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the Deed's Been Done

Mermaidpicky
2,376 views
Just dropped off Baby Girl at college. We spent yesterday packing her up (preceeded by all week shopping so she'd be going off in style ;-) ), strapped the Es-Car-Go to the top of the SUV, loaded it up, and started off bright and early this morning.

I was fine until we turned the corner to her dorm to join the long line of parents with cars stuffed to the brim with gear. Then it hit me that this is where Philippa was going to be for the next four years, and the tears started flowing and there was no stopping them. Merman looked at me and said "Stop crying! She's not getting married!" So I put my dark sunglasses on, sniffled at bit, and then I was fine. Whew. That was a close one. :lol:

We actually had a really good day. We were so impressed with what a well-oiled machine Purdue is. I suppose with 40K students arriving every fall, you lean how to process them pretty well. There were traffic cops and volunteers everywhere. They even had valet service! We stood aside as our car was unloaded and all Philippa's worldly goods were brought up to her room. Better than being at the Ritz.

And the room was sparkling clean. I was shocked! I had my can of Lysol ready to disinfect everthing in sight and I didn't have any cause to use it. Fyl's up on the 8th floor and has a magnificent view of mature trees and rolling hills. She's definitely not slumming it. What a good introduction to dorm life!

There was a very thorough presentation for parents that covered all aspects of living at Purdue. The Dean of Students was there, the Bursar, the Fire and Police departments, and more. All the resources available were discussed, whether it involved an academic, financial, health, or person issue. We came away with the impression that if any of our students needed help wiping their bums, there was probably a department that could handle the problem. :lol:

We left the campus and our daughter knowing that she's off on the ride of her life. She can tell us all about it. When she comes home this weekend. 😀

Replies

59
30A Skunkape avatar
30A SkunkapeSkunky
#2
I remember the day I moved my stuff into good old Hatcher Hall;funny, my parents didn't seem sad at all:scratch:

I hope it all goes well at Purdue!😀
RudyjohnSoWal Insider
#3
Will you be experiencing the empty nest syndrome? Any plans for yourself?
I know I have big plans when my son goes off to college!
MermaidpickyAuthor
#4
I remember the day I moved my stuff into good old Hatcher Hall;funny, my parents didn't seem sad at all:scratch:

I hope it all goes well at Purdue!😀

When the Dean of Students was giving her speil, she recounted how her parents wrote to her every week. She was at college about two months or so and got her regular letter, the parting shot of which was this line: "Your father and I have fallen in love with each other all over again." She said she was really insulted that her parents were having such a good time without her. :roll:
Beach Runner avatar
Beach Runnerbeats on hood
#5
Just dropped off Baby Girl at college.
Oh, that is such a difficult time. If you need a shoulder to cry on, let me know. I'm not gonna lie -- I had empty nest syndrome for several years. I'd go to work, then come home and sleep until my husband came home to avoid the emptiness in the house and no longer being able to look forward to that ebullient creature (a.k.a. our daughter) bouncing into the house after school. Now I'm ticked off over how much all of this is costing us, so those emotions have surpassed the feelings of sadness and the knowledge that things will never be like they were at our house for 18 years.

Hope FYL loves Purdue and is happy!

Edited

Miss Kitty avatar
Miss KittyMeow
#6
:wave: ...bye bye, Pippi goes to Purdue!!!! :clap: That sounded easy!

Mermy, don't call me, call BR! 😀
kimbug avatar
kimbugBeach Lover
#7
Just dropped off Baby Girl at college. We spent yesterday packing her up (preceeded by all week shopping so she'd be going off in style ;-) ), strapped the Es-Car-Go to the top of the SUV, loaded it up, and started off bright and early this morning.

I was fine until we turned the corner to her dorm to join the long line of parents with cars stuffed to the brim with gear. Then it hit me that this is where Philippa was going to be for the next four years, and the tears started flowing and there was no stopping them. Merman looked at me and said "Stop crying! She's not getting married!" So I put my dark sunglasses on, sniffled at bit, and then I was fine. Whew. That was a close one. :lol:

We actually had a really good day. We were so impressed with what a well-oiled machine Purdue is. I suppose with 40K students arriving every fall, you lean how to process them pretty well. There were traffic cops and volunteers everywhere. They even had valet service! We stood aside as our car was unloaded and all Philippa's worldly goods were brought up to her room. Better than being at the Ritz.

And the room was sparkling clean. I was shocked! I had my can of Lysol ready to disinfect everthing in sight and I didn't have any cause to use it. Fyl's up on the 8th floor and has a magnificent view of mature trees and rolling hills. She's definitely not slumming it. What a good introduction to dorm life!

There was a very thorough presentation for parents that covered all aspects of living at Purdue. The Dean of Students was there, the Bursar, the Fire and Police departments, and more. All the resources available were discussed, whether it involved an academic, financial, health, or person issue. We came away with the impression that if any of our students needed help wiping their bums, there was probably a department that could handle the problem. :lol:

We left the campus and our daughter knowing that she's off on the ride of her life. She can tell us all about it. When she comes home this weekend. 😀

You're lucky it was just a week of shopping for college. I feel like I've spent the whole summer buying, returning, buying. My husband says it's been my way of keeping my mind off of her leaving :idontno: . Anyway, we'll be taking our baby girl to school at the end of the month. I know that I'll have more than a few tears; I don't seem to be able to even look at her without thinking about it and shedding a few already. Good luck, Mermaid. How far away from home will your daughter be?
iwishiwasthere avatar
iwishiwasthereBeach Fanatic
#8
Big day!!! Sounds like everything is in place. :clap: :clap: The tears part sounded familiar, but good to know she is close enough to come home. I must agree that my husband and I fell in love all over again.....so nice:wub: Enjoy the next chapter in both of your lives!
NoHall avatar
NoHallhmmmm......can't remember
#9
Merman looked at me and said "Stop crying! She's not getting married!" So I put my dark sunglasses on, sniffled at bit, and then I was fine. Whew. That was a close one. :lol:

We came away with the impression that if any of our students needed help wiping their bums, there was probably a department that could handle the problem.

