Maybe, Maybe Not

Aug
21


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!!

My 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.





Comments

  1. Linda Goble says:

    O That poor boy. He certainly needs his momma. Maybe their is another momma near by that would help him out. Sorry I am too far away. I am sure you told him to hang in their.

  2. tea4too0 says:

    This is too funny. I almost rolled on the floor laughing. Poor kid.
    I see a care package going in the mail real soon. Best of luck “College Mom”.

  3. lavenderblue says:

    Awww, poor baby! 😥 Help him, Mom. Help him. I feel lucky-ish ’cause mine is just going to a two year school for now. That whole
    “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.

  4. Liz Pike says:

    Oh wow. My girl only needed me to set up her new printer, get the printer software installed on her laptop, and then help her figure out how to get connected to the college wireless. I came out easy compared to you Suzanne!!

  5. LisaAJB says:

    Oh, poor boy. My freshman year of college I moved in and realised I had only packed one pair of pants. Thankfully it was inky a two hour drive and I had a friend who needed to go home the first weekend for some business anyway… I see a care package (with towels) in it right away. Hope college improves for him. It was one of the most fun times in my life.

  6. LisaAJB says:

    And I totally have an extra mini fridge he could have! Ugh, I wish there was an easy way to get it from Iowa to WV.

  7. Miss Nellie says:

    So, so funny. My 1st grandaughter goes to college today, we will see how it goes. She is a planning nut so who knows.

  8. bonita says:

    Sorta like those letters from camp when they were 8 or 9. Or did you miss that opportunity?

  9. langela says:

    Enjoy it while it lasts. Soon he will be so busy, he may forget to write or call. It’s funny, I can totally see my son saying those same things, but not my girls. Of course my girls are always looking for new things to do and my son just wants everything to stay the same.

  10. Wendy says:

    LOL-Time to grow up and plan for himself, without Mom or girlfriend doing it for him. Hopefully he’ll get better and not need ’emergency’ care packages.

  11. leneskate says:

    So I have been here. The IT person at school it alwasy helpfull! As for the towels its important cause he should shower. (some guys forget). The food isn’t moms so deal!! Send peanut butter and easy mac!!! All in your next care package. hugs this is hard on MAMA!!

  12. lifeisgood/ Melinda says:

    I’m sooo sorry for Weston’s plight! I feel even worse when I admit I laughed so hard while reading his email. Poor baby seems a little lost, frustrated, and just missing home. Those first few baby steps into adulthood suck more often than not, but he will soon get the hang of it. Hang in there mom, but definately print that email and stick it in the family bible!!! years from now when his children are complaining about him you can drag it out and show them!!

  13. MonkeyPhil says:

    Just like letters from camp, they will get better as soon as he gets his books, finds his classes and discovers that he is having a good time. As for the towels, now you know why there was such a small pile of stuff sitting on the curb. Wonder what else he forgot?

  14. Madeline says:

    There is always the honorable professions of FARMING he could return to!!!!!! LOL!!!!

  15. Becky says:

    I think it would be a great idea if some of your readers could send him a care package….a towel, washcloth, a book, a back of chips and maybe some cookies. If he got extra he could share with his roommate. Do you think that would surprise him????

  16. MousE says:

    Poor kid! Ah, hahahaha, I like the care package idea. Maybe that’s what he’s hinting at!

  17. whaledancer says:

    Oh, it wasn’t fair to share that, but I’m ROFL. 😀 😀 😀
    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.

  18. Darlene in North GA says:

    Ok, I have to admit, I laughed. A lot!
    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.

  19. mamajoseph says:

    See, he loves you enough to want you to feel sorry for him. Somehow I bet you don’t too much. My boys never wrote me at ALL about almost anything; they still don’t. They prefer to keep everything to themselves. My 3 brothers, on the other hand, who are all over 50 still call my mom when they are sick. I think there must be a happy medium somewhere.

  20. DarleneS says:

    He’s having a harder time of it than his brother did when he went into the Navy. He will definitely do a lot of growing up this Fall.

  21. rainss61 says:

    :sheep: Oh my-I’ve laughed so hard-I’m silly with it!! :snoopy: This has to be real-cause there’s no way even a great writer like yourself Suzanne could make up this email!! Oh such entertainment these children of ours are!! :hissyfit: See u soon!!~~Rain :woof:

  22. wvhomecanner says:

    Towels! I knew he’d packed awfully light!

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