Fledglings 2026 - support, discussion and looking after each other

[ComingInByAnsible]

A thread for parents of Year 13 leavers as they go on to universities, apprenticeships and other new adventures.

DS is off to Warwick to study PPE.

We have just done the "big shop" DS has gone rather quiet. He's off out at 5:30 for the last hurrah 🤣

Still trying to work out how we'll get everything in the car next week - including the PC and two monitors!

We made three trips (Skoda citigo with three adults in it doesn't have much capacity) the final one was this morning with the PC and likewise two monitors.

If he had gone further afield we would have had to rent a van!

Dropped my youngest off yesterday at Newcastle. He asked us to leave as soon as we’d unloaded the car! but rang later to say sorry he’d asked us to go so quick. He said he was suddenly nervous and just wanted the goodbyes over and done with. I had been pretty unfazed about the empty nest in the run up but have surprised myself today by keeping on bursting into tears! I’m so happy and excited for him but am missing him horribly (though I won’t let him know that). Best wishes to every else doing the drop off this weekend.

Gah been up since 5. This is gonna be a long day… good luck to everyone dropping off today!

Goodness all this change! It's emotional isn't it. We have a weekend of packing - not much has been done. But at least I know his bedding and kitchen essentials have been delivered to his Halls.

First task I am going to do when he's gone is to clean his room top to bottom. It's a bit grim.

Good luck to you all moving today.

We dropped DD at Newcastle yesterday and it went really smoothly. She is an overpacker and I, like you @Onthesofawithmydog, left her to do it herself as I was working. She procrastinated for ages then suddenly it all kicked in and she did a good job in the end. We used every spare inch of space in the car and managed to get it all in. She has loads of storage space in her room so no problem fitting her many clothes in.

She was a mixture of nerves, excitement and tears when we left but was itching to get know her flatmates and go out on their first night out last night. I can't wait to hear how it went, DD is good at telling me everything (sometimes too much 😂) so we will see if this continues.

Our house is very quiet this morning so now starts mine and DH's adjustment to having an empty nest. It has been a challenging year so far with the loss of MIL (who lived with us) in March and now DD going. We have gone from 4 to 2 very quickly so need to readjust and think about our future too now, which I am feeling positive about at last.

Hope everyone is coping ok atm.

@bluefineliner sending lots of strength to you as you navigate this chapter. Someone on WIWIKAU mentioned this Mel Robbins podcast about empty nesting and I listened yesterday and it was very hopeful and encouraging. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-mel-robbins-podcast/id1646101002?i=1000668827988

worth a listen.. we are also going to have to squeeze it in the car looking at the piles of stuff. I can’t help worrying about how she will manage with only one shelf in the fridge and one cupboard in the kitchen… she has three bags of food and cleaning/toiletries supplies and two boxes of kitchen equipment. I guess she will have to store some in her room. 🤷‍♀️ ah well after a late night I think she may be nearly there and I have just heard her emerge from her bedroom so that must be the first day since June that she’s been up before 10!

@Onthesofawithmydog thanks, I'll have a listen.

Yes kitchen space is more of an issue. DD had one fridge shelf and one cupboard (small) so we put equipment and crockery/cutlery on one shelf and food on the other but she has some stored in her room too. Not sure on the fridge situation as we did a fresh food shop and left her to it. She can navigate it with her flatmates 😁.

Good luck today, DH and I were shattered when we finally got home last night but happy she's finally there. Hope things go smoothly for you all.

Good luck to everyone today and tomorrow and I hope all the DC dropped off already are settling in well.

DS seems to be getting on nicely. He's bonded with his flatmates over a shared love of Spoons and they seem to have visited every branch in the city already (apparently all in one night 🙄😄). DH and I had a 6 hour journey back last weekend with our two worryingly flatulent labradors cheering on DH’s driving from their flatularium in the car boot.

@ComingInByAnsible is it next weekend for the Ansible family?

Best wishes to all x

My DD is living at home and commuting in. So I don’t have to face the big move and empty nest.

I hope everyone’s YP is adjusting well and that they’re soon happily settled. You must all be very proud of them (as I am of mine, obvs!).

Any alcohol or snack food is best kept in their rooms anyway as has a tendency to go ‘missing’ otherwise.

