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I might, or might not, know the poor child who sent this email after one day at college.
I might, or might not, have rolled on the floor laughing before attempting to assist him from 150 miles away.
But one thing is for sure. This poor child already misses his mama!!
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on August 21, 2011My glasses lens popped out. I got it to go back in, but I don’t know how long it will last. I’m out of tortilla chips. I don’t remember what department I’m supposed to turn my receipt into. I still can’t access my online banking to figure out how much money is in it because Morgan WON’T RESPOND. I still have no books. I have to go to a bunch of mandatory meetings that teach me nothing. I’m out of reading material. We have no mini-fridge. I have no monitor. It’s unbearably hot, even with fans. The doors cannot be closed without slamming them. The shower heads are so low that I have to crouch to wash my hair. The Arnold Hall cafeteria isn’t open yet. The Boreman Hall cafeteria sucks. I’m always bored. I forgot to bring towels. College blows.
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I see a care package going in the mail real soon. Best of luck “College Mom”.
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“does not work up to potential” thing. So his towels are still right here.
Or are you going to go the “you’re a man now, figure things out” route. I always thought I’d save that for if my son moved in with unsavory friends, college is a different issue.
He really, really will miss you. College life will be way, way different than “down on the farm”. Poor guy.
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He’s just been thrown into the deep end, hasn’t he, poor boy? I’m glad he’s got a transition period when [whoever his mother is] can throw him a lifeline. He sure knows how to make a mom feel appreciated. And I bet that after a few weeks of cafeteria food, he’ll REALLY appreciate good, home cooking. In the meantime, that boy needs a care package.
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Reality Check going on here.
He’s a good kid and he’ll survive and thrive. Time to stand on his own two feet and figure out how to overcome obstacles on his own.
Though I wonder if his email was really a plea for help or just venting. I’d go with just venting. He DOES know how to take care of himself and will figure out what he doesn’t know, if allowed. In other words, don’t rescue him, just ask him questions that lead him to any answers he hasn’t thought of yet. He can do it. And so can YOU! But it sure is hard to let go and let them learn. We want to continue to “soften” the blows, but we only make weak kids when we do that. Now, I’m not suggesting that you abandon him to his peer group, but you don’t want to rush to his rescue with do this, do that, call this person, etc. Treat these emails like venting. Don’t fly to the phone to call and when you email him back, don’t offer “helpful” suggestions of what he can do. Acknowledge that sometimes life bites. Then let him make mistakes. It’s a small price to go to the wrong building to turn in a receipt and find you’ve gone to the wrong place. If he misses a class, he’ll have to figure out how to make it up. If he goofs off and fails a class, he’ll lose his scholarships. But can you REALLY see him doing that? I can’t. Possible, but not probable. This is a learning experience for BOTH of you! lol (Mine are 22, 19 and 17 and I feel your pain! lol)
He’ll find the library, both the school’s and the town’s – if he’s bored enough. He’ll learn he won’t die in boring meetings (how many boring meetings have we attended over the years? We’re STILL here! lol) He’s eaten THREE bags of chips in less than 24 hrs?? Sounds like my son. Why does he need MORGAN to tell him how to access HIS bank account??? If he was USING his Check Book Register, he’d KNOW how much he had in the account! lol Siblings are more willing to discipline siblings than the parents are. SHE knows that if she doesn’t answer, he’ll have to figure it out on his own – and then he won’t need her help. (But that’s the problem with us mamas. We WANT them to still need us – just a little.)
And, ah yes. Wants vs Needs. A hard lesson to learn. He CAN still shower. And he HAS showered – even without a towel! He’s already told you he’s had to crouch to wash his hair. lol So he’s figured out that people lived for centuries without “towels”. Hot rooms, no monitor, fridge, or reading material are all wants. And so is “tasty” foods. Now we learn to eat what is served us and then REALLY appreciate the fact that mama is a GOOD cook.
Ok, I’ll stop giggling now. Yep, one major leap into adulthood. It’ll make a man out of a boy/woman out of a girl. Which is the whole OBJECT of going off to college. They’re away from mama and have to stand on their own – unless they have coddling mamas and then they’re unlikely to EVERY learn to stand on their own.
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