Two uni arrivals, one date - how?

[IssieN]

Is anyone else in the position of having two children going to uni in different parts of the country and having the same arrival day? Any suggestions how to do it?!

I experienced this with my own uni days. My older brother was at Oxford and my DM drove him everywhere so that she could show off to her friends that she was "taking PFB up to Oxford.... / I'm going up to Oxford to pick up PFB." Oxford was a direct train ride away.

My uni involved 2hrs to London, across London and 90mins the other side. My step-fatherarranged for one of his work colleagues to take me down and after that I was on my own.

Years afterwards I asked DM about how she thought I managed and she said "I tried not to think about it.'

We aren't close.

So, OP, the point of this post is to please show equanimity to both DCs and please don't make it clear that you have a favourite.

The work colleague took me down on my very first day....

DottyBlue2 - treating them equally is not restricted to Uni arrival day! 😀

Like Dotty 25 years ago my parents faced the same dilemma. My sister was going to a campus uni and considerable distance from the train station and her route required two changes. I was going to London and my hall of residence was a 5 minute journey from the main line terminal that I would arrive by direct train to.
They dropped me at the train station with enough for the first week and then set off with my sister. They came with the remainder of my stuff the next weekend. On the train I sat opposite a member of the army ( in uniform) who incredibly kindly assisted me to a taxi with my several bags. A random act of kindness I still remember 25 years later.

I got the train 5 hours on my own to Uni. My mum is very caring and sent me home baking by post, but it seemed a bit pointless to drive all that way.
We didn't need bedding, but you could do click and collect to a local supermarket or Wilko if you do.

PS I play and took with me a large instrument, plus 2 suitcases. I got a taxi.

I only have one going, but I am just taking her to King's Cross, and she will go on her own with one suitcase. She will have to buy bedding and dishes when she arrives. Fortunately, they have shops there too :)

@HappyInHerts

Mine's gone to a uni in USA on his own and had to sort out accommodation, furniture, transport etc.

Did you give him a lift to the airport?

Actually, no - I said my goodbyes in hallway of home. I had a funeral to attend to that day, and a goodbye at home is the same as one at the airport - in fact far less emotional.

He had one large suitcase and an address on a piece of paper - got a cab from a US airport to his new home - met by his new housemates. A very successful journey.

Fair enough HappyInHerts. I wouldn't have given a lift in those circumstances either.

I admit it was a dilemma and one I changed my mind over more than once. The funeral was a two and a half hour drive away - and his plane from Gatwick the other end of the country too. I figured that if he could get to USA, he could get to Gatwick on public transport too, and had to say goodbye early in the morning so as to attend funeral - a one-off occasion.

These things make the young ones grow up quickly. Life lessons, I guess.

Taking your child to uni is a big milestone and a bittersweet one. I loved it both times and would not have missed that if I could help it. In fact having seen them in their room I could picture them when I got home.

I think it's important they arrive at the proper time unless they are uber confident social types. I remember when DS1 went he was allocated a slot on the Sunday which we couldn't do because of work so we just took him on the Saturday. Probably should have asked permission in hindsight but he was handed his keys no questions asked.