Getting ready to send them off!

[Maggiethecat]

Have been doing lists of things to be done before Dd goes off but must admit there's a bit of burying head in sand going on.

What are you doing to help prepare Dc/yourself ahead of the move (practical/logistics or indeed emotional preparation )

I might have to go to dd tomorrow as her shower still isn’t working and I don’t know if it will be fixed until Monday at the earliest, she has no hot water. She has dyspraxia and struggle to wash her hair but it will need washing 😬. I really want to go and bring her home but I know that’s not going to help. I didn’t sleep at all last night worrying about her, she messaged this morning to say she had been up a while and is hoping to meet with course mates later today. God it’s hard not having he here, I do hope it gets easier and I can stop crying.

Virtual hugs to all those missing their dc xx With luck they'll all settle down well and it'll get easier as you can focus on the great things they're doing.

I'm fortunate in that I'm already accustomed to dd being gone as she's been away working for several months. I'm keeping all my fingers & toes crossed for her making some friends and also keeping up with the work & not getting overwhelmed.

Two of her flatmates have been out clubbing every night, they've invited her along but she doesn't cope at all well with crowded spaces / loud noises so I think sensibly she has decided to wait until she's not dealing with so many new things all at once. It's often hard for her to choose between the risks of missing out on becoming part of a group as it forms by not joining in, or going along and it working out really badly.

She did go to the societies fair though and has signed up for various things as well as meeting some of her course mates.

Really happy about Ds who is throwing himself into uni life. He is not a clubber or a drinker but has been to the pub a few times and a jazz club. He is getting on well with his flatmates, loving city life and been to every social on his calendar. I can't ask for more as I worried how he would involve himself socially more than anything. He sounds very happy when I've spoken to him.

It's hard without them isn't is .. I've gone to make her a coffee or get her a snack and she's not here .. it's an ache that I'm hoping will get easier. Even though she doesn't what to go to clubs or pubs either she's having a great time and lots to do .. just hard not to have it here .. we are also changing routines and what we do so it doesn't all feel as tough with one place missing ..

The cat is sitting outside DS room looking sad and it’s setting me off.

Have you been to the supermarket yet? That was strange. I kept putting things in my trolley that I don't need anymore.

Yes, the supermarket has been where I've noticed it most, thinking that DD will like something. I guess I can still buy her treats and send them to her. In the plus side it's cheaper and I can actually eat what I want to instead of compromising!

Oh no !! Sad cats !! Oh yes the supermarket shop and dinner time .. keep getting an extra plate

Bought mine a bar of really nice chocolate and sent with a card.
Little things to perk ME up !😂

I sent mine a cocktail shaker ice and lemon slices for a flat mates birthday party tomorrow - it’s not he little things that count.

Ds said his walls looked very bare (he took some photos & posters but the walls are unplastered pale green breeze blocks) so I ordered him a load of photos of our pets, him and girlfriend etc to be delivered to him from Snapfish who have some great deals (I have no affiliation with them).

Yes it's really weird! Although I've started buying odd bits that are DS's favourite, that he probably won't be able to justify buying (nesquick etc) and putting them in a bag in his room. He hasn't gone that far - 45 mins- so imagine we'll see him fairly frequently so will give him a nice food parcel when we do

Dd has freshers flu it seems. Slept 16 hours (continuous) yesterday.
Flatmates too but not as bad.
She sounds awful and has first lecture today.

Willing her a quick recovery!

@Lovemusic33 @atiaofthejulii my DD has applied for DSA but not heard anything yet , but support staff at the uni have said definitely taxis too and from the uni site will be authorised . She's not even spoken to her tutor about any reasonable adjustments yet ! She is very slow moving, gets overwhelmed and then puts things off ! I guess I'm finding it difficult to let go and let her sort out stuff like this on her own...

@Maggiethecat oh no ! Covids going around my DDs halls too, something else for us to worry about !

Ah nuts. DS has gone tight-lipped, not communicating. Suspecting he's bored witless, talking to no one, wondering what the hell he's doing there. Arrived on Thursday, didn't leave the flat at all on Friday & maybe not Sunday either.

Not happy to be powerless here, waiting to see if he settles or not.

Said goodbye to my DD at Nottingham on Saturday afternoon. We have been on our own since she was 5months old so it's been an enormous wrench. She's not a big drinker / clubber, but is sociable so the thought of her being along was awful. I cried the whole way home (4 hours) and all day yesterday until I got a wee text to say 'I've met a nice friend and I'm going out tonight' was thrilled and she's also got an interview for part time job (working is important to her as it gives her structure).
I'm hoping that she'll be okay, but have had to shut her bedroom door for now - struggling with seeing her bits and pieces.
Sending love to all parents missing their chickens from the nest!

DS is also at Nottingham & refusing to look for jobs before he gets his timetable. Lectures/labs will be somewhere in the time window of 9-5 M-F, how wrong am I to think that???

He also would benefit hugely from finding a job. Wonder if any will be left by the time he thinks he's ready to look. Mutter mutter mutter.

My dd has started working in her new town. She plaits hair and does make up at children's princess parties. She says it's the best job ever and she got to meet Barbie twice. I on the other hand, have never ever worn make up or plaited hair! It's hilarious.

@lanawinters ah it's tough, hope you're settling into it a bit more now ..I'm feeling slightly better , but missing DD .

@lljkk there is a place in Portland House that helps students get jobs on campus I believe. They can also earn good money as a rep at open days, interviews etc. lots of jobs in the bars in halls and in Union itself that fit round lectures.

That's helpful, thanks mumsNW.

@doyouwanticewiththat thank you 😊
Feeling it a bit tonight - having a roast and just missing shouting her down to supper was tough.
She has 'freshers flu' so bit poorly.
Otherwise have coped fairly okay this week (ish!)

@lanawinters hope you're ok .. these first few weeks seem a bit up and down .. have also put out the wrong number of plates and going to call for dinner

Looking forward to getting DS back from his first ever term at college. His finishes early and we would have collected him last Saturday but he went skiing in France on a student trip so we just collected his stuff. The 6'2" monster returns the day after tomorrow. Thankfully it is only 25 miles away.