DD started uni today??

[VanillaSugarandChristmasSpice]

Join me. 😢😢😢😢

Let's put on Mamma Mia!

Let's sing "Slipping through my fingers," and howl 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🙋😭😭

And then pull ourselves together, pour a drink, put on some lipstick and say "Didn't we do well in raising strong, independent, intelligent young women?'

Thanks everyone the door wedge is an excellent idea, will talk to her about it today! Sorry for hijacking the thread - I have two little ones and already can't anticipate how lost I'll feel when they leave for uni. Had a good taster yesterday with darling niece!

mamabear35 - my DS moved into halls on Saturday and his room door worked like your niece's, he has to physically lock it from outside with key card for it to lock, otherwise it stays unlocked. We tested it once or twice to get the hang of it. So I would imagine the wardens are correct.

I have no idea if it locks from inside, but I am guessing not. He hasn't mentioned being worried about someone coming in (but then he is a 6'+ man so less of a problem than your niece).

And joneysbouch - I know exactly how you are feeling, I was Ok on Saturday but struggled yesterday and same today, feel bereft and I too have a younger one at home.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one feeling this awful! Sat at work trying not to burst into tears. DD is absolutely fine and I'm not worried about her, just feel like part of my heart is missing. I can't even think about the Abba song, I really will burst into tears in the office if I do!

My dd won't be going to uni for another 4 years, but reading this thread is making me cry

I started uni today (12 years late!) and no bugger even batted an eye lid this morning

Just lurking here to absorb some uni enthusiasm/ parental comments in lieu

I'm a little underwhelmed though - im currently sitting in the library having arrived too early for my specific sessions and expected abit of a fan fair, but it's just lectures in suits and trainers cycling around on folding bikes and students mooching around. I'm filling in my new Filofax drinking hot chocolate, so I do have that going for me I suppose ...

Door locks is probably a safety thing - id imagine the risk of your mates barging in is less than the risk of being passed out drunk and somewhat unreachable? Just an idea ... I won't ask my friends, they might think I'm odd if I ask if their doors and bathrooms can be opened from the outside

studentmum
aww ! Good luck to you ! Enjoy it :) I also started uni in later life (about 10 years late ) but mine is the open university so deffo no fan fair of any description here just me and my laptop and trying not to get distracted by mumsnet

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

It's the third day blues. Just like childbirth, but in reverse.

Fortunately I'm going out to lunch and will slap on some puppy and a smile. But in the meantime 😢😢😢😢😢😢

Lippy! ! Bloody phone.

If I saw a puppy at the moment I would probably slap it...

Dropped DD yesterday. Felt ok-ish last night, more exhausted than anything. Took today off to get some chores done, and am sitting feeling very sorry for myself, and trying not to cry.

To my shame, I have texted her three times this morning, and messaged her twice. I need to step away from the phone.

slap a puppy! lol i held out until 1 oclock before nonchalantly sending a photo of some food. hoping to come across as funny and not too needy! i think today will be given over to bouts of weeping. Does seeing your childs bedroom door standing ajar make you cry? it's doing me in.

Benson I am the same. All on my own in the office and feeling crap.

Does seeing your childs bedroom door standing ajar make you cry? The fact it is a mess as if he is still here is making me upset

studentmum Good luck. Think it must be strange to start uni at any age - well done for doing it!

I saw off my older two last weekend so it's just me and my youngest.

Tears have been shed, heart is heavy.

Can I just say though....DO NOT under any circumstances watch Toy Story 3!! Avoid at all cost!!

Dd started last year so is going into her second year in a couple of weeks and I can feel my heart getting heavier as I prepare to let go again! It's hard after having had her back for three and a half months. I dare you to listen to the Beatles "She's leaving home" - unbelievably it came on the radio on the morning we took her last year

Obviously, though it is much less sad this year as she is very settled, has a lovely group of friends and can't wait to get back. That makes it much easier to cope with missing her. Good luck to your dc going off for the first time!

We dropped Ds off on Sat and I suspect dd will ban me when her turn comes. They then made me watch TS3 and I sobbed throughout but it was quite cathartic!

I really didn't expect to feel quite so bereft. It's not as if it's come as a surprise or she's joined the army or anything.

Just wanted to reach out to you moms who are upset about your son or daughter leaving home for the first time. I went through this 3 times and it never got any easier. Although thinking back, the eldest was probably the worst. I couldn't even take him as I knew I'd cry when I left him so DH had to take him. I was then sitting in his bedroom crying, and looking at some of his childhood things that had been left behind, and DH said "you're acting like he's died" and I suppose I was in a way. It's a real big thing so please don't feel silly that you are tearful, worried, sad but a bit glad all at the same time!

No 2 was easier but when we visited him I used to cry when we left him for about 15 minutes which is when we reached the motorway and it got to be a bit of a joke that I'd stop crying once we were on the motorway. No 3 was tough as she had some health problems and that worried me sick of course.

It was all a long time ago and they were all fine but I still remember how traumatised I was and I had friends who thought I was daft. It was in the days before mobile phones so I can't honestly remember how we did communicate - oh yes I remember they had phones in their shared houses that we could phone, and they phoned home. Son No. 1 had a very difficult time settling in (the most sensitive of the 3) but he was ok in the end. SO take heart, this term will go quickly and before you know it they'll be back for Christmas.

Try not to let them know you are upset or anxious but they will probably know that anyway. I can recall hearing my kid's "cracked" voices in those early phone calls. DGD will be off this time next year and dear god will I be anxious as she's the light of my life and I've seen her every week of her life for the past 17 years.

You'll all be OK but it will take some more time than others.

Dropped DD1 off on Saturday, felt myself well up a bit as we arrived but pulled myself together before I embarrassed her and concentrated on lugging all her stuff up to the 8th floor.

Moped around a bit for the rest of the day, popping my head around her bedroom door as I normally do and rolling my eyes at the mess then remembering she won't be home for quite a while and having a sad face.

Got up Sunday morning, did a bit more moping and then went down the gym. It's amazing how exercise helps clear your thoughts, as on the way back I thought -"bugger this for a game of soldiers".

So I embarked on operation 'room clean' - three recycling sacks and two rubbish sacks later and behold I have a guest room (she had already in her words 'cleared out all the rubbish from her room' - so what about the empty wine bottle, old envelopes and bits of part eaten food - I don't think so!).

It really didn't look like her room any more but it was like a cloud had been lifted and brought it home that's she not gone - she's just grown up and that's what they're supposed to do - right?

Now I'm wondering if I'm a bad mother and perhaps should have waited at least a week

No tears,
Just worry, But I have to stop myself from worrying.
Although I have heard from DD today and spoken to her since she didnt take her certificates for enrollment.
but she sounds happy

Noah!!! So it's not just my dippy daughter then?!!

postoffice here I go,

We dropped DD off on Sunday. She didn't take her coat as she doesn't like it. Yesterday I received a text; 'It's so cold. I need a coat.'

Reading all your tales of forgotten items - so sorry! Got told off for asking ds if he had certificates on his packing list He just about knew he needed his passport but says he doesn't need exam certificates (and anyway he doesn't get the A2 ones until school prizegiving in January when they present them). Is he right? Don't the unis get the confirmation of results from the exam boards direct? Are we talking about birth certificates here? Will a passport do?

Oh meant to say thanks MagicChanges - gorgeous poignant post!

Yup Dunlurking - proof of ID certificates. Driving licenses are not acceptable