An estimated 3,490 freshmen descended on Boston University at the end of the summer, and from one end of campus to the other, the same scene played out again and again: parents and children steeling themselves for the moment when they had to say good-bye.

Bostonia caught up with some members of the Class of 2021 and their families during Move-in and asked parents to share their reflections on this emotional time. As one father humorously noted, there are upsides as well as downsides to saying good-bye. “I’ll have a full refrigerator,” he said, but “I’ll have to cut the lawn myself.”

Parents, remember that Family & Friends Weekend is October 13 to 15.

Bill Politis can be reached at bpolitis@bu.edu.