Roommates.  A MAJOR part of college.  One filled with nerves, anticipation and excitement.  Will I like Roomie?  Will Roomie like me?  Do we have anything in common?  AHHHH!

I was a horrible, terrible, no good, really bad college roommate.  I think that's why I ended up living alone in my uncle's converted garage apartment for 2 years of college.  MY choice.  I was tired of wreaking havoc on everyone else's college experience.  I smoked (been cigarette free for 24+ years now...YAY ME), I was loud.  I was messy.  I was a mess.  The summer before Freshman year, I spent time with my future roommate, and I realized off the bat that she and I weren't the same.  Although we pledged the same sorority and now have a good relationship, we aren't close. I am sad about that.  My second roomie made me look like a saint.  She never went to class, stayed out all night, snuck alcohol into the dorm, had us get rid of our beds and sleep on the floor, and stole from me (everything from money to a boyfriend).  My next roomie was a nice girl, nothing really wrong, but she and I were nothing alike.  My next TWO roomies were amazing, and are lifelong friends.  I love them both dearly!  But alas, they graduated and I still had over a year of college left.  My husband's roomie experience was better...he shared an apartment with his lifelong friend (and the guy who actually introduced us, and was a best man in our wedding).

Emily, similarly, had some unusual roomie experiences.  Her first roomie didn't rush a sorority, so Em was already moved in and had friends by the time this girl got there.  Being a gift giver, Em found out what her roomie's decor style was, and bought her gifts to match it, which she set out on her desk.  I thought that was a lovely gesture, but apparently it had no effect on the roomie.  She moved out the next semester, and one of Emily's sorority sisters moved in.  That was a MUCH better fit!  For the next year, Emily shared an apartment with a sorority sister who was rarely around and didn't do dishes, then Emily shared with a friend from freshman year who was always at her boyfriend's place, and left Emily holding responsibility for unpaid bills.

By that time, Matt was starting college.  With his autism, we knew the dorm environment would not work for him.  We got permission for him to move in with Emily.  That has been a match made in heaven!  This past year was their second year living together, and they mesh really well.

​But, Emily has graduated.  Matt couldn't find a roommate.  So, as I referenced in this post, he is moving into an innovative apartment solution being offered by the college the first time this year.  He will have his own apartment, but will also have the opportunity to interact with other students from college.  We hope this will last until it's time for him to student teach.

And now, Michael is moving into the dorms.  He has a roommate.  We have reached out to his roommate and family, and I think it is  great fit!  Although they are over 1700 miles away, we are already making plans!  We are going to meet the day before move in to just get to know each other (and I'm going to show them Mall Deli, which is a Pittsburg legend).  He and his roommate are very similar.  Apparently they text back and forth quite a bit.  His roommate's Mom and I are also very similar; she and I also chat quite often!  I hope for a wonderful, successful friendship.

Here is a list of things that have helped the roommate situation this time around:

• Get in touch with your roommate ASAP. Call, text, email,  Facebook, Twitter...all resources for touching base.
• Be honest on your roommate survey. Don't try to please your parents; be honest about what you want
• Ask questions. What are your roomie's college plans? What are their favorite foods? Are you night owls or early birds? Do you have any classes together? Do you both plan to go Greek or join clubs? 
• Decide who brings what.  You don't need multiple fridge's and microwaves.
• Get a general idea how to set up the room (okay, if they're dudes, this is probably what the Moms will do!).

Once you're moved in and Mom and Dad have said their goodbyes, you're on your own.  You and your roomie will PROBABLY have issues at some point.  Don't let these fester.  If needed, get your RA involved.  You may or may not be best friends, but at least aim to be friends.  There will be nights of gaming and pizza, or Netflix and popcorn.  GREAT!  Make memories!  And above all...RELAX.

My 20 year old son Matt has been living with his sister Emily for his freshman and sophomore years in college.  It's been a great experience for him.  He is extremely high functioning autistic so we knew the chaos of the dorm would not be good for him.  His sister has lived in a duplex since her sophomore year, so when the decision was made for Matt not to live on campus, she invited him to live with her.  It's been a great experience for both of them (and my daughter's little dog, JoJo!).

Alas, Emily graduated in May, effectively leaving Matt homeless after mid-August!  Panic started setting in.  Matt couldn't find another roommate to take over rent, and he doesn't have the money to live solo.  What to do?

By accident, we found out that Pittsburg State was building a really cool and innovative solution for older students called Block 22.  Basically, it's single unit apartment units located in preserved noteworthy buildings in Pitt's main street.  And this concept is just SO COOL.  See more about Block 22 here (and be very, very jealous).  His unit will have a bed, bath, living room, full kitchen...and comes with furnishings (including a TV, microwave, washer/dryer unit and a dishwasher!).  Downstairs has a coffee shop, learning spaces, an outdoor courtyard and so.much.more.  I'm excited for him.

Living with his sister, he has gotten a lot of "shared" items, like pans, dishes, silverware, etc.  We basically need to make a checklist of what else he needs.  So, here we go!

Crock Pot   I'm giving him lots of healthy and easy recipes.  We got him the 4 qt. one so he can freeze food for later.
Colander    We got the collapsible one to save space.  The kid loves pasta!  He needs the strainer!
Skillet       I got him this ceramic non-stick skillet.  I just want to see how he takes care of it before we get something more expensive.  I do like this one, though, and it is sturdy and seems like it will withstand Matthew's cooking endeavors.
Keurig          I raised a bunch of coffee drinkers.  A Keurig is a must for them.  He got this for graduation.
​Mini Waffle Maker   I actually got him this for Easter this year.  It's small and mighty

I just got the boys an Amazon Echo Dot.  I thought it would be a great idea...they can set verbal reminders, find out the weather, call Mom from anywhere in their rooms (apartments) and SO MUCH MORE!  The kids got me one for my birthday, and I still can't get over everything it does for me.

