Our DC are nearly all officially students now (going to university 2019/20) - seizing the moment, spending, socialising, societies and studying!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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[Edited by MNHQ to fix the link]

DS off to the pub with a fairly large meet-up of friends and friends of friends - last hurrah kind of thing.

He’s only been 18 for 3 weeks, bless.

@Piggywaspushed I’m weeping at “what is a frying pan”!

Great news about his remark.

Glad he is settling Piggy!!
Our DS is having a blast so far.
I have been very strong and haven't wobbled once but did feel a bit weepy earlier when I accidentally cooked dinner for 5 instead of 4.

@Piggywaspushed. That's hilarious!

We're still waiting ... Ds is going at the end of September to Lancaster. We have planned to take his youngest brother but not the middle two (they are fine with this). The youngest will really miss ds as they are close. According to his uni timeline that ds received, his course should have emailed / contacted last week. This hasnt happened or ds hasnt noticed. He is ridiculously chilled about it all. The only things that need packing now are clothes and ds personal stuff such as laptop etc. So ds is doing all that, which is good. We are just nipping out at the weekend for new shirts for him, the only thing that he has asked for so far. As mentioned before he wants to take his bike and full length electric piano!!! This is partly why youngest ds is coming - he is nimble enough to climb on the car roof to attach the bike!

Has anybody's ds or dd forgotten to take anything or realised that something would have been useful? I don't want to give ds everything. I want him to a
explore the area more to get items iyswim. But equally I don't want to be driving a 3 hour round trip one night!! Loving hearing all of your experiences btw, and thinking the knowledge will prove useful for my future 3 dc (all 2 years apart - God help me financially!).

Piggywaspushed, my dd wants to go to Keele - it is near us. It is a beautiful campus with lots of squirrels, if your ds ever visits his friend.

10pm the night before we set off. Where's my razor charger? "I don't have a hair brush" etc etc
A huge pile of books he hasn't read seem to be going with him, along with his bass & amp - played all of half a dozen times. I can only assume he thinks it looks cool
The pile is growing...

Now I am worried that NTU is being described as 'Party Central' . Just hoping my DS will be sensible, he goes on Friday but there are lectures and seminars on Mon, Tues & Wed so hopefully that will focus his mind. He's already started a project that was set so maybe the Uni is trying to put over the 'serious' side.

I have been very strong and haven't wobbled once but did feel a bit weepy earlier when I accidentally cooked dinner for 5 instead of 4.

That's really sad. It suddenly hits you doesn't it? I'm finding this thread so supportive as irl there is pressure to remain cheerful so I don't freak out friends whose children haven't gone yet. We've done a week now, only 12 to go!

Has anybody's ds or dd forgotten to take anything or realised that something would have been useful?

I don't think we forgot anything. I'm going to type up my list for the next two.

@Alijane46 DD1 plays piano and sings.

Everything has been brought downstairs into a pile. DH says it'll easily fit in the car, no problem. I think maybe with a roof rack and trailer! What she's going to do with it all when she gets there is beyond me. I went to uni with a suitcase, box and a small plastic bag.

Hope Nottingham isn't party central, that's not going to be her style. She has surprised me by having signed up to a couple of fresher's events. Last minute nerves are kicking in for her now. Friday morning is D-Day and she's helpfully booked a 9-10am slot. Which is early considering we live 3 hours away and have to get past Birmingham.

Hi again

Mine is wandering about looking lost as most of his friends have gone already and his brother went back last week. His move in is 4pm Saturday.

Anyone else going to Northampton?

Has anybody's ds or dd forgotten to take anything

Any shoes apart from the pair he was wearing.

Mine forgot her boxing gloves. We also need to work out how to get two guitars and an amp there (1,700 miles).

Love the "What is a frying pan?" although one of my friends at college turned up to make pancakes with a rolling pin as he was sure they must be rolled out.

DD baked a cake this evening, I think as preparation. It's very nice.

Ha, no knickers or socks packed, had to do an emergency primark run!!

I know I'm biased but I would say my DS is very nice and he's not engaged at all with his flat's FB group. On the basis of the student ratio at UEA I reckon it could be a two guys and four girls flat.

@HoldMyLobster how is your DD getting on? I think travelling with two bags is entirely sensible as is as students here used to do too.

Without a car I am going to strongly advise DS to rent a small unit to house his kit over the summer months - when do most of the student rental lets contracts start (July or September?).

Dd2 has settled, been drunk a few times been to her first course meeting , been to the gym daily and explored the area a bit. Some friends are visiting her this weekend so they will be taking a small bag of things shes forgotten with them!

Still feels very strange without her!

lobster, Have you checked that he is allowed the amp? DS's accommodation doesn't allow amplified speakers etc (although someone was playing v loud music when we turned up!). Drum kits also not allowed in accommodation.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I think DDs second year one started 30th June? But third year one 1st July? Luckily the landlord of the first let them leave their stuff there for the night.
At the end of the first year she put her stuff into storage for a month. It cost £££ and is def not a cheap option, but could be better than having to drive hundreds of miles to get it all and then again to take it all back and we may need to use storage in the holidays for DS in Durham.

That all sounds very positive @RedHelenB, particularly the gym part and friends visiting.

Some of DS's school friends are living off campus, so he will have a good reason to venture into Norwich. He is however already talking about wanting to come home to celebrate DD's birthday (think he's afraid of missing out on a nice meal out) - I am trying to persuade him that it would be better for us to go to him.

@notso that all sounds very positive.

DD has already got plans to do a room swap with DS when he goes (he is fully aware and has given permission!), so I fully expect that virtually the minute he's out of the door she will be agitating to start clearing it out.

Oh wow - just sat having a cup of tea and I started crying! I didn’t even realise I was worried/sad about DS going.
Got to pull it together.

We are leaving in an hour or so.

Last night dd gave me a hug, said i was her best friend and said she'd miss me more than anything. She's usually quite brusque so that was quite an emotional moment!

DD told DS she loved him this morning before she went off to school (and he replied likewise which is unheard of!).

That's lovely @Trewser.

Oh @blametheparents . Think we all manifest our worry/sadness in different ways but it's there in all of us...

Two more sleeps. Feeling a strange mixture of sad and excited here too. DS did his last coaching shift yesterday, and came home with lots of cards from the kids wishing him well. He is really going to miss it as he has been there for years, working most days of the week for a few hours for the last year. Meanwhile I am struggling to see how we are going to fit everything in our car, I think we will all have bags on our laps at this rate.

I really thought that when the time comes, I will be strong, be proud of her and let her go!
Guess what, I have had few wobbly moments which were completely unexpected!
I am going to cry when we drop her, not sure if I can hold it together now!
Have a day off today , so going to have lunch and spot of last minute shopping with her today!