:clap: With funn parents like you, how can she not be okay? If she has your sense of humor, she'll be able to handle just about anything herself. Yay, Merms...:wub:
Beachbummette avatar
BeachbummetteSoWal Insider
#10
I was fine until we turned the corner to her dorm to join the long line of parents with cars stuffed to the brim with gear. Then it hit me that this is where Philippa was going to be for the next four years, and the tears started flowing and there was no stopping them. Merman looked at me and said "Stop crying! She's not getting married!" So I put my dark sunglasses on, sniffled at bit, and then I was fine. Whew. That was a close one.

:funn: :floor: I love merman! What is he going to do when/if she gets married? Must admit, it did make me well up reading about it.

I am sure you both will do just fine, this is a new part of life for the two of you, and for her. Just think of all the grand adventures she has just started. It is sooooooo exciting!

Edited

Hop avatar
HopBeach Fanatic
#11
awww...big day...you have lots of support mermy...
Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal Expert
#12
So have you called or e-mailed her yet?;-) :lol:

Wow- love the valet service!! I am already dreading that sweaty car unloading right of passage- the kids better pick a school that offers this service!

I know Fyl enjoyed her first night in her new "world". If I had to pick out a kid that will grab the best of everything college has to offer, Fyl would be that kid. I'm sure she will be doing some amazing things in the next 4 years!:clap: Looking forward to hearing about her college experiences!
Cheering472 avatar
Cheering472SoWal Insider
#13
Well done mama Mermaid:clap: I'm sure your baby is prepared and will love her college life.

Now a few tears are normal, so don't let Merman make you feel bad. I still tear up in Target when I see the back to school supplies and don't have anyone to buy them for. Enjoy your empty house😀
seaside2 avatar
seaside2Beach Fanatic
#14
I remember the day I moved my stuff into good old Hatcher Hall;funny, my parents didn't seem sad at all:scratch:

I hope it all goes well at Purdue!😀

Skunky, That wouldn't be THE Hatcher Hall at La Tech would it?:idontno:

Edited

MermaidpickyAuthor
#15
This is so funny. Merman serves me my customary coffee and paper in bed this morning :wub: and what should be the lead article in the Living section but the Empty Nest Syndrome!! I think we weren't the only parents out there dropping their kids off at college this weekend. Wow. There's a whole host of websites out there devoted to nothing but talking about how the babies have fledged the nest. I almost feel guilty about crying for only five minutes!! J/k. I can be cavalier about Philippa leaving home because inasmuchas we've "lost" Fyl, we've "gained" Alex. You heard correctly. Number One Son is now commuting to college in Indianapolis. He's turned the basement into his apartment and is very cozy down there. We are hoping that most of his credits will transfer and that he will reach a speedy conclusion to his college years so we can enjoy this Empty Nest Syndrome that we so richly deserve. :lol:



http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/LIVING/708130309
Ocean Lover avatar
Ocean Loverbean
#16
Aww, I know Fyl will make you proud. I feel like Sam and I are getting closer and closer as she gets older. I know when that day comes I'll be sad too and probably cry my eyes out.
I know this is OT but where did her BF end up going?
dbuck avatar
dbuckBeach Fanatic
#17
So glad everything went well for Fyl and the Mers. It's hard not to be excited for them when they are so happy about starting THEIR new life, but it's just so hard to let go. Another Chapter...........
whiteyfunn avatar
whiteyfunnSoWal Staff
#18
I would give ANYTHING to start college all over again. ANYTHING. :wave:

Mermaid these will be exciting years for everyone. Let me know if she needs a sorority rec. ;-)
kathydwells avatar
kathydwellsDarlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#19
Oh my. The whole time I was reading this, I was picturing the day that I drop of Jesse at college, and the day that my dad and step-mom dropped my sister and I off. It seems like yesterday. I can't wait to live vicariously through Philippa. Enjoy this time Mermy and Merman!!!! :wub:
MermaidpickyAuthor
#20
I know this is OT but where did her BF end up going?
Well, this is going to be interesting because Philipppa's BF is a senior in high school. She's dating a younger man. And while Cameron has more maturity than most of the boys in their set, the fact remains that Fyl's at college and Cameron's not. The two of them luckily are best friends first, and BF/GF second, but even still? When Alex went to college and his GF was still a senior, their romance lasted the year but it was tough and by the second year they had both parted ways. I can only hope that whatever happens with Philippa and Cameron, they'll always be friends.



I would give ANYTHING to start college all over again. ANYTHING. :wave:

Mermaid these will be exciting years for everyone. Let me know if she needs a sorority rec. ;-)


Yes! Yes! Yes! Fyl's definitely going the sorority route and rush comes up sooner than we think!

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