Leaving home and moving to uni countdown

[Claymoreiron]

Is there a thread for this? In a matter of weeks many of us will be packing our DCs off to university. I am thrilled for my DS who has worked so hard and is so excited to start university life. However, I am also dreading it in equal measure and know that emotionally this transition will be tough for me.

How is everyone?

Catered takes quite a lot out, especially if there are no cooking facilities.

But it also depends on the DC. Dd2 is taking 18 pairs of shoes (4 are dance, for her course) whereas ds is taking 3 ( one for his course) and thinks I'm being ott insisting on a spare pair of trainers.
Ds has one small suitcase of clothes, dd2 had one suitcase just full of nightclothes ( why she needs three types of dressing gown I have no idea-ds has refused to take even one) as well as one full of dance wear, and a huge one of other clothes.

Etc

Dd has ALOT of stuff. I think we will end up bringing some back with us. But she is in such a tizz that she won’t see reason about trying to leave some bits here and I can send them or bring them later if she desperately needs them.
ive been laid up with covid all week so not as able to help her pack as much as I would like. And I'm feeling utterly wretched this morning both from being ill and the thought of her going so I’ve been having a quiet little cry for the last hour or so :( . I’ve been ok up to now (ish) but it’s hit me like a tonne of bricks this morning!

Wow!

Well I think we will have one suitcase of clothes, one of bedding, 3 pairs of shoes, minimal catering stuff because he hardly needs any, guitar, laptop, first aid kit, toiletries and clothes airer!

We have 3 suitcases of clothes, 2 bags kitchen stuff, sewing machine, crate of food, laundry basket full of bedding, 12 pairs of shoes and a couple of bags of miscellaneous “stuff”

I'm interested in your miscellaneous stuff @Howmanysleepsnow as I'm wondering what we are missing!

Well we’re packed!

DD has one v large suitcase of clothes, a bag of dance stuff (various dance shoes). About 6 pairs of trainers. Duvet, mattress topper, TV, Play Station, bedding, rug, lamp. Large box of files/books, pots for desk, Bluetooth speaker and ‘bits’! Bath mat, loo rolls, a few board games (drinking games) laptop and clothes aired.

DH bringing sports bag (hockey goalie) snowboard stuff (she is desperate to join the Snowsports Club) and the kitchen stuff.

Our misc. is soft toys, cushions, pictures, hair products… oh the hair products! 🙄

I don’t even know all of it! Erm…
Extension lead
First aid kit, paracetamol, cold sore cream.
Toiletries,
Cleaning stuff (well, dettol wipes, washing up liquid, kitchen roll, sponges)
Sewing kit
Notebooks, pens, stapler etc
Fairy lights
Lamp
cuddly toy!
scissors
water filter jug because she hates tap water
Uno
blutac
chargers
power bank

Definitely not all essential!

Oh, and coat hangers!

Definitely a store of first aid items. DH mocked me for making up a store of commonly needed items (Imodium, paracetamol, burn gel, plasters, decongestant etc), but DD now has freshers flu and is very grateful to have things to hand.

Kitchen stuff took up a fair bit of space so if catered you wouldn’t need much of that. Duvet, pillows, mattress cover, bed linens and towels took up another fair chunk of room. The rest was mostly clothes and miscellaneous stuff like coat hangers, cushion, soft toy, games, books, laptop, clothes drier, summer and winter weight coats, dressing gown, shoes etc. We did a big shop once we arrived for food, cleaning supplies, extra toiletries, toilet roll, laundry powder, basic medications etc.

Im actually feeling quite stressed about the logistics of Sunday. So we should arrive at 11am. Have loads of stuff to get 17 floors up.

Take her out for lunch and then go do a big shop. I’m worried the supermarkets will be closed before we’re there. Hopefully if we dump stuff, have lunch, go shopping and come back and unpack it’ll work out

Ive also ordered her a not cheap tote bag to come to the flat and it’s getting delivered today and apparently the post room is unlocked. I’m worried it won’t be there by Sunday 🙈

Yes!! Last year we had to buy a load very expensive in Tesco! Then ordered triple the amount on Amazon half the price!

I was just on social media and saw that someone I know has put up a post actually giving her DCs address 😮 The actual street and number and apartment number. I'm horrified as it's a completely public post. Gives name as well

A few takes on last year…

Do an online shop for collection and pick up as late as you can.

The post room is inundated DD had to wait several days for deliveries, before she got notice to collect. Nothing comes direct to halls, so check if an Amazon locker nearby, it will be quicker.

Online shop is a great idea

I'm staggered by the number of parents (predominantly mothers) who are saying "my daughter [name] is in flat 1, floor 2 of x block" in facebook groups called "parents of [university name] starters". One talked about her son (having previously giving his flat details and thus pretty identifiable) as needing en-suite for medical reasons etc. I can totally understand parents sharing information about what their YP needs to bring, issues about registration or what emails might have been received by when, but I do worry some are sharing more information than their YP might like.

Definitely Amazon lockers, but also investigate nearby drop off locations (often newsagents or convenience shops)

Completely agree. I've spoken on here about DS having safety/emergency plan for health reasons but I'd never name him on social media.

Re en-suite - unless in shared house or all other uni accom booked, I'd always book en-suite

We have packed in those squareish capacious laundry-type bags mostly. DD has:

• 2 bags of kitchen kit plus oven gloves, tea towels, condiments, spices, dishbrush etc (NB she is a trained chef so is fussy about kit "I must have a whisk" etc).
• 2 bags of bedding inc pillows and duvet, towels, bathmat (ensuite), rug
• Mattress topper in bag it came in
• 1 bag of mostly bathroom 'stuff' like shower caddy, storage boxes, loo brush, bathroom bin, vanity mirror on a little stand, toiletries, hand soap dispenser and bathroom cleaning products
• 1 bag of stationery-stuff (academic books, a couple of files, pens, a couple of notebooks, extension cables, laptop and cables, kindle and cables) and room decoration stuff (desk lamp, fairy lights, photos, posters, drawing pins/magnets)
• 1 medium suitcase of clothes (she is not interested in clothes) and 5 pairs of shoes (clubbing trainers to get ruined, gym trainers, 2 x everyday trainers, hiking boots)
• A bass guitar
• A plant

So 6 bags a suitcase the topper and a guitar/plant. It feels pretty manageable and if she was catered and non-ensuite she would have 2 or 3 bags less.

I have no idea which shoes DD will be taking!

How do people work Amazon Prime for grown up children? I think you can only have 2 adults on a family account and that's me and DH! I guess we can buy things for her, or if she wants privacy she can buy them herself and pay for delivery. Is that what others do?

Just wondering what difference it would make bags wise if non en-suite? Just the bath mat if they provided that.

We will probably end up with 2 suitcases - a small and a large - plus 3 other bags. The latter category will comprise a laundry/moving style bag and 2 rucksacks.

Re Amazon Prime - for streaming I allow DC to use my details.

If he's buying books etc. online he can use his regular:non prime.

We didn’t use suitcases as they are big to store in a small room unless you unpack and take them away with you.

she wouldn’t need a loo brush, bathroom bin, bathroom cleaning products, tooth mug, shower squeegee, bathmats, hand soap dispenser. That’s probably it but it’s quite bulky all together.