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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Taking too much kitchen stuff to uni

25 replies

LeDian · 04/09/2023 12:10

DD is starting uni soon, she's in the height of packing. I've noticed she is taking alot of kitchen stuff, less so the pots and pans side but more kitchenware (3plates, 3 side plates, 3 pasta bowls, 3 cereal bowls, a mini bowl, ramekins, a balti dish, chipbasket and wooden board for serving, etc.) should add none of it is cheap either.
DD had an ED for several years, a lot of her recovery was around her beginning to love going and serving her food in an aesthetic way, currently she does this for everything even take aways, she serves them up nicely.

Im conflicted between being happy she is taking them so she doesn't relapse and a bit worried they will go missing, never get used or she will stand out and be judged.

Is this too much? Should I encourage her to pull it back a bit.

OP posts:
ItstimeToMoveagain · 04/09/2023 12:14

It's fine, mine only has 1 of everything but one of his flatmates took her whole collection of mugs with her. No one is going to care

SandyIrving · 04/09/2023 12:33

Agree noone will care but she will need to okay with them going missing (some to resurface on moving out date) or to get broke.

My DD has lived in halls for 3 years and after 1st year only takes the minimum and only things she doesn't care about.

YukoandHiro · 04/09/2023 12:34

You do need 2 of each in case you make something for a housemaster - and also mainly so you don't have to wash up after every meal!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 04/09/2023 12:34

3 of everything is what ds took plus a few more mugs for when he had mates round. Sounds fine.

Delphigirl · 04/09/2023 12:34

I would say she should bring whatever helps her manage her eating.
maybe consider a flat wide under bed storage box in case there isn’t enough storage in the kitchen.

YukoandHiro · 04/09/2023 12:35

*houseMATE

Original poster
LeDian · 04/09/2023 12:36

YukoandHiro · 04/09/2023 12:34

You do need 2 of each in case you make something for a housemaster - and also mainly so you don't have to wash up after every meal!

Ahhh DD is quite the anxious type, most of the time she won't settle until she's done all her washing up and that's at home!!
I've seen her be extremely hungover, make her self a full breakfast, then still insist she will clean it all up before going back to bed. She hates feeling like she has anything to do.

OP posts:
TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 04/09/2023 12:37

My DS is taking a lot of kitchen stuff... but mainly because he loves to bake and is joining the baking society...

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 04/09/2023 12:39

Delphigirl · 04/09/2023 12:34

I would say she should bring whatever helps her manage her eating.
maybe consider a flat wide under bed storage box in case there isn’t enough storage in the kitchen.

Agree, there are enough changes happening. She can always bring some home at Christmas if she isn't using them. I would probably suggest she stashes the spare ones in her room then if one is broken/ lost etc she can quickly replace it from her store, so it doesn't disrupt her eating plan.

Austrich · 04/09/2023 12:43

She needs to be prepared for accidental damage or other people using then and not washing them up immediately.

It sounds like she is unusually civilised and you don't want this to become a social issue with her new flatmates (or them taking the piss knowing she'll clean up!)

Learning that mix of tolerance and boundaries is a big thing in your first shared accom!

SingingSands · 04/09/2023 12:43

Let her take it all, it'll be fine. It might be a nice conversation starter for her new flatmates.

Something like "oh that's a nicely presented dinner, what are you having?"

My DD took plenty kitchen stuff as well: 3 each of plates/bowls/side plates, chopping boards, utensils, toastie maker, 3 mugs and 3 glasses. It's no problem, they all take plenty and then filter what they don't need for 2nd year 😀

Soverymuchfruit · 04/09/2023 12:48

The only issue is that it might take up too much space in a communal kitchen. Does she know what to expect there? Though she can get a good solid little plastic crate to keep it in her room and bring it through to the kitchen, if needed.

Leave her to find out for herself. If it really is too much she can always bring some of it back at Christmas.

Soverymuchfruit · 04/09/2023 12:50

Actually: if she leaves it in the communal kitchen, some of it will get used by others. Yes, even if it's in "her cupboard". It's likely she'll find it dirty or disappeared when she wants to use it. Sounds like she'd find this stressful. So keeping it in a portable box in her own room might be better anyway.

