Your destination. Eventually.
As August drags on and college gets closer, remember that this is a transition for the whole family. But mostly, it’s a transition for you, and four years of Party Central for him. Here are some fresh new ways to tackle this age-old rite of passage.
- Waste your money on a few last-minute motivational plaques that he will never look at.
Vandals will soon replace the second verb anyway.
- Refer to move-in day as “Doomsday.” Include it on your calendar, preferably written in tear-stained black letters.
- For extra drama, take up a few old-fashioned mourning rituals before your child leaves. Send all your friends black-edged photos of your kid. Wear a black armband. Better yet, put on sackcloth and ashes and stand in the town square rending them.
Yep, that’s you.
- Film yourself blubbering incoherently and post on any social media that your child has a chance of seeing.
- Use this time to reflect on what’s really important, i.e. knowing that the privilege of plastering your kid’s college decal on your car will cost you more than all the cars you’ve ever owned put together.
That’s one expensive decal.
- Sneak a favorite sibling into your kid’s luggage as a quick pick-me-up when homesickness strikes.
Just like home.
- In the car, ask tearfully if he wants to play the license plate game, “one last time.”
- On campus, be sympathetic to other parents going through a tough time. A good ice-breaker: “Isn’t it terrific that the college doesn’t hold felony convictions against freshmen?”
- Adopt a spirit of friendly competition. Challenge the parents of your kid’s roommate to a series of zany activities, including competitive bed-making, clothes hanger bingo, and who can say, “Wow, this dorm is way cooler than anything we had,” more convincingly.
Ready, set, hang!
- When you hug your child goodbye, whisper “You’re dead to me” in his ear.
- The second you get home, post 10,000 baby pictures on social media. It will be like he never left.
Because this is how you still see your college kid.
How to Be 50 
Lots of great ideas!
I almost wish I had children so that I could put these tips into practice.
Too funny! Just dropped off my second child at college. She is nearby, which is good because she is already homesick. I think she mostly misses the dog.
My second kid leaves in a week…and he’s already talking about how much he’s going to miss the cat.
That freshman felony line cracked me up.