The emotional day started off very early, taking two hours to pack the car.
The reality of the situation set in once our car was on the road. I was actually leaving for college, until we had to turn back because I had forgotten my cell phone. Finally we were on our way. The conversation that filled the car for the entire ride consisted of a myriad of check lists, dangers to be aware of, reminders, like, be responsible, don’t skip class, make friends- good ones, stay in touch and don’t lose your stuff. I was really nervous and it was crystal clear to me that everyone else was too.
Miraculously, we arrived at the campus. Lines of cars filled the roads in front of us. People carrying boxes were flooding into buildings as we watched impatiently. Suddenly, my sister flung her car door open, startling everyone. Overcome with carsickness she proceeded to hang her head out of the car and over the pavement. We were all screaming in shock. My parents were jumping and shouting. Needless to say this attracted a lot of attention. I was really embarrassed everyone was staring. I looked at her and all I could say was “No way, are you serious?” Simultaneously they all turned to me and began to shout even louder. Somehow this wasn’t the college sendoff that I had predicted.
Finally we got to the unloading area and emptied the car. Dad went off to park. I waited beside my enormous pile of stuff with Mom and my horribly smelling sister. It was ridiculously hot and then the sky opened up. We scrambled to get everything out of the pouring rain. Soaked and exhausted, we were met by a welcome guide who grabbed a bag and we set off towards my room. I was trying to act cool, but I was really nervous. Dad found us and that’s when Mom started in with her reminders. “You know this isn’t home you’ve got to keep track of your things” Dad couldn’t resist “Yeah, that iPad wasn’t cheap” Other kids passing us in the hallway couldn’t help but laugh. So much for trying to act cool, now I was struggling to just act normal. Room 703, 705, 707 I was there! The door was open to reveal my roommate with parents in a room filled with bedding, clothing, and boxes everywhere. The Dad was standing in front of a Safe. My Dad walked right up to him, shook his hand and said, “What do we have here?” My roommate and I started to laugh.
So the Safe was an Ice Breaker for the Dads. For me it was a relief. It ended all of the concerns and worries about where I would keep the keys to my parents’ home, my iPad, laptop, Asthma medication and so much more stuff. It also ended the constant parent reminders. Okay, maybe not all of them. They still worry but, definitely not as much. As for me, I wish that I had known that the Safe was already in the room before I got here. It’s a big Family Stress Eliminator especially for students leaving home for the first time.
Three months later:
I can’t believe how fast time is gone. I’m getting ready to go home for the Thanksgiving Holiday and I just realized that I don’t have to pack up everything. I can leave a lot in my Safe. Amazingly, I haven’t wasted much time looking for my stuff either because it was already in the Safe.
Hey, I guess that means that I just got organized. Wow…I’d say that makes me pretty cool!
The End