DORM ROOM MUST HAVES aka NEST-ESSITIES!

FLEDGLING

A young bird that has developed most of its flight feathers and is very nearly ready to leave the nest is called a fledgling. These young birds may remain under parental care for some time after actually vacating the nest.

Courtesy of Google Search

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 5 years since my little '6' 1" adored 'fledgling' aka son Luke graduated and I dealt with dorm and related college living! He's now living in Oregon & become a business force de nature of whom I'm incredibly proud. Thus, his need for my 'parental care' has been all but flown the coop --My Empty Nest is truly empty. That said, I’ve come to enjoy it as do most of we Empty Nesters as you'll see--guaranteed! But for we 'first timers' (and repeats!) having a child go off on their maiden flight to college reeks emotional and physical havoc since we approach it much as we do with our first versus second child …We overdo it! The calming news is that this helps us 'think' our parental care is needed and eases us into enjoying our freedom!

Here are several personally tried & true sanity-savers for you & dorm 'Next-esssities' that 'may' (key word 'may'!) help keep health inspectors at bay, their stuff organized-enough and their next 'nest' safe.

PLEASE NOTE: Bio hazard suits, GPS and wine may still be required to navigate & survive your first visit in the Fall!

SIX SANITY SAVERS

• Kids are slobs: Think the classic Jim Belushi flick: Animal House

• Dorm rooms are small in EVERY way

• You care more then they do

• They will survive

• Thanksgiving will be here before you know it

• You can walk around your home without clothes!

CLEANING NEST-ESSITIES

• Disinfecting Wipes

• Microban Sanitizing Spray

• Air Purifier with TRUE Hepa filter-KEY WORD 'TRUE' since it's certified to capture 99.97% of allergens ie airborne dust, allergens, bacteria, & mold spores.

• Cedar & Lavender Drawer Liners-Cedar naturally repels bugs and the lavender derails & absorbs odors...5 for only $12.99 @The Container Store!

BEDDING NEST-ESSITIES

• 2 SETS XL Sheets & Pillowcases, Machine washable

• Zip & Lock Mattress & Pillow Encasements....Love love love these from CLeanrest: they zip and lock under a plastic encasement to insure those dust mites, bed bugs, allergens and who knows what else has been taking up residence don't sleep with your kids...and they're machine washable!

LAUNDRY NEST-ESSITIES

• Two weeks worth of under garments (cause you know they won't be doing laundry 7x a week as they expected you to do!)

• Mesh laundry bag (vents help sweaty stuff breath)

• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Fridge Version (has vent on back for odor absorption)

• Tide Single Pods: Alternative: Shot glass equals single laundry liquid amount needed!

• Tide & Clorox To-Go Pens

• Basketball hoop (place over basket to help entice/make it a game to put laundry in!)

ORGANIZING/SPACE-SAVING NEST-ESSITIES:

• Hangers: Never enough! make sure they have little hooks to cascade if not use soda tabs or in your kids 'possible' case...beer can tabs!

• Cascading Closet Organizers: Love these cascading 'chains' from Amazon which make it easy to stack, hook over doors and provide tons of slots to hopefully keep stuff all floors, chairs, etc

• Bed Risers with Power Outlets & USB Ports: Brilliant multi-tasking space, storage and safety saving (don't forget a multi-socket, surge protector too!)

• Over the Chair Organizer

SANITY-SAVING & SAFETY NEST-ESSITIES

• Surge Protector

• First Aid Kit

• Thermometer

• YOUR daily glass of wine!

And, with Covid still challenging our sanity, health and beyond our children getting fully vaccinated, here is a site with simple tips to help keep them safe!