The Collegiate Son Returns
My son and his laundry are back in residence for the summer. Yup, my Freshperson has returned - although now that he’s finished his first year of college, he reminds me, he is officially a Sophomore. Hard to believe this year has flown by so quickly, until I calculate that the “year” was actually nine months minus close to three-and-a-half weeks of vacation.
The minute he and the hubby returned yesterday from the big pack and pick-up, I went into laundry overload mode. As I type this, three super-sized duffels are discharging mountains of sweaty socks, crumpled damp washcloths, and ripe sweatshirts directly onto the floor of the laundry room. I’m on my fifth load and still counting. But as I pick through the remnants of his bedding and wardrobe (if gym shorts and Co-Ed Naked Skiing t-shirts can be called a wardrobe), I can’t help but remember the careful assembling and packing of all this stuff last August.
If I never walk into another Bed, Bath & Beyond, Linens ‘n Things, or any other big discount store it will be too soon. The upside in sending a young man off to school? He’s not a young woman. What a difference, preparation-wise. There were WHOLE AISLES in those places that I didn’t have to even walk down, like, the mirrors! The fuzzy pink pillow section! The shoe racks! The best was no sweating over the whole comforter thing: no going to five stores and searching on-line for THE perfect pink or lilac patterned comforter that would send just the right message (not too sweet, not too punk, not too boring, unique but not weird, etc., etc.).
For my son, it was like: “Do you want the blue – or the blue?” Ten seconds with one of those linen catalogues they send the students-to-be and we were DONE. And now that blue comforter is back home, spinning around in my dryer. And I’m happy to have it and its owner under my roof. Plus, the $1.67 in pocket change clunking around in the washing machine will go a long way to offsetting next year’s tuition bills (or a tall mocha latte no foam, whichever comes first).
Comments
time for sonny to learn to do his own laundry!
We wish they would hurry and grow up so we don't have to do everything for them, and then when they grow-up, we miss doing things for them. Enjoy your summer with him.
Sparrow, You are right, of course, 'cause he does take care of it at school. It was just the neat freak in me wanting to start with a "clean slate!" Thanks for writing! Laurie
My son counted how many days til he returned home for the summer, then counted how many pairs of boxer undershorts he owned. He stopped doing laundry when he knew he had just enough clean boxers left. I'm glad his math education is being put to good use.