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 04/09/2023 13:53

There's nothing wrong intrinsically with her wanting to take lots of things.

But, she'll probably have one cupboard (for both food and pans) and one drawer (though it's less certain) So the stuff she can't fit in that small space will either have to go in her room, or lie around the kitchen- where, as others have said, it will get used or she might be asked to move it.

Less really is more - kitchen storage really isn't very much. Luckily in lots of unis they are given a labelled cupboard so they can see how much room they have.

Original poster
LeDian · 04/09/2023 14:10

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 04/09/2023 13:53

There's nothing wrong intrinsically with her wanting to take lots of things.

But, she'll probably have one cupboard (for both food and pans) and one drawer (though it's less certain) So the stuff she can't fit in that small space will either have to go in her room, or lie around the kitchen- where, as others have said, it will get used or she might be asked to move it.

Less really is more - kitchen storage really isn't very much. Luckily in lots of unis they are given a labelled cupboard so they can see how much room they have.

I think DD has got quite lucky, we toured the accomodation before, and in the kitchen everyone has an upper cupboard, lower cupboard and a drawer. She is also only sharing with 5 other people as her flat only has rooms from A-F. I imagine she will have to get alot in her room though!!

OP posts:
fortyfifty · 04/09/2023 14:14

My DD washed her things up immediately after each meal and put them away. If that's what your DD prefers she will be able to continue to do that. She can keep anything more special in her room for when she wants to use it. I very much doubt anyone will judge her negatively. They're all interested in what each other is having for dinner/lunch, and there will be huge variety in students culinary skills and how much they care about how their food is served.

Legacy · 04/09/2023 14:39

Yes, I agree with the PP who said she may not have enough storage space in the kitchen. Also, if she is one of the last ones to arrive she may end up with really crap inaccessible cupboards! In theory, in modern student kitchens everyone gets a top cupboard, a drawer and a bottom cupboard and a shelf in fridge and freezer, but DS arrived on the 2nd moving in day to discover some students had helped themselves to two top cupboards and left him a space under the sink! Not a good way to start. He kept a crate with a lot of his stuff in his room!

Herewe · 04/09/2023 14:43

If she’s going to make use of the dishwasher it’s going to be very useful having more than two of everything.

AliMonkey · 04/09/2023 14:54

Herewe · 04/09/2023 14:43

If she’s going to make use of the dishwasher it’s going to be very useful having more than two of everything.

A dishwasher?! DD’s halls are near top budget wise but definitely no dishwasher. Is it common to have one?

DD and I this afternoon are attempting to pack up her kitchen stuff into as small a space as possible but there’s definitely quite a lot there, despite me dissuading her from some of the things she wanted. She’s bought pink plates and glasses so is hoping no one else will want to use them and certainly won’t be able to argue that they thought they were theirs!

Herewe · 04/09/2023 15:11

alimonkey I assumed they were as our DC accommodation had them listed for all the ones they stayed in and that was only a year and two years ago and they went to different universities miles apart.

Original poster
LeDian · 04/09/2023 15:12

Herewe · 04/09/2023 15:11

alimonkey I assumed they were as our DC accommodation had them listed for all the ones they stayed in and that was only a year and two years ago and they went to different universities miles apart.

Interesting, DD doesn't have one at her accommodation, don't think they do at any her uni provides.

OP posts:
RuthW · 04/09/2023 15:14

Sounds about right.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 04/09/2023 15:31

She might need it. My sink at uni was so piled up with other peoples disgusting unwashed plates that I could rarely clean mine.

Extra plates were useful when I didn't have time to go up to my fourth floor bathroom and wash them in that sink!

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 04/09/2023 16:16

TheWayoftheLeaf · 04/09/2023 15:31

She might need it. My sink at uni was so piled up with other peoples disgusting unwashed plates that I could rarely clean mine.

Extra plates were useful when I didn't have time to go up to my fourth floor bathroom and wash them in that sink!

Sounds utterly grim Envy not envy

Herewe · 04/09/2023 18:34

I gave them a washing up bowl (as a present) to pile their stuff in if they didn’t want to wash straight away and so they didn’t need to worry about others leaving things in the sink as could wash in it but they all soon sorted themselves out with using the dishwasher!

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