We did it!!! We successfully got Eldest Son off to college with only a few teardrops falling from my eyes! In fact, I think Hubby and I shed about the same amount, lol. The day went really well. The school was SOOOO organized in the whole unloading process, it was wonderful. They had lots of established students in orange t-shirts helping unload belongings and answering overprotective parent questions! Eric was so excited to get there and start his new journey as a college freshman. I thought you might like to take a peek into our day yesterday....
my neighbor Lori came over before we left to snap this shot of our family about to embark on the big day. I love the shot of the four of us together!
This is a shot of the big welcome sign in the University Center window welcoming all the students for the new year. The only time I cried yesterday was when we were driving into the campus area for the first time when I saw a big WELCOME TO THE U of WI RIVER FALLS sign hanging across the street....it really hit home at that moment that this was the real deal. I was dropping off my son at a strange place to live with a strange new person and I couldn't do anything about it. Youngest Son kept trying to make me laugh so I would stop crying. I think he was worried I was going to hit one of the new students crossing the street!
Here are four men (boys) trying to figure out how to loft the beds in Eldest Son's new dorm room....I just stayed out of it and kept my mouth shut. 
Here's a shot of the dorm Eldest Son will be living in for the next nine months.....
And here was all of his stuff unloaded to a temporary holding area.....all of his life belongings in one little pile on the grass....it took an army of 4 guys to get it all up to the 4th floor, where Eldest Son's dorm room is! Thank heavens it was 65 and breezy--it was gorgeous!!! Perfect for moving in...can't imagine if it would have been 100 and muggy!
I am SO not looking forward to that day...but of course know the day will come. What a blessing for him to start a new school year and with such supportive parents. Amy, although this was a hard day I commend you for writing about it and for sharing it with us. God bless you as you take this next journey in your life too--change is hard. Is he coming home for Thanksgiving? Perhaps a count down is in order!
ReplyDeleteMy little niece (now 18 going on 19) is off to Uni for the first time in September. She has managed to get the final place in halls so she is mega excited. I think the only difficult bit left before the goodbyes is the finances! glad things worked out well for you all and that the weather co-operated too!.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that your son is all settled and mom and dad are shedding only a few tears! LOL! I can't imagine my boy going off to college someday....just thinking about it gives me a lump in my throat......
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post! It seems like just yesterday it was ME moving into the dorms! I remember it all so well! Then reality snaps me back into place and I realize its been 15 YEARS!!! (YUP!!! Going to my 15 year HS reunion THIS WEEKEND!!! ACK!!!)
ReplyDeleteAgain, great post...
Oh my goodness! I started welling up when I saw that sign, too! You'll do fine. My only baby is at U of F (Gatorland). It's so hard to go through the day without knowing what they're doing! It sounds like you handled it very, very well. Keep us informed.
ReplyDeletethanks for updating us on the Big Day! Hope your week is going well...
ReplyDeleteHugs, hugs, hugs.......from one mom to another.
ReplyDelete