Share with Endsleigh Insurance your tips, experiences and thoughts about sending DCs off to uni - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

Going to university from home is a rite of passage that many young people go through. However, the practicality and emotion attached to DCs ‘leaving the nest’ can create scary and unexpected experiences for both parents and children; from the difficulty of fitting everything into the car (yes, bean bags and fairy light are essential!), to ‘empty nest syndrome’, and keeping in touch (whether that’s through occasional texts from DC to inform you they are still alive or via skype).

It can also be a very liberating experience for both parents and young people, especially after the stress of A Levels and concerns about getting a place.

Here’s what Endsleigh have to say: “We’re proud to remain the only insurance provider recommended by the NUS. Our range of policies insures what's important to students, from gadgets and contents to bikes and musical instruments, starting at university and into your professional life - hopefully taking away that particular concern. We'd love to hear how parents help their young people make this significant step"

Endsleigh Insurance, who specialise in insurance for students, want to hear your stories of dropping your DCs off at uni and your tips for how to not only survive but make the best of it. Whether your DC is already at university or is set to leave the nest this September, share your thoughts, concerns and top tips. Did your DCs ask you any amusing questions about living independently? What unexpected perks have you found from your DC moving out? How well do they or do you think they deal with cooking and washing for themselves? What was on the essential packing list? How did you deal with the emotion and how long did it take for you to stop laying the extra plate at the dinner table?

Please tell us about your experiences and tips you have for others below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher from a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks & good luck!

MNHQ

Standard T&Cs apply

[cocochips]

Equip them with a basic cook book, don't expect any regular phone calls!

[Charbru123]

teach them to cook

[Junebabyjoy]

My mum has just been diagnosed with cancer and I feel crushed. Can anyone say anything to make me feel better? Is anyone going through this?

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Hi Junebaby. I'm sorry to hear that. My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer about five years ago and she's doing fine now. I know several other survivors of various cancers. It doesn't always mean the worst. Treatments for the Big C are getting better all the time. Best of luck to you all.

BTW Wondering if you are knew to Mumsnet as you've posted this in a slightly unusual place? Not that I care about such things. Hope things start looking up for you and your family.

[phillie1]

1st open day visit last week to Exeter - scary thought eldest leaving home. From chatting to another student already there, she said best to sort out a job on campus before you even get there to beat everyone else's CV's

[VilootShesCute]

Wish we could afford to send ours off to uni.

[jandoc]

just be aware that not everything goes to plan and be ready for the unexpected

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I do understand finances being a concern Viloot, but feel like we're hoping to send ours anyway. Perhaps it could be a possibility for yours too if they'd like to go? There's quite a decent maintainance loan now of £8k +, to be paid back on the same kind of basis as the tuition fees once they're earning over 21k.
I try to look on it as a kind of graduate tax and am trying not to stress about it.
If it's difficult to live on £8k a year I'm hoping there's now quite a strong student culture of supplementing with a P/T job, and I've heard student services can be helpful with advertising such opportunities?
phillies tip seems a good one too!

[ICantFindAFreeNickName2]

I spent the year before picking up bits and pieces for my DS, mainly in places like TKMax. I decided to buy nice quality stuff, as I think it's easier to cook with sharp knives, decent pans etc. Also as it's nice stuff my DS has looked after it, I don't think he lost anything in his first year!
Bedding, towels etc. were all dark grey from Primark, so they can be washed together, they are amazing quality for the price.

[Annbunce]

Making sure they have basic cooking skills, are street and money wise

[rhinosuze]

Many years til mine go off to uni but my mum made sure that I could cook simple healthy meals and also that I had all the bits and pieces like pans etc which really did help me as it stopped me worrying about silly things and meant I could concentrate on lectures and bonding with people

[LeeR1985]

Thankfully I don't need to worry about this for a long time but I dread the day when my daughter wants to leave home for uni!!

[Mozarmstrong]

A good all round talk 're life money cooking living and learning plus always being there for them little things mean a lot ! X

[kateandme]

no matter what they say or how they act whether its upset before the day or seemingly cold and saying they cant wait to leave...all are petrified. this is a huge step and human make up will make it hard for them
helping them deal with that is ur job.dont try to be too strong. they still need to know youll miss them to be able to move on.
the small things are always helpful to no. how to do a wash. how to cook simply meals.
make up some freezer meals before they go and then do so every time you see them helped so much.knowing there is some bases in the freezer were great.
have fun with it. go on a trip for new bedding.
when you get there do a big shop.
everyone is different so gaigeby your own child and don't look around you at what others are bing like with their kids. some will be crying so wont.and youll only compare and wonder if ur doing it right!!
a text that first night. nothing gushy but just "hi luv.just to ay we're still so proud and here for your always,have the best time and keep safe." was said to be a mega support and helped.
let them have two weeks from hell and wanting to come home. do they? or is it homesickness. don't rush and get them!!
arrange to go see them and ask them to show you their new city.
let them come home with bags of washing!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

From ds1 (who graduated last year) - don't bother with student cook books - they all want lots of ingredients that students can't afford to have sitting in the store cupboard.

My tip - teach them a basic tomato sauce - they can add different things to make different meals.

[DinosaursRoar]

We aren't near this stage yet, although saving for it, I want my dcs to be able to pick the best uni for them/the course they want to do, not the one that is the cheapest option. I also think it's good for them to have made the move away from home at a relatively young age, many friends who remained at home for uni also remained living in parents home a lot longer than others who had been away, having already made the break seemed to make it more likely you'd not want to live with your parents in your late 20s.

[yatota74]

At the moment I'm trying to get my oldest who is of to uni next year to become a bit more independent iE do her own washing and just generally getting a bit organized. I think her sister ho is more than 4 years younger would cope better with looking after herself.
I have read some interesting tips on here

[heyday]

I must admit, I cried for hours when my middle son left home to go to university. It took him weeks to settle down properly and he kept phoning me saying that he was going to chuck it in and return home. I encouraged him to give it at least a month trial which thankfully he did because he had three amazing years away. I must also confess that I packed a mega pack of condoms in his suitcase unbeknown to him which hopefully came in handy.

[ICanSeeYourPixelss]

The Summer before they go, give them a month of "independent living" where they have to cook, clean and shop for themselves on a fixed budget. Then if things go wrong you're around to give advice.

[Cailin7]

Our advice was to stay at home to avoid the expense and to attend a local city university and a wee push to get a part time job for some experience and spending money

[Tean1]

Try to let them do as much of the preparation themselves, it's good practice for becoming more independent.

[sjl19]

I plan to make sure that my children know some of the basic thing for getting them through the university years. They will need to know a few good recipes for quick/cheap meals. How to manage their finances And also hope that they don't choose a university that is far away :(

[CordeliaScott]

Teach them how to cook basic meals and how to budget so that they can actually afford to eat at the end of the term.

Also cheap red wine tastes better than cheap white wine

[nerysw]

I think life has changed and it's now so expensive that it's worth thinking about training and qualifications while in work. My two are still little but I won't be pushing them into going but looking at what they want to do and all of the options to achieve it.

[Maclairey]

As hard as it can be sometimes, try not to criticize choices. They need to make their own mistakes. Also, try and convince them to stay local. I would dread it if my children moved to the other end of the country.