Moving a freshman into college is no easy feat!  There is a ton of shopping to do, following lists that are six pages long, deciding what they need and what isn’t really necessary.  Then, there’s packing everything up and getting it to the dorm.  Finally, it’s move in day, complete with anxiety about the new school and sadness about leaving your child.

When we moved Ethan in, the first thing I did was make his bed.  First, there was the “Bed Bug Prevention Mattress Cover,” a plastic zipped up cover for the gross plastic mattress.  Then, we put on the foam pad, so that it would be comfortable.  Then, the mattress pad, to protect the foam pad and provide extra cushion.  Then the fitted sheet, followed by the flat sheet and comforter.  Yes, it was probably overkill, but I’m a Jewish mother and I want my boy to be comfortable!

When we finished making the bed, Ethan’s roommate said that he needed to go somewhere to get sheets.  He had arrived a day earlier and slept on the BARE MATTRESS.  He did not come with anything for his bed, not even a pillow.  He had no soap or toothpaste.  He did not have parents to move him in and take him shopping for snacks and the few things he forgot.  He had nothing.  Then another “new friend” also said that he had nothing.  Of course, Jordan and I offered to be their parents for the day and take them shopping.

We piled into the car and headed to Bed and Bath, where they got sheets, towels, pillows and all of the necessities.  We helped them pick out what was most necessary, and ensured that they received the best prices on those items.  Then we took them to the supermarket, where they got their toiletries.  We made sure that they filled out the paperwork to get the store discounts on those items.  We squeezed all of us and all of their purchases in the car in every free space and brought them back to the dorm.

A reminder that not everyone has the same resources – both financial and human – and that when we can, we’re obligated to help.