I overheard a girl in the library the other day contemplating telling her mom not to come for the upcoming Moms Weekend. She knew her mom would not want to go to Red Lion, which would end up ruining this girl’s Saturday night plans.

There are 675 miles between my small apartment on campus and my mom’s house in North Carolina. I talk to her almost every day, but haven’t seen her since Thanksgiving. Despite the distance, and the fact that she will be here again in a month for my graduation, I consider myself extremely lucky to say I’ll be spending my final Moms Weekend on campus with my mom. I’m even willing to give up a Saturday night at Red Lion for it.

In my four years at the University, my mom has missed one Moms Weekend. My freshman year, she planned to be back on campus weeks later for my sister running the Christie Clinic Illinois Half Marathon. Although it didn’t make sense for her to visit twice in one month, I pouted nonetheless, and she vowed never to miss another one.

Sophomore year, she flew in to spend the weekend with my two sisters, who were also on campus at the time, and me. We spent the weekend doing typical Moms Weekend activities: eating too much at Papa Del’s, shopping and touring the campus.

We decided to switch things up junior year. This time, she flew to Chicago, and we stayed at a hotel in a nearby suburb. We went to nice dinner and saw a movie, spent a day at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and walked around Grant Park making fun of all the “Segwayers.” Since we had seen almost all of what Champaign had to offer, a getaway weekend was the perfect alternative.

This year, as the last of three daughters who have attended the University in consecutive years, I wouldn’t necessarily expect my mom to fly in this weekend just for me. But since she told me her ticket was booked, and that she wouldn’t miss her last Moms Weekend for anything, I’ve been counting down the days.

As for what’s on the agenda this year: I have a Pinterest craft picked out and ready to go, restaurants I have yet to try before graduation and we may take a trip to Illinois Amish Country in Arthur, Ill., for fresh baked goods. It doesn’t matter what we do – just being able to spend the weekend with her is activity enough. While the abundance of craft and musical activities may seem silly or unimportant to some students, they are planned to give us something to enjoy other than the typical lazy days and nights out.

This weekend has long been an opportunity for students to invite their moms to campus to experience our four-year (or more) home. Simply being invited may mean more to our moms than we realize. And whether they’re in the area or 675 miles away, those of us fortunate enough to have loving, supportive mothers should never take that for granted.

So even if it means sacrificing a night out with friends, or having to thoroughly scrub down every inch of your apartment, invite your moms to campus this weekend, keeping in mind those not fortunate enough to do so. 

Jordan is a senior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].