Uni starters 2024

[radiator2]

The countdown is on. Uni move in has started for some unis and is right around the corner for others. How are we all feeling? Wishing the best of luck to all freshers!

Well I found a plus this morning - I could shout down the stairs early to my husband to ask for a coffee without waking DS up. Got to take the upsides somehow!

I’ve had a good update - DS had been out clubbing (I think with flatmates?) and has met someone he gets on with at his course induction and they’re going to the freshers fair together. Feel like I can unclench a bit now!

I’ve just been sent a picture of home made panko breadcrumbed chicken with miso & sugar snaps!

That sounds good @SabrinaThwaite it definitely helps put mum mind at rest.
@Comefromaway that sounds delicious.

@Comefromaway That sounds very sophisticated - your DC will be eating well!

There were udon noodles in as well I see

Ha, you cd go in at night in camo gear. Yup my son has tons of stuff too. I'm surprised the car didn't wheelie along the motorway to his Uni 😆

Another one here with a private DD.

At home she tended to just come for a cuddle rather than want a long conversation when upset - just the thing she can't do now.

We had a chat on the phone this evening after which I interrogated DP about how he thought she "sounded". He said he thought she sounded great but fed up with us asking if she was all right all the time!

We did get a photo of the room and she's done quite a bit of arranging which is good.

Bitter sweet feelings. He moved in on Sat. Loves his room/Uni. The first person in our fam used his loo and the water pressure was set to quite the gush on pulling the handle. Water shot all over the floor, there was squeals from inside the bathroom as the person got soaked. The rest of us were in fits of laughter. Thank god it was clean water shooting out of the loo 😆. Back home now, house quiet, boo! hoo! But there are small wins tho, no queuing for ages to use the loo, no shouting and swearing at his xbox, no oily frying pans left in the kitchen 😄. PS I bet I'll miss all that b 4 long 😔

Ha, I love these small wins. I cd get straight into the bathroom this morning without having to wait an hr for my son to shower whilst listening to 'drain music' 🤪😆

Lonely dinner tonight :( it was the only time we ever saw him!

Ha! Love this! Definitely the hour in the shower! Who takes an hour to wash their hair?? My DD that's who and then she leaves the bathroom in a soggy state with conditioner dregs all over the floor of the bath 😂
Other small wins, a cheaper ASDA shop this week and only 2 loads of washing to do instead of 4!! 😁

Ha, love it!👍😁

@Boomerma1969 oily frying pans left in the kitchen - so true!

Aww I'm feeling your pain. That's one of the few times I saw my son too, mealtimes.

DD had her first freshers night out last night… got a text around 2:30 to let me know she was home. She only moved in on Sunday so everything is still a little uncertain but she thinks she’s feeling better about uni now then she was on Sunday night. Got a call planned for later today so we can speak properly. Hope all your DC are safe and having fun!

Great stuff. Managed to speak to DD1 briefly yesterday, she couldn't talk for long as she was at yet another party at the neighbouring flat. She had also been very hungover all day but "powering through" 😅That's my girl.

She said all her flatmates seem nice but there is one guy who is very introverted and doesn't come out with them. It sounds like they are looking out for him though, he cut his finger badly, they bandaged him up and made sure he went to the medical centre.

Easy win at home - put chicken in the pasta as I'm no longer catering for a vegetarian! Not that I'm a "meat at every meal" person at all but it does make things easier.

The little wins makes things a little easier, though I understand the empty nest emotions now..

Thank you for this chat, it really helps

Thats so lovely to hear rainfallpurevividcat that they are looking out for one another, especially the quieter ones

My dc has messaged to say they are looking to all chip in and buy an air fryer? Good to hear they are getting along..!

Had multiple messages from.DD today about how to use the washing machine.
And her clothes were apparently still soaking when they came out.
Torn between saying don't worry I'll sort out your laundry (if you can wait a few weeks!) and letting her muddle through and get the hang of it. She used the washing machine at home but obvs the programmes are different.
The washing and drying seemed really expensive so we've brought a clothes airer for her room....but I'm worried about the room getting mouldy (yes I probably am overthinking it!!)

She was very chuffed to find another girl who shares her hobbies of yoga and dance. At home she had gone out drinking with friends a few times, but I'm not sure she's super keen on it, it was just how she hung out with her friends and a new novelty of being able to order drinks legally...so I'm glad she's found friends with shared interests away from bars etc.

Hello everybody. Lovely to hear all your updates - as always, thanks for sharing. They really help.

Right now, the part of me that is thrilled for and proud of DD is dominating. We have had a quick chat yesterday and today, which has made me so happy, and she doesn't seem to mind that frequency of contact - not yet at least. I'm sure it'll peter out slowly. There's a lot of information to share at the moment: new job, new friends, lots and lots of socialising, new arrivals in halls, classes officially starting. She'll soon fall into a routine, and so will our chats. But I'm truly lapping up every bit of information, and feel delighted at how happy she sounds and how much fun she's having. Long may it last - both her happiness and my joy at it.

Freshers week done and into lectures this week. Field trip yesterday to the coast (!), 3hrs each lectures and labs today. Done laundry, shopping, and found the post room. Seems to be acquiring friends, and seems happy. Huge sigh of relief 😁

Small wins at home- plenty of milk in the fridge (was on 4 pints a day).

How is your ds @PicklerOfCrochet? Is he settling in now?

@HistoryMmam thank you for asking. The flat is now full and there are 8 of them on the flat WhatsApp with 2 abstaining. The residential community team are visiting the flat today so Ds will be mentioning the WhatsApp group to force their hand and also the mess being left in the kitchen by some. There is do much storage room so no need to leave stuff out clean or dirty.

He has had some introduction to your course stuff but he screen shared his computer last night as we spoke on the phone and it is confusing and not straightforward so he is attending an optional drop in thing to ask for guidance. He is very proactive. He seems happier, more settled and we'll see him Saturday with some more stuff we couldn't fit in the car.

Society fair opens today or tomorrow so he is looking forward to that. I don't think the Econ Society did themselves any favours by basically saying we love a pub crawl to a club and check out our Instagram. Ds literally got Instagram for uni. Totally not his scene but he can't be the only non clubber/drinker. Hence the other societies.

So far more positives than negatives. I'll have to catch up the rest of the updates on this thread.

That sounds more positive @PicklerOfCrochet. What’s the issue with the WhatsApp group? Is DS part of the group or wanting to abstain? Is he joining any sports societies? That could be a way forward for him. I’ve had words with DS and told him not to be ‘that person’ who leaves things untidy. It’s the main reason for people falling out in these circumstances. My older DS had a friend he now doesn’t speak to because he was so thoughtless when it came to things like this. He’d obviously been waited in hand and foot at home and thought it was ok to treat everyone like staff and basically take the proverbial when it came to housework.