This Summer, Dorm Room Shopping Is My Love Language
He's done being a kid. I'm not done being a mother.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how well we know the people we love and how that comes out in the gifts we buy them. When they’re little kids, it’s easier to know what will delight. As people grow up, and even more so when they live far away, it’s trickier to nail that perfect item. (At some point in adult life maybe it’s better to switch to other ways of building connection besides gift-giving, but that’s a topic for another day.)
As my oldest graduated high school last week, I was finishing up an essay about shopping for his college dorm room. Why it feels like it matters, even as it’s easy to scoff at parents and kids going overboard and elaborately decorating dorm rooms. In general, I try not to buy too much stuff — I’m currently writing something new about clutter, stay tuned — and yet I’m still getting sucked into at least thinking about a long list of dorm room items. I can’t stop mothering yet.
Read more here: This Summer, Dorm Room Shopping Is My Love Language
Thanks for reading, and happy summering!
Warmly,
Sharon
p.s. I surprised this cute pair in the woods near my house the other day.
Also - I love the essay you wrote for Grown and Flown!
You hooked me with the first line:
"I’ve somehow found myself in a Facebook group called “Dorm Room Mamas.” It’s exactly what you think it is."
Recently my daughter's 3rd grade teacher gave me a succulent as a thank you for being the "Class Ambassador" (why not call it room mom? It's 100% moms.). A boy in her class stalked me around the class party telling me how lucky I was to have that plant. I made a note - 4th grade boys are getting succulents for birthday presents next year.
Congratulations, Sharon! Big milestone for you and your son. I still remember some of the gifts my parents' friends gave me for high school graduation. I was perhaps least excited about a small (7") address book binder. All the current information lives in my phone, but decades later I'd never consider keeping it anywhere other than my desk.