What happened to my sweet little boy?
Posted by Dawn Atkins in Dawn Atkins, Uncategorized
We just braved snowbanks, slush and ice to pick up our son from his first semester of college up in Flagstaff, Arizona (snow country) and haul him and his gear back down to sunny Phoenix–he’s transferring to ASU for spring.
That’s him in the photo above, an old shot my husband just rustled up from somewhere.
I cannot believe a sweet little angel like that could live like he and his roommate did in their smelly dorm!
You know those nightmares where you have to clean a room but it’s piled with crap and you’re moving through molasses or quicksand to get there and the mess keeps growing?
That was what it was like only I was awake. Wide awake. Alex helped, of course. He had most of his gear in boxes, but there were miles of mess to go before we could get the RA to release him of liability (and blobs of pizza on the ceiling). The floor wasn’t *covered* with debris. It was more like a tile mosaic, if the tiles were paper plates, index cards, text books, empty tea bag packages, Pop Tart boxes and coffee filters (clean, at least).
Turn around, turn around and they’re young men…
I wanted to turn around and kick them both in the butt.
I want a show of hands: How many of you have found yourself saying of your child, “I didn’t raise him to ____ .” Fill in the blank with “live like a pig,” “throw away his money on junk food,” “not write thank-you notes to his grandmother,” “sleep until two,” etc.
How that sweet little boy peeking his head through the dog door turned into this 5 foot, nine inch hulking trash generator I’ll never know. What did I do wrong?
Tell me your favorite college child story. Or any before and after tale of your offspring. I need consolation.
My best for the holiday season!
Dawn Atkins
www.dawnatkins.com
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, HQ SuperRomance, 11/10
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We’d driven all afternoon before we got to our son’s college apartment that he shared with another young man. I walked into their bathroom, turned around, and left. “I’m going to go to McDonald’s to go to the bathroom at least it will be clean.”
My husband rolled his eyes at me. “Well, I’m not so picky.” A few minutes later he called from the bathroom. “There’s no toilet paper.”
My son and his roommate looked at each other and went into the “You were supposed to get some.” “I thought you were going to get it.” routine.
I went out to our car and got the box of tissues I kept in the car.
I was actually glad when our son and his girlfriend got an apartment together. I knew then that there’d always be toilet paper and the bathroom would be reasonably clean.
While my son was at Texas A&M Galveston, we were a designated hurricane house, meaning if the campus had to be evacuated, students could come to our home. His younger brother broke his leg playing football, I was spending every day at the hospital and a hurricane was headed our way. They’re taping the hospital room windows and I get a call, “Mom! Guess what? They’ve evacuated the campus and I’m bringing about 9 guys to our house! It’ll be great. We’re going to have a huge LAN party!” (translation: connect their computers and play games simultaneously.) There is no food in the house because I haven’t been there. I fight the crowds at the grocery and buy $150 of non perishables and a cooler full of sandwich meat and cheese, extra water, extra everything. Then I head back to the hospital. We ended up on the dry side of the storm, but the school was still closed. Instead of staying, they scattered for the weekend and left me with all the food. They apparently ate only cokes and cheetos.
Best before and after? You can’t beat my story. Last year my 16 y o daughter was skipping school, flunking most of her classes, had been ticketed for Shoplifting (she gave her friend her purse when she knew the friend was using it to put stolen goods in) and had run away from home 3 times. I felt like the worst failure as a mom ever.
We were in counseling, and we’d tried everything and nothing seemed to be working. So, I threw her out. I knew she had a friend to go to. But after 3 days, the friend didn’t want her either. She begged me to come home. I told her only if she agreed to all my rules and if she broke one, that was it. No more second chances. She argued for about 3 hours, but I out stubborned her. She came home, and things got gradually better. This year her average grade in PreCal is 100, she’s helping cook dinner and smiles a LOT. She’s earned back our trust, holds down a part-time job and has a really NICE boyfriend. I’m thankful every day. I’d almost given up hope.
Betty, Heather and Jillian:
This are great stories! Completely outdid my pitiful one. Clearly I don’t have the “stones” to be a college mom yet. I’m pissed that my son’s still staying up until four then clunking around in his room waking me up. This is going to be a loooong winter break.
Jillian: Congratulations on doing the tough love and making it work! Great story.
Best,
Dawn
I graduated from NAU. Lived in Cowden Hall for 3 years and yes, it was very often an absolute pig sty. What dorm was your son in? I loved NAU. The snow, not so much.
Well…I can’t say I’m to that age yet. WHEW….though we do have our own little issues. Like the mouth from the oldest daughter, told me to get a job the other day. She is only 9. I came back with then who is going to take care of you, needless to say she stopped.
Our oldest is 10 and the youngest is 4. We have to go through all this 5 times. LOL. I can’t wait! NOT!
Andrea: He lived in Secrist Hall. Yeah, the snow was pretty, then miserable to my desert rat of a son.
Misty: Good luck on the journey. It’s rewarding…mostly…unless it’s not. Ahem.
Dawn