3 Things I Did Differently Prior to College Moving Day

It's not often that we get to redo events in our lives. You either get it right the first time, or you learn from your mistakes and move on. When my daughter started her first year of college, I made a few notes of what I could have done differently before she moved into the dorm.

We were so heavily focused on her starting college and having her independence. I was constantly reminding her to make good choices and be active in different clubs and auxiliaries. I completely overlooked the fact that she was leaving me. She was leaving us… me, dad, and her brother, who is twelve years younger than she is.

I tried to make up for the intimate time we should have had before she left by requiring that she check in with me every morning and evening. I had memorized her schedule and was setting the expectation that we would catch up in between classes. I wanted her to always be able to fit me in. It sounds a bit obsessive thinking back on the situation.

And then there was the actual moving day at the campus. The temperature that morning had to be somewhere above one thousand and one degrees. The unloading area was entirely out of sight from the residence building. We had multiple carloads of totes and bags. And then there were only stairs… lots of them! Never again!

When COVID-19 forced students to leave campus and go back home, I realized I had a chance to redo some things while we waited for the clearance to return to school. Who knew that the return would be more than a year later? Geesh!

It's been about six months now since my daughter moved into her new apartment. This time I made sure I did a few things a little differently that I thought… well, we thought would make the transition a lot smoother.

Hire Professional Movers

Whether you're moving into a dorm or moving into your dream home, hiring professional movers takes so much stress off of you. I'm sure I mentioned this already, but the Texas summer heat is bru-tal!

This time my daughter moved into an unfurnished apartment. She had more boxes and heavy furniture to transport to the third floor of the building. Without hesitation, I hired a moving company like Gameday Moving Services Houston because of their experience, customer service, and the manpower to get the job done. They will take care of everything including providing boxes, carefully wrapping the special items, packing your belongings, delivering and unpacking them. And they are even experts at moving safes in the Houston, Texas area!

Make Memories

It happens so quickly. One minute you're changing your kid's diapers, and then the next, they are creating a life of their own. Spending quality time while making intentional memories before your son or daughter goes to college will help develop a closer relationship and bond when you are apart.

Here are a few activities that you can do together:

·    Look at photos of them growing up. It's time to pull out the embarrassing pics that you wouldn't dare put on display at the graduation party. Look for new opportunities to take new pics. Selfie time!

·    Cook five easy meals together that will be useful for them whether they are living in a dorm or living in an apartment. Surprisingly, I get more calls from my daughter when she needs me to walk her through some of our favorite family meals.

·    Binge-watch a TV series together (this one is my favorite). This will give you something to always have in common and something to keep the conversations rolling.

Commit to Boundaries

Moving out and being on their own is one of the biggest things our kids look forward to. As they navigate their new life of freedom and independence, they now have the "rights" to their own lives.

Yes, you may be paying for the college education, but learning to establish and commit to boundaries now will prepare you for the advanced version of their lives- career choices, marriage, relocation, and children. So respect their decision if they choose to limit the phone calls or don't come home to visit often.

As parents, we know our children- what makes them thrive, what motivates them, and where they are strongest. Keep in mind that every child is different. These strategies and examples can be altered to accommodate your child and your established relationship. But remember that it's okay to delegate, continue making memories and stay on track with the agreed boundaries.

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