Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:53     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Plenty of people would mock you for wasting time mocking strangers on DCUM, OP.

Not me because I waste loads of time on DCUM.


Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:46     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's my fault. I need to get off social media. But the hand ringing about sending kids to college is hysterical. This week I've read posts about:

--child's roommate does not have a social media presence, should they contact residential life
--child's roommate wears pants, while their child wears dresses. mom wants to switch roommates
--why can't parents stay beyond 2 hours to set up their childs room? Their child doesn't understand what all the packed items are for
--child's roommate doesn't care about coordinating room decor; Their child does. What should she do?

What posts have you read that make you wonder if these parents are ready to land the helicopter?


I am on those FB and social media pages as well, OP. And I also have read the exact above posts and others and found them to be "different". But I also keep reminding myself that most of those sites are nationwide and there really are some lovely but less educated areas of our country. It is obvious with so many of those posts that many of the parents writing in and "wringing their hands" are parents that had never attended college themselves. I try to give a little grace.


Well said. There were times when my first instinct was to roll my eyes, and then I realized that the parent who was posting had not attended college themselves. Sending your kid off is stressful for everyone, but it’s a heck of a lot easier when it’s something you’ve been through yourself. There’s so much that colleges just assume you know, not to mention all the “unwritten” rules. For that matter, my DC attended the same university I did, and I obtained some useful info from the parents’ page.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:44     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:I know it's my fault. I need to get off social media. But the hand ringing about sending kids to college is hysterical. This week I've read posts about:

--child's roommate does not have a social media presence, should they contact residential life
--child's roommate wears pants, while their child wears dresses. mom wants to switch roommates
--why can't parents stay beyond 2 hours to set up their childs room? Their child doesn't understand what all the packed items are for
--child's roommate doesn't care about coordinating room decor; Their child does. What should she do?

What posts have you read that make you wonder if these parents are ready to land the helicopter?


Unbelievable.

Moms need to find something else to do.

Feel bad for the husbands come empty nest time.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:16     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:I know it's my fault. I need to get off social media. But the hand ringing about sending kids to college is hysterical. This week I've read posts about:

--child's roommate does not have a social media presence, should they contact residential life
--child's roommate wears pants, while their child wears dresses. mom wants to switch roommates
--why can't parents stay beyond 2 hours to set up their childs room? Their child doesn't understand what all the packed items are for
--child's roommate doesn't care about coordinating room decor; Their child does. What should she do?

What posts have you read that make you wonder if these parents are ready to land the helicopter?


I am on those FB and social media pages as well, OP. And I also have read the exact above posts and others and found them to be "different". But I also keep reminding myself that most of those sites are nationwide and there really are some lovely but less educated areas of our country. It is obvious with so many of those posts that many of the parents writing in and "wringing their hands" are parents that had never attended college themselves. I try to give a little grace.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:11     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:Do people really wipe down every surface of the dorm rooms with clorox? Do the same people wipe down every surface when they stay in a hotel?


This is not one to get over excited about, I don't think. No one cleaned the room right before move in, and the surfaces are dusty and in some cases outright dirty. It takes <5 minutes to wipe down surfaces - there aren't many. The desk, the bureau, the fridge, maybe the chair and the bed railings, and you're done.

We also wiped down surfaces when moving out - because they were dirty! Nothing wrong with helping your DC quickly surface clean the place they will be in for 10 months.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:08     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Whatever you do don't join dorm room mamas. Or, well, join and enjoy raising eyebrows, making shocked faces, a few truly heartbreaking, moving posts, and every once in a while a nugget of info that is helpful.

But really most posts are ludicrous.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 13:58     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's my fault. I need to get off social media. But the hand ringing about sending kids to college is hysterical. This week I've read posts about:

--child's roommate does not have a social media presence, should they contact residential life
--child's roommate wears pants, while their child wears dresses. mom wants to switch roommates
--why can't parents stay beyond 2 hours to set up their childs room? Their child doesn't understand what all the packed items are for
--child's roommate doesn't care about coordinating room decor; Their child does. What should she do?

What posts have you read that make you wonder if these parents are ready to land the helicopter?

Does this not make you a helicopter parent — of helicopter parents? I think your particular constellation of meta-helicoptering is far worse.


DP here. Nice try. So which one of those posts did you write?

An anonymous message board must be tough for you helicopter types: your first instinct is to desire more control.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 13:54     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just wait until you get on FB parent pages for your child's school. It's insanity.

At DD's private uni, people have asked about cleaning companies for dorms.

My favorites are the ones who post that their child hasn't made any friends and would anyone's kid be interested in hanging out with their kid?? They also usually DON'T post anonymously for those which makes me nuts.


You must realize this is irrelevant and kind of obnoxious sounding? Do you think that kids at state universities don't have parents asking this?


NP, I bought my kid paper towels and Clorox wipes and called it a day.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 13:50     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:Do people really wipe down every surface of the dorm rooms with clorox? Do the same people wipe down every surface when they stay in a hotel?


I did when I arrived at college, and I do in hotels. Pro tip for the hotel wipe down: the lever on the desk chair to raise or lower it.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 13:49     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just wait until you get on FB parent pages for your child's school. It's insanity.

At DD's private uni, people have asked about cleaning companies for dorms.

My favorites are the ones who post that their child hasn't made any friends and would anyone's kid be interested in hanging out with their kid?? They also usually DON'T post anonymously for those which makes me nuts.


You must realize this is irrelevant and kind of obnoxious sounding? Do you think that kids at state universities don't have parents asking this?


At Suny Binghamton in the 90's, you could get your suite cleaned weekly.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 13:45     Subject: Re:Where are my DCUM snarky parents
I'd absolutely hire cleaners for individual dorm room if DS would have allowed it (he's in a quad with a private bathroom). I also had ready the contract information for laundry pickup/delivery to/from the dorm. Turns out DS was diligent about doing his laundry and didn't mind doing it.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 13:35     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
The Class of 2025 Parents page on FB is a comedy gold mine. Agree that the parents wanting to switch their child's roommate are the best.

Some of these parents need to unclench.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 11:21     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Do people really wipe down every surface of the dorm rooms with clorox? Do the same people wipe down every surface when they stay in a hotel?
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 11:18     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's my fault. I need to get off social media. But the hand ringing about sending kids to college is hysterical. This week I've read posts about:

--child's roommate does not have a social media presence, should they contact residential life
--child's roommate wears pants, while their child wears dresses. mom wants to switch roommates
--why can't parents stay beyond 2 hours to set up their childs room? Their child doesn't understand what all the packed items are for
--child's roommate doesn't care about coordinating room decor; Their child does. What should she do?

What posts have you read that make you wonder if these parents are ready to land the helicopter?

Does this not make you a helicopter parent — of helicopter parents? I think your particular constellation of meta-helicoptering is far worse.


DP here. Nice try. So which one of those posts did you write?
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 11:12     Subject: Where are my DCUM snarky parents
Wait until you hear the stories about parents trying to email professors.