We still have LOTS to get.
Bed set.  He will move from needing  twin sized to full sized sheets and bedspread.
DIshes.  He has shared a set with Emily but he is getting his own.
Silverware.  Same thing.  He gets his own.
Storage dishes.  Something like Tupperware or Sterlite containers that can freeze and microwave.
Kitchen towels, pot holders and trivets.  
Wooden spoons and a spatula.  Obviously!

The cost of his laundry is covered in his lease, so I have instructed his brother to forego the dorm laundry and head over to his brother's apartment.  I even told them I would supply the laundry detergent and dryer sheets!

We haven't had the opportunity to see inside his actual unit yet, so we won't actually know what else he needs until August 18.  Luckily there is a Wal Mart and a Big Lots in town, so we can grab what we need when we get there.  He and Michael do move in the same day, but he's been asked to come a little later.  That works!  We were planning on moving Michael and his roommate in first, with Matt's help, then we will all head over to Matt's and move him in.

Let me know if you can think of anything I forgot!  I'm a list maker, so I can just jot it down.  And remember...pics WILL be coming soon!

 And... 
My youngest boy (my "baby") graduated high school!  Congratulations, Michael!  He will be following in his brother's and sister's footsteps and heading to Pittsburg State University. GO RILLAS!  Everywhere I look online, there are tons of information on dorm decorating for girls, but sadly, there is precious little for freshMEN.

I know what you're thinking...Mom's 3rd time around, she has this down to an art.  You could not be more wrong!  I'm
more of a mess this time than with any other child.  You see, this one is completely different.  Unlike his sister, who moved in early for sorority rush, or his brother, who didn't live on campus at all, Michael will live in one of the dorms!  And move in with all of the other freshmen, on the same day, in the same parking lot!  That means I once again need to focus on getting the biggest bang in a small space.  Oh, and since he's a guy?  No help from him whatsoever, except to agree or disagree with something I show him online.  I mean, this is the kid has lived in this house for over 13 years, and he has never painted his room!  I just can't comprehend.

Oh, and speaking of living in our house...we are selling it and moving to the Lake of the Ozarks!  It is ON THE MARKET right now, so it must be magazine ready during every. single. moment., in case somebody wants a showing.  Yeah...not a lot of room to store and organize things.  The summer before Emily went to college, we joked that it looked like a dorm room exploded in our house.  NOT THIS TIME!

At this point, we have barely purchased anything, although we've talked about a lot.  We went to Bed Bath and Beyond during a sale, and with a 20% off coupon, we got a really cool bedding set called The Rowan for just $40.  It comes with the bedspread, fitted and flat sheet set, pillowcase, pillow sham and a throw blanket.  Honestly, this helps a lot because I can (not WE...*I* can) start designing the room.  He chose the navy and black color, and since he already has a black reading pillow, his bed is off to a good start.  We still have to get a mattress protector (ewww on the old mattresses "everybody else" has slept on) and a comfy mattress topper.  To finish the bed, we plan on getting this over the bed storage shelf.  His sister had one and used it a LOT (still uses it, in fact).  She lined the shelves with colorful foam board so nothing would fall through.

We've also gotten some design elements for his wall.  The first one was this Gorilla wall art.  I mean, who at Pittsburg State WOULDN'T want something so cool?  I've seen that wall tapestries are a huge thing right now, so I ordered him one for his birthday.  His is a reference to one of his obscure video games, but I found tons of awesome tapestries on Amazon.  They are so seriously gorgeous!  And FUN!  And an easy way to switch decor.  It's a great way to personalize a dorm room without spending a ton of money.  Michael is a HUGE Kansas City Royals fan, so his sister got him a poster of Kauffman Stadium to hang on his wall.  Whatever you do, remember Command Hooks!  With the concrete block walls, tape won't stick and will leave a mess on the walls, which you will be responsible to fix.  Don't forget cork boards and a calendar! Better yet,combine the two of them! The organization factor is huge.

Michael eats.  A LOT.  I mean, he IS a teen aged boy!  We plan on getting him the 14 meal a week dining plan.  Obviously that doesn't equal the 35 meals a week he usually eats (I'm only partially exaggerating).  I'm sure, with his roommate, there will be college sized fridges and a microwave.  He is also a huge coffee drinker, so we plan on getting a Keurig.  His brother got this one for graduation but I'm probably getting Michael this one.  With Emily living in their college town for a few months, and Matthew living in an apartment, I'm sure they will be able to find SOMETHING to eat!

Michael wants to loft his bed and have a seating area underneath.  We discussed whether to hang a hammock from the bed frame or invest in an inexpensive but sturdy futon.  He decided to purchase inflatable furniture on the cheap.  We got him an inflatable chair and ottoman.  We'll see how long they last!

He doesn't see the need for organization.  I still have about a month and a half to work on that.

We "met" his roommate and Mom on Facebook today!  They are wonderful people.  I look forward to meeting them in person.  His Mom and I are chatting about what the boys really need.  Any suggestions?

Do any of you have pictures of your sons' dorm rooms that you'd be willing to share with me?  Any hints I can use?  Post all help below!  ​