Preparing for Uni in 2015 continues...

[Chillywhippet]

New thread

Old one here with loads of info

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2408327-Preparing-for-Uni-in-2015

Arf at taking your glasses off Horse

Thanks Chilly for that info on the CardsInThePost - will go have a look.

GOOD LUCK for everyone moving their DC's this weekend!

Thank goodness NO boyfriends to complicate matters this end! And yes my DD also said "home" after being there 6 days!!! She got involved in a 'drinking game' (my very sensible almost non drinking dd) and was feeling very delicate this morning - had a 9am meeting at uni as well this morning!! Also just messaged me to say some of the boys had invited others to watch rugby in the shared kitchen and she was in there making cupcakes in her pjs when 15 boys walked in!!

Muffinmonster - twelve years ago I could have been your daughter. I was absolutely certain that the people I would be living with wouldn't be my type at all. The accommodation I was going to was in one of the posher halls of residence at my chosen university and its brochure made mention of all sorts of activities that just weren't me at all. When the final details came through I was beside myself as to make matters worse I had been allocated a shared room. I rang my mum at work in hysterics, telling her that there was no way on earth I would be sharing with anybody let alone someone who liked classical music (I was more the clubbing type) She's dined out on the conversation we had for years, as to cut a long story short I did go and from the moment I got there and met my room mate I loved every minute. There were 8 of us in shared double rooms on the top floor of an old house and I've often wondered who it was who matched us together because we all got on like a house on fire and are still the closest of friends today despite now being scattered up and down the country with OHs, partners and children.
I hope your daughter (and everyone else's children going to university) are as lucky as we were.

Millymae - my room mate in my first year at uni became my best friend. We shared flats at uni, flats when we left and even bought a flat together. She's now godmother to my kids. Some good matching went on there too!

Dd just had a massive melt down, doesn't feel she is clever enough to go and doesn't feel she has everything ready. This the girl with the A* in her subject and the mum who has spent the last few weeks making sure everything is ready. She's full of cold and sleep deprived already. I hope tomorrow goes smoothly.

Tomorrow is our big day - taking DD to uni. Luckily it's only 30 miles away. She has barely packed, I am totally unprepared and haven't done her a lovely hamper or anything. My mum died a week ago which while not too sad has left me very disorientated. Wish I'd done more for DD. We went out for farewell meal tonight - finally met BF, who I liked very much. Going to miss her - except she'll be back in a few days for mum's funeral. Lucky to have had amazing mum and daughter - will miss them both in different ways.

MrsRhod I should think meltdown at this point absolutely normal! Such big change for them and us.

Coroo, I'm so sorry to read about your mum, such a difficult time for you. Dh's brother died just a few weeks ago, it does turn your word upside down.

Tonight has not gone as I hoped, we'll have to try hard to make tomorrow better. I haven't done a hamper either, but I think dd will discover a lot of things she knows nothing about when she unpacks.

Look after yourself Cooroo. Sorry to hear about your mum.

Cooroo I am so sorry about your Mum, I lost my Mum in January and although expected it was and still is very sad, she would have loved seeing my DD go ff to Uni.

Be kind to yourself and remember that it is not just this weekend, they will be at uni for the next 3 to 4 years and a card here, parcel there and treats on returning are just as important if not more as a hamper now. My mum used to send me food parcels and I loved it.

I hope the move to Uni goes well and also the funeral

Cooroo, sorry to hear about your Mum, hope all goes well tomorrow for your DD.

Cooroo so sorry to hear about your mum - sending hugs x
mrshodgilbert same as my daughter she is in A very good uni with very high entry and doubts herself all the time - worries that she isn't good enough!

Cooroo

caroo lots of hugs. It must be blessing that your DD is not too far away. Stay strong

I am finding the business of getting ready irritating. My daughter is leaving later than most people so the process is long drawn out. Planning together is only intermittently successful, as she has been - understandably - preoccupied with spending time with friends before they go. This has involved a lot of late nights and sleepovers, plus some next day grumpiness. So my husband and I had to try and pin her down at rare moments, and suggest things which ought to be done soon - which then get put off by her, half the time. She will then make sudden statement about things that she needs, and accusations - probably with a degree of truth - that we are not like other parents who see the process as a glorious shopping/bonding opportunity and say, 'Yes of course dear, will £200 be enough? Let me give you some more.'

I love her and am likely to miss her. But part of me honestly wishes right now that she had already gone, so that I could get on with my own life.

Marianne - in spite of what I said above a part of me feels relief. My feelings are hugely affected by DD - if she's cheerful, I am. If she's grumpy, tired, unwell I feel anxious and unhappy. I'm wondering if I can just have my own emotions for a bit!

Cooroo really sorry to hear about your mum. Best of luck for you and your dd today.

Marianne I sympathise. We have 2 weeks to go still and dd's closest friends have either gone or are going this weekend. She hasn't been doing much with them anyway - she is just sitting at home reading all day everyday and going slightly stir crazy. I am going to miss her like mad when she is gone but I think for all our sakes she just needs to be able to get on with it now. It is way too much up of a build up!

Oooh, this is hard Am in a Premier Inn and it's full of teens & parents.

Dd was the same, except she didn't ask for money. Left everything to the last minute, despite having weeks on end to get ready. She got in a bit of a flap last night because she had to pack and was tired. But she's fine this morning.

I think it's a ritual we all have to go to help us let go. They have to do it for themselves now and they'll be fine, we all learn through our mistakes and they just don't have the wisdom and foresight that we have.

Good luck to everyone moving in today. Have a safe journey and don't forget to report back

Stay strong Horse x

Feeling a bit wobbly now. The packing is properly underway

Thanks Fairenuff, I am a wuss!! It's been such a long hard slog with him, all through 6th form, I can't quite believe we're here!

Coroo Sorry about your Mum.
Horsemad Glad you got there safely with DS driving. I know how you feel. There are fingernail marks in the passenger seat when I am in the car and DS is driving.
Hope everyone who is taking their DCs today have a safe and traffic jam free journey.
DS & DH left at 08.30 - earlier than planned but they were ready so they went. I couldn't say much to DS otherwise I would have burst into tears. I was already holding them back. I wrote him a card and long note yesterday and put them in his mesenger bag. I hope he finds it when he is unpacking. He still says he's not coming home until Christmas (it would involve a plane or ferry journey) but we have permission to go and visit - as long as we "take him out for a meal"

I have to go to town with DD later. Luckily the sun is shining so I can wear my sunglasses so no one can see my red eyes. It's a small town so I'm bound to bump into someone I know - which sometimes you could do without, and today is one of those days.

Bloody dull here, so can't hide behind my shades...