It's Happening: The College Move-In
By Julie Perine on August 16, 2015
If you recently bought a mini fridge or microwave for a campus dormitory room, this blog is for you.
If you struggled to carry a sectional couch up a skinny pair of stairs which led to a small college town apartment, this blog is for you.
And if you loaded down your vehicle with Rubbermaid containers full of towels, extra long twin sheet sets, frozen pizza rolls and Ramen noodles, yep, this is intended for your eyes too.
Moving a child into college - especially for the first time - is no piece of cake. The vehicle ride is not only packed with lamps, rugs, framed pictures and school supplies, it's also packed with emotion.
You have a fresh high school graduate who is eager and excited - yet perhaps a little anxious - about the transition. It's an educational transition, indeed. But it is also a life transition. He or she will have more independence and free time than ever. Girls may be happy about decorating their new 
digs and guys may be looking forward to playing their music a little too loud - or leaving the bed unmade. And, of course, there are so many activities in which to be involved. There will be no more daily household chores. The students are now the keepers of their own schedules - and to them, that feels good. On the flip side, Mom won't be nearby to bring toilet paper to the bathroom, pick up dirty clothes or cook dinner. Likewise, Dad won't be handy to tuck a $20 into your purse or pocket, help with math or chemistry or provide a personal wakeup call.
digs and guys may be looking forward to playing their music a little too loud - or leaving the bed unmade. And, of course, there are so many activities in which to be involved. There will be no more daily household chores. The students are now the keepers of their own schedules - and to them, that feels good. On the flip side, Mom won't be nearby to bring toilet paper to the bathroom, pick up dirty clothes or cook dinner. Likewise, Dad won't be handy to tuck a $20 into your purse or pocket, help with math or chemistry or provide a personal wakeup call.
Then, there are the parents. And to keep this real, we'll focus on you, moms. There - in the driver's seat or passenger's seat - you sit; a smile upon your face and a lump in your throat. This is the moment you've dreaded; yet one for which you have helped your son or daughter prepare. It's so confusing. Parenthood is such a roller coaster ride.
But I'm here to tell you it will be ok. No, it will be more than ok. You see, you've taught your college freshman to do laundry, have good study habits and make good decisions. It's go time; time for him or her to put those good habits into action. In the meantime, you're only a phone call, text or FaceTime chat away. With today's technology, you can have a peek at him or her everyday - or even a peek into that dorm room to see how many weeks it will be before you'll be making a visit to tidy up.
And when you do see each other, it will be different; not bad different, but better different. It's been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I think you'll find that your time with your college student won't be taken for granted - by either of you. Your relationship will deepen. You'll develop new hobbies together and your conversation will eventually shift to more adult talk.
I've been there; grinning and giving the pep talk while tears welled up in my eyes, wearing sunglasses to dinner on the trip home so no one would know I was crying; wondering how my kid and her new roommate would get along and if she would call the R.A. when she needed something. 
Your apprehensions are all normal, but moms - and dads - take a bow. You've done good. And now it's going to be proven.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Pictured from top: Some picture I found from an Internet search. I just liked it; With some help from his dad Shawn, Tristan Knapp makes his bed at a WVU dorm; Melanie and Ron Griffith move their son Bryce into a WVU dorm and Justin Massie is all settled into WVU dorm life. See more local college move-in photos at the gallery below. Want to add yours? Send to julie@connect-bridgeport.com.
Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter!
More "It's Happening" HERE.
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