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Higher education

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Original poster

Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - and the fledgling freshers are off!

999 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 04/09/2019 14:56

Previous thread

OP posts:
AtiaoftheJulii · 14/09/2019 21:02

How much are people planning to keep in contact?

We have a family WhatsApp group, and the rest of us use it pretty much daily, for idle chitchat. Ds doesn't really keep up with it, but we're hoping he might more now. (The kids also have a group chat but I don't think he's any more active on there either.) I like that as a means of communication because it's low-key but easy to keep up with the mundane details. He does reply to texts, so I will continue to text as I normally do I guess.

Basically our family style is little and often.

TailsoftheManyPaws

Yup, in Manchester! Got here late-ish last night, dropped off ds this morning, left him unpacking and went for a coffee and to buy him some lunch, and ended up staying longer than expected until he was all unpacked, as we found a sensible place to park the car, plus dd2 arrived. Then left him again and we and dd2 walked into the centre to see the end of the Tour of Britain (bike race). Texted him when we walked back to the car asking if he wanted us to say hello again, otherwise to have a good evening, and he said he would have a good evening Grin

Staying over tonight and heading to Newcastle tomorrow, doing both northern drop offs in one go rather than having to go up and down twice.

CheeseStraws · 14/09/2019 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WaxOnFeckOff · 14/09/2019 21:24

Ds been away for 2 weeks, we've had a short text convo probably every couple of days, usually for a particular reason (sending some medical details, telling him about DHs accident, wishing him luck for his first lecture etc) He called a week passed wednesday for a chat, he text with a question about laundry last weekend. Kept it quite light and breezy. Haven't said we've missed him and when we left, we gave him a hug wished him well and i hid in my hair a bit so he couldn't see the tear that escaped! :o

I going with just checking in from time to time and keeping texts quite short and taking a queue from him.

I don't want him to feel smothered or to message too often in case it makes him homesick, but also don't want him to feel that we've forgotten about him or don't care.

I've said i'll do him a supermarket delivery for next week with bulky stuff so will call him maybe tomorrow to chat through what he needs for that.

Benjispruce · 14/09/2019 21:49

Tilly The only question I want an answer to is one you could probably guess.

Itscoldouthere · 14/09/2019 22:32

OMG the backpack thread....
Thank god we have this thread without those nutters, everyone here is so lovely and supportive.

ProfessorLayton1 · 14/09/2019 22:40

We haven't sorted out backpack for Dd ...Prompted by that thread asked Dd what she would use and she wanted some thing bright and colourful, but haven't asked about the bag again, don't want to be a toxic parent 😂

Benjispruce · 14/09/2019 22:43

DD just using her 6th form rucksack I think.

ZandathePanda · 14/09/2019 22:54

I didn’t want to mention the other thread that others have mentioned on this thread in case it became ‘contaminated’ by certain posters Wink. Nice to see certain posts on the other thread taken down now.

TailsoftheManyPaws · 14/09/2019 22:57

Cheesestraws -- One of the Victoria Park ones. Seems pretty good and had room for his guitar, which was his main criterion.

Bouledeneige · 14/09/2019 23:07

Dropped DD off successfully - we enjoyed sorting her room and trying to control the trlolley in the multi-storey car park! She seemed very cheery and sorted. I'm glad for her. They were planning their evening as I left.

I let a tear trickle down my cheek when I said goodbye and was okay for most of the drive home until I put some music on which she would always sing along too and then I just howled. I know I will get used to it and I'm glad for her new adventure. She's 19 so seems that bit more mature. All the kids and parents seemed friendly when we arrived - al with way too much kitchen equipment to fit in the cupboards.

We missed a few things - the door stop wound definitely be helpful.

Benjispruce · 14/09/2019 23:08

Ah Boul you did it! Well done to you both.SmileCake

Bouledeneige · 14/09/2019 23:17

Thank you Benji. I know it was time. I have to let her go. I got a lovely text from a friend who said that I will miss her because I brought her up to be such a lovely, bright, breezy and warm young woman. So I get to pat myself on the back too....

BringOnTheScience · 14/09/2019 23:18

Tails & Cheese DC1 is at Manchester Met, just up Oxford Rd.

Bouledeneige · 14/09/2019 23:19

By the way - is there any link to the backpack thread. I'd like to read it!

BringOnTheScience · 14/09/2019 23:20

I've been fine this evening, until a friend sent me supportive messages and set me off blubbing. Need more Wine

Bouledeneige · 14/09/2019 23:25

Ring on. My DD is at Manchester Met in a Birley townhouse. It was very busy today and had a good feel about the area.

BringOnTheScience · 14/09/2019 23:35

Oxford Court here. It was BUSY! Only one person giving out the key fobs, with a queue going down the road. DC1 is very happy with their room though.

Exciting times

Northernlurker · 14/09/2019 23:36

Final tip for those with daughters - do NOT listen to Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks for several months.......'room to make her big mistakes'. I howled when it came up on the iPod random shuffle a few days after dd1 started uni.

GrinWinkGrin

WaxOnFeckOff · 14/09/2019 23:42

DH helpfully played "She's leaving home" by the Beatles on the way home. I have Ds rather than DD but still...

Happydaughterhappymum · 15/09/2019 00:14

I’ll add ‘slipping through my fingers’ by ABBA to the do not play list. And ‘puff the magic dragon’ .....(for those with a DS) though that’s less likely to come up on shuffle :)

GinandManic · 15/09/2019 01:37

Dropped my dd at Salford today. 4 hour dtivr each way. Only just home actually after a stop off on the way home to see family.
I was pretty disgusted with the state of her room. Absolutely filthy. I played it down for her sake and just got on with cleaning it. She had been quite anxious last week, so I decided being positive and just getting it clean was the best way forward. She seemed ok with it.
The whole flat is pretty tatty and I did make a few complaints/jobs to reception and told dd to put things on the move in report. Im not new to this my eldest 2 dc went to uni a few years ago so I know what to expect, but this was well under par. No trap in the shower just a black mouldy hole. Blind absolutely covered in stains, which they have said they will replace. Actusl crumbs all over the desk in her room and splashes up the walls. I feel dd has been ripped off financially tbh. Im now home in my nice bed thinking of her in her rather tatty and basic room.Sad
She took loads of stuff to make it homely such as bunting, cushions, photos, rug, fairy lights etc. So I'm hoping it will look better once she's made it her own.
On the plus side her 2 flat mates already there seemed nice. There is one more to meet.
I managed to keep it together today partly because we had to visit family on the way home but now am welling up. She's just so far away.
I have my youngest dd to drop off next weekend too and that will be that, a completely empty nest!

pontiouspilates · 15/09/2019 07:30

Well done everyone who dropped off this weekend. I drop DD off next Saturday. She's barely home as it is, but I know that the house will feel so different without her.

Piggywaspushed · 15/09/2019 07:44

Oh no ginand , that's dreadful. I did think they did proper deep cleans over the summer.

It was a learning curve for me on Open Days this year to learn the accommodation doesn't generally have cleaners these days :one can see how things could potentially become irretrievably squalid.

Itscoldouthere · 15/09/2019 07:48

@GinandManic that’s a shame about your daughters room, it’s just not on to pay all the money it costs and not have the basics covered. I’m sure she will make it look lovely with all her things.
I’m the same as you, taking DS1 today and then next Saturday DS2, then we will be complete empty nesters in one swoop, I’m so happy for them, but know it’s going to be tough being so quite at home.

Piggywaspushed · 15/09/2019 07:51

I have no idea why/where/wherefore/how the Grin appeared in my post above!