (if box is big enough)
I'm sure there were a couple of other things that I popped in as I thought about it and forgot to add to the list.

FascinatingCarrot · 01/09/2021 18:02

I did a Costco shop, so bulk bought loo rolls toothpaste soap powder etc.
Big Tesco shop for all the basic herbs, tins etc
Multi vits and vit d
Face masks
A usb charged bedside lamp as he only had a main light

TweedePrik · 01/09/2021 19:26

Mentioned this thread to dd and she was gobsmacked that I'd even interfere as she can organise herself, thanks. And there are shops. I expect she'll be happy with the cold, hard cash though

MrsSkylerWhite · 01/09/2021 20:32

TweedePrik

Mentioned this thread to dd and she was gobsmacked that I'd even interfere as she can organise herself, thanks. And there are shops. I expect she'll be happy with the cold, hard cash though grin”

We’ll that’s great, for her (really, no sarcasm, it is)

Some young adults have had a shitty 18 months, though. Ours got no more than 6 days face to face because of his CEV dad, didn’t see anyone of his own age for that entire time whilst we all shielded to protect dad and missed the vital formative time at Sixth Form.

sergeantmajormum · 01/09/2021 20:51

I did 2 nice tins bought on Amazon which kept things together - one was first aid and another “useful” bits : small torch, batteries, small screwdriver kit, sellotape, sewing kit, safety pins, emergency £20 note, matches, pins for noticeboard etc.
Mattress topper was really useful and made bed cosier as some halls mattresses are pretty thin. Bathmat. Towel rack that fits over radiator. Bottle of vodka. Spice rubs make a boring chicken piece tastier. Cake and doorstop makes the first afternoon more sociable.

KateF · 01/09/2021 20:54

Aww you are such lovely mum's. My mother accompanied me on the train, helped me carry my suitcases to my room, had a cup of tea and left with a cheery "see you at Christmas"!
She never sent me anything but my nanna used to send the occasional fiver, cupasoup and KitKat's which were always crushed but tasted of love.

TeenWars · 01/09/2021 21:47

@TweedePrik

Mentioned this thread to dd and she was gobsmacked that I'd even interfere as she can organise herself, thanks. And there are shops. I expect she'll be happy with the cold, hard cash though

I think it's hard not to feel slightly envious when other kids get first aid parcels - I know I did 30 years ago, after taking a ferry and a train by myself....I'd have loved to have parents who delivered a small treat and even sometimes flatmate's parents visited and treated us all to a meal out - not my parents though - they never thought I needed anything other than begged for cash.

Havanananana · 01/09/2021 21:52

How times have changed.

I can't remember anyone turning up with a care box when I went to Uni (many moons ago) and I think we would have laughed ourselves silly had anyone actually done so.

My neighbour in halls did receive something from home about six weeks into the first term. This was long before the days of mobile phones and internet and there was only one phone in halls for about 400 resident students. She received an envelope, in which was a stamped addressed envelope, addressed to her parents, and two blank sheets of writing paper. I think that they were hinting.

ninja · 01/09/2021 21:57

I was just planning to do a massive supermarket shop with her when I take her down - I thought that'd leave more space in the car for all of her stuff. Stock up on cupboard food, medicine, washing stuff, alcohol and anything else she realises she's forgotten!