Ah, the joys of each new school year in America. I remember them well, both as a student and as a parent of students, and none of those memories move me quite as much as, uh, well, the NON-joys of moving the kids from home to on-campus housing.
I realize the end of July is not traditionally the time we think about a coming school year. But given the complexities of today’s college/university world, more and more parents’ thoughts turn to moving and moving tips earlier each summer.
So, if you’re in the mood to think ahead to the new school year (I highly recommend such forethought especially for parents of first-time college students!) let me give you the single biggest moving tip I learned from installing our two kids (now adults) into dorms and dorm life. Ready? Here it is: Enlist as many of your kids’ friends as possible to help with the heavy-lifting, then try to stay out of the way.
Uh, come to think of it, as our kids reached college age and beyond, that seems to be advice I found myself offering and following more and more: Oversee the heavy-lifting and try to stay out of their way.
Probably some profound philosophical insights there, but I can’t quite put my finger on ‘em??