For Moms of First Year College Students

Getting your son or daughter ready for their first year of college should be a fun and happy time. And it is going to be up to you to keep this a fun, happy time. Be prepared for arguments on what you think they need and what they think they need. Start by making a list, the school should have sent you a list of things needed. Take the schools list and from it make your own. Have your college bound student do the same thing. They will need to decide on the color they want for their room, sometimes a roommate will want to try and match things, but that isn't your problem. If they want to stick to a particular color, then that is fine, just be sure that they talk to the roommate and get the color selected. Because you want to be able to move them in, make their bed and leave on move in day. Emotions are high for everyone on this tiresome day, get out of the way quick to avoid arguments.

This is a bittersweet time for moms. You are proud and sad at the same time. As you wash their clothes before packing, you can't help but think this is the last time you will have to wash clothes for them. The last time you have to wash their clothes! Is that a sigh of relief? Don't worry; they will be bringing you plenty to wash over Christmas break.

Move in day can be a challenge. Try to have everything ready and even packed in the car or truck the day before. Have a flexible plan for what you will have for breakfast and lunch. This might change, but at least you are prepared with a plan and the money needed. This is your students day, so be easy on them. They are nervous and excited, anxious about meeting new friends and starting new classes. Help them get their things moved to their room; meet their roommate and the parents if they are there. Then make the bed as only mothers can. Don't cry, you can do that on the trip home. Don't try to hang around too long. Leave, they need to make friends and get started on the beginning of this new journey in their lives. You can call them later to see how things are going.

You already know the basic things they will need to take, so I'm only going to mention some of the items I didn't think about or know about.

Dorm rooms usually have oversized twin beds. These require special oversized sheets to fit correctly. Get 2 sets of fitted sheets, 2 top sheets and 4 pillow cases. Also, buy 2 new pillows. They always forget to bring home their pillows, so have theirs at home and 2 for their bed at school. I always get 2 because away from home they may need the extra comfort of a second pillow. The sheets can be different but they do need to be mix and match, so any combination will look good together. A comforter and a light blanket are needed. Stores will usually have sets made up especially for college bound students.

Most dorms require you bring your own towels. Two bath towels should be enough, they are the only ones using them so they can be used several times before needing washed. Two facecloths and washcloths should be fine. I wash the towels and the sheets before they take them.

Try to have enough clothes so they will only have to do laundry once a week. For boys, they will probably only do laundry every two weeks or when they start running out of clothes. It is better if they don't have too many clothes, they will put off doing the laundry and the room begins to smell.

I use an under the bed plastic container from Wal-Mart and fill it with snack type foods. Readymade pudding, pop tarts, peanut butter, crackers, favorite candy, bags of microwave popcorn and some special treats that your student likes. Don't forget napkins and plastic utensils that can be put right in the plastic container. A case of bottled water is good for them to have when the weather is still hot when the fall semester starts.

Pack dryer sheets instead of liquid fabric softener. Don't forget a package of color guard sheets for the washer; this will avoid the freshman pink underwear. Night time Tylenol for those first nights if they can't get to sleep.

Be happy, this is the day you've been getting them ready for.