Pam Ayers: A September Song

DD dropped at York yesterday. We had to go by train which is obviously more difficult but we managed it. Took what we could then did a B&M shop when there. Lots of people doing the same! Seemed very well organised, accom was clean and she and flatmates went out last night. Just all a bit overwhelming. I feel a bit... unmoored. Will miss her so much!

Hope those already there are finding their feet and good luck to those with move-ins coming up.

Well its been a week since we dropped off. Some messages in the week. Quick call today. Lots of events attended. Some cooking done. First load of laundry done. First sports group meet up tomorrow. Even attended the first two introductory talks! 🤣 Very relieved to see him looking so well.

We dropped at York today. Currently sitting in a restaurant felling like a part of me is missing, but I know it’ll get better. Long drive home tomorrow ahead

We've also dropped off at York today. 12 hours from leaving to getting back home. It was all pretty smooth and well organised though.

We left DC in their room, decorating their pin board. I've already had messages that the whole house has headed out to the James College Big Quiz, and formed two teams, following a big impromptu kitchen chat.

DC was tearier than me when we left but they sound pretty perky over text. The house was pretty nice, the room is bigger than we thought. Very clean and smelled nice, but slightly battered around the edges (which makes it less worrying about causwesr and tear). There were enough cupboards in the kitchen for one each, but they weren't equal sizes. We moved in quite early in the day, so managed to get one big enough to fit pans and cooking stuff on one shelf, and food on the other.

Dropped at Sheffield today, we were there before lunch and stayed until after 4. It looks like his flat isn't fully occupied so a bit more room in the kitchen.
He seemed ok when we left him, and rang about 10 minutes later to ask where we'd put something and if he should wash his new knives before using them.

Mine has a touch of the freshers flu , been taking cold meds and having strepsils. Been there a week today , been cooking , bonding with flatmates, going out with course mates ( tonight is her 4 th night out ), been cooking , done her first load of laundry today and was surprised at how many of her clothes can’t be tumble dried! She’s a bitt tired and looking forwards to routine after freshers . Was given her first assignment during induction week for. Monday . A simple task to get her going. Is trying several societies next week see if any of them click . She’s 9 hours away so I’m super proud of her. She’s planning to visit her bf and best friend first weekend in October so has that to look forwards to . She says she’s ok but misses hugs from her bf , friends , sisters and us .

Dropped off DD at Nottingham today. The car was so full that youngest Dd and I had to go on the train. There were tears all round, we are staying overnight nearby but she was playing cards in the communal kitchen this eve then going to a local pub. Tomorrow she has plans too so we will see her briefly in the morning then make our way home. It’s a brand new city for her and she doesn’t know a soul. I’m a proud mum but feel a massive part of me is missing. I know it will get easier for us all!

Ok. I've been reading about your kids all going and starting already, while my eldest DD is yet to leave. And I've decided that I'm going to ban her from going. It seems for the best.

Back from Liverpool. Dreadful journey there but accommodation was clean and well organised. Helped our DD to unpack then she was keen for us to go so she could chat with her new flatmates. I was pleased we didn’t fall out with the nerves and stress. 😂 Husband and I met up with an old university friend and his family and then we set off home. Feel a bit numb to be honest. I’m sure it will hit me soon but she’s so ready for this next step.

Good luck to all who are setting off soon.

Aldo dropped off DD @ Nottingham yesterday.. she seems to have found others really welcoming & has reeled off a load of names, out with a different group tonight to last night- still tears when we left yesterday & again this afternoon.. currently trying with all my might to not keep checking her location!!! I hope yours has a great first night!

@surrey321 I’m doing the same with location. Hope your dd settles well.

just reading a Pp, and the smell is so important! I just thought it would smell musty so was so happy when the room just smelt clean! Love Notts so far

Dropped daughter in Bath. She was reluctant for us to go and kept saying ‘stay just 10 more minutes’ so it made me a bit nervous about going… but my dh was giving me the ‘look’ saying it’s best to just leave her now and he was right. I then didn’t hear anything from her until 4am when she sent a text saying she’d had the best time ever and had bonded with some girls in her flat and the freshers arrivals party had been the best!! So I feel I can now relax… although I didn’t really sleep much at all. It’s all just so emotional not having her here 😭 well done to everyone else… we will all be fine.. eventually!