College Road Tripping

Do you remember your first visit to a college campus? Not for a basketball game or a concert, but as a prospective student? When it finally hit you that it was actually about to happen? In a little more than a year, you'd be on your own! Mom and Dad wouldn't be there to boss you around, to do annoying things like cook your meals and do your laundry.
I remember being excited, but also glad that I had one more year left.

It seems like yesterday that I was taking Sarah on her college visits. Two steps into our first tour I fell into total freak out mode. Was I really old enough to have a college daughter? How was I going to live without her? And didn't I just finish being a student? I didn't look as old as the other parents, did I?

Then I looked at my beautiful daughter, so grown up, yet still my baby. She was biting her lip like she does whenever she's a little nervous. A tad overwhelmed.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU, I said to myself. Then I put on my big girl panties and got over it. Our visit went fine.
In fact, we had a great week touring around lovely campuses, soaking up information about student/teacher ratios and meal plans. Plus we got to observe human behavior.
A few weird memories? I'm glad you asked!

1. The campus guide who took us to the beverage center in the dining hall, waved his hand over the milk station like Vanna White, and said, "Here at Blablabla College, you have the option of whole milk, chocolate milk, and skim milk. Or you can even go nonfat." (Woo hoo! That decides it! This is the school of my dreams!) I guess milk is really important to some people.

2. One daddy who wanted to know who would notify him if his son decided to experiment with alcohol or drugs. (At which point the son's head disappeared turtle fashion into the neck of his jacket.)

3. Another daddy who asked if there were panic buttons connecting each dorm room with campus security. (At which the daughter rolled her eyes and shook her head in humiliation.) I made notes for Todd. Favorite topic of fathers? Campus security! Personally, I thought the panic button was a good idea.

4. A mom raising her hand and asking, "Where do you recommend going if you want to party and don't want to be carded?"
Very weird of you to ask, Cool Mom.

I can't believe it, but it's time for college visits again.

It's the cowboy's turn, and we start today.
We'll be going strong all week, so I'm not sure how much blogging I'll be able to do in the next few days. But if I find any panic buttons, you'll be the first to know!

Have a great Monday, y'all!
Love, Becky