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When I imagined dropping my kids off at college, I pictured the classic Hallmark-movie moment—both parents standing side by side, lugging boxes up the stairs, setting up the dorm room together, and then waving goodbye as we drove off into the sunset. Reality? Not quite. Instead, I moved three of my four kids into dorms alone, without my ex-husband. And if you’ve ever been the lone parent in a sea of two-parent move-in crews, you know exactly how that feels.
At first, I couldn’t help but notice the contrast. Other students had two parents directing traffic, adjusting mini-fridges, and hanging string lights in perfect symmetry. Meanwhile, I was triple-tasking—hauling boxes, offering emotional support, and figuring out why the Target-brand futon refused to assemble properly (seriously, who designs these things?). It was exhausting. It was overwhelming. And yet, it was also something else—absolutely amazing.
The Challenges of the Solo Move-In Crew
Let’s be honest: doing college move-in day alone is not for the faint of heart. There’s no second person to run back to the car for the forgotten extension cord or to hold the door open while you maneuver an entire dorm room’s worth of belongings through it. There’s no one to tag-team the emotional rollercoaster—one minute, your child is excited about their new adventure, and the next, they’re melting down over whether or not they should have brought more snacks. And then there’s the moment when you finally drive away, when the empty seat beside you feels just a little too empty.
It’s easy to feel like the odd one out, especially when it seems like every other family has a full entourage for the big send-off. But the thing is, doing it alone doesn’t mean doing it wrong. It just means doing it differently.
Finding the Magic in the Madness
Somewhere between assembling furniture solo and making one last Target run for the forgotten shower caddy, I realized something: this was our moment. Mine and my child’s. There was no one else’s opinion on how the room should look, no second voice saying “Are you sure you need that many throw pillows?” It was just us, navigating a big life transition together. And that? That was pretty special.
I had the chance to be fully present, to listen, to laugh, and to soak up every moment without distraction. We made inside jokes about the weird smell in the dorm hallway. We celebrated the successful (if slightly lopsided) setup of their room. And when it was finally time for the big goodbye, I could give them a hug, a pep talk, and a reminder that they were ready for this—without worrying about anyone else’s timeline or emotions.
The Truth About Solo Parenting Through Big Milestones
Parenting a high school or college student alone looks different. It just does. There’s no one to split the planning, the packing, or the worry. You might feel a little out of place in a world where two-parent households seem to dominate the landscape. And yes, there are hard moments—times when you wish there was someone else in the trenches with you, carrying half the emotional and physical load.
But what I’ve learned is that being the solo parent in these moments also means you get something pretty incredible: the full, unfiltered experience of walking alongside your child as they step into adulthood. You’re their rock, their cheerleader, and their safe place, all rolled into one. And that? That is something worth celebrating.
So, to all the single parents moving kids into college, helping with late-night homework sessions, navigating financial aid forms alone, or just trying to keep up with the whirlwind of teenage emotions—you’re doing an amazing job. It may look different, but it’s still your journey, and it’s still filled with moments of joy, growth, and unexpected laughter.
And let’s be honest—there’s also something deeply satisfying about knowing you assembled that entire IKEA desk all by yourself.