Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - We're awesome! - Page 556

cooker · 10-18-2012, 11:30 AM

D went back to school yesterday after a very short (long weekend) fall break. As I was taking her to the bus for the return trip, she commented that last year at this time she was very unhappy to be going back but that now, while she liked being at home for a few days, she was looking forward to seeing some people and getting back in her routine. She commented that "last year I didn't have people to eat lunch with every day!" So happy that she's happy. Another example of how it sometimes takes kids a little time to get acclimated and find their spot.

EmmyBet · 10-18-2012, 12:07 PM

Nice to hear all of the news about our sophomores - the ups and the downs. I think everyone is experiencing a pretty astonishing journey. The reality certainly does sink in this year.

D2 is working very hard and very excited about what she is doing. The way she describes her ups and downs is so different from last year. Cooker, I'm so happy your D has made the same transition, and understands it. I think my D has a lot of perspective, too.

AvonDad, whenever I remark how exciting it is that time is going by, my D jokingly begs me to stop reminding her! She is trying to enjoy college and doesn't want it to be over. But she, too, is thinking about next year (junior? what??) and how she's going to make the most of everything.

Soon I'll have both kids telling me the travails of tests, papers and profs. Doesn't look like that'll end for quite a while; D1 is likely on a PhD track from now on. Thanks for the good wishes.

Pepper03 · 10-19-2012, 11:04 AM

Hi all!

Avon I vote for you too!

The interview went very well! The suit arrived in the nick of time but the new belt never got there!

It was a very good experience for him and he thinks he has a good shot!

mathmomvt · 10-19-2012, 11:49 PM

Congrats to Pepper's S on his interview

Jealous of everyone who saw their kiddo for fall break. We will not see ours until Thanksgiving.

Sending healthy vibes to all the sick kiddos.

My DS seems to have survived midterms, and is moving onto more project work. I know he likes that much better. We don't hear much from him, but he seems happy enough. I think I've mentioned that he's already put down a deposit and signed a lease for Junior year! He had a phone interview for a summer position at a company he's quite interested in, and says he "nailed it" but he doesn't think they'll be making any decisions about summer for a while. He also had another one that he said went very well until they told him what the job actually was, asked him if he would be interested, and he said he would not. (I don't blame him -- I wouldn't want it either.) Hopefully with a successful internship on his resume from last summer he has the luxury to turn down jobs that don't appeal (without ending up jobless this summer).

My HS Junior son will be taking the PSAT in the morning. He's probably borderline for NMSF so that means unless he bombs it we'll be on pins and needles until the cutoffs get released next September. Ugh! Just beginning to make a college list for him, and will probably do his first visit (other than the ones he tagged along on for DS1) on Veteran's day. Haven't decided where we'll visit yet but we'll see. I'm so not ready to dive back in a second time, but it is time...

shawbridge · 10-21-2012, 11:36 PM

ShawWife and I had decided to go to a meditation weekend-long workshop before we found out when ShawD's Family Weekend was. Put down the deposit, etc. When we learned about the screwup, we looked at the schedule for the weekend. Go to your kid's classes on Friday (she has none). Then fluff over the weekend. There was one ceremony for nursing students on Friday afternoon. She said: "It's no big deal. Go away for the weekend." Well, last week, her teacher said, "I hope your parents are coming on Friday." In the ceremony, the nursing students recite the Nightingale Pledge or Vows (like the Hippocratic oath). So, we decided to leave after the ceremony. Very lovely. All these girls in dark blue scrubs. She's just so happy. Then we had to drive in rush hour traffic, but the workshop was good.

ShawD still seems to be doing quite well academically, is working as a tutor, working in a food truck, and having fun. A very good sophomore year so far.

I offered to help her a little bit (all I can offer given her career) with a summer job, but she said, "I'm probably going to have to take courses this summer" as she's in this accelerated 5 year BS/MSN program.

EmmyBet · 10-22-2012, 10:01 AM

My D just got an off-campus job that she is "so pumped" about. This does seem to be the time that they start doing these things. Thinking about summer, thinking about study abroad, while also embroiled in all of the day-to-day work. Maybe I don't envy these college kids quite so much? Feels like a whirlwind!

But I will be out there this weekend, and I'm so happy I'll get to see her, and the play she's working on. Turns out she'll be onstage after all, and that is very exciting.

siemom · 10-22-2012, 12:29 PM

Kiddo just returned to school after a good week at home. He arrived exhausted and wan after a "hellish" midterm week and ate and slept his way through the week. Exactly what he needed. Talked about some of his frustrations and a little discouragement about his school's tough grading policies, but says he definitely wants to stay there as the rest is worth it. He is excited about internship possibilities for the summer and knows he has to get in touch with career center and get going. We won't see him again until winter break (his T'giving break is just Th and Fr and too far/expensive) so it was really nice to have him around and really talk some important things through. Best to all!

gsmomma · 10-22-2012, 09:41 PM

D1 returned to school today after a 10 day break. She is ready to start her new classes bright and early at 8AM tomorrow. She says that she likes the early classes, sicne she pays attention more to keep from falling asleep.

I really did enjoy having her home, although we didn't see her that much. She made dinner a few nights, and went to 2 of D2's games, which made D2's day.

The biggest issue that I have with her being home is that she has a tendency to expand her belongings into the amount of space available to her. She had shoes in every room, clean laundry (washed and folded) in the den (Why should I bring it all the way upstairs if I am just going to take it back to school in a few days?...). backpack in the kitchen, etc. I refer to her as a natural gas, occupying all enclosed space.

It was nice to come home from work and to see a den not occupied by 4 laundry baskets of clothes. I keep thinking that she will be walking in the door any minute

.

arisamp · 10-23-2012, 01:39 PM

gsmomma - I know exactly how you feel. When D is home, she makes herself really at home - her stuff can be found in every room. And inevitably, no matter how good she is at making lists, I get a list of stuff to mail that she forgot!!

D didn't come home for fall break. Had some friends from Pittsburgh come by one day, she spent another day with a friend visiting the zoo and getting lunch. We missed her a lot - especially since S was home this weekend for fall break. But it was sort of nice to give S all our attention for this weekend. Kid is doing well at school, but is not doing too well with food. He's lost close to 15 pounds in a little under 2 months at school! Spent all weekend making all the food he likes to eat!

AvonHSDad · 10-26-2012, 01:05 AM

Back from page 3

Mailed S a Halloween treat box along with his absentee ballot today. This is his first major election. (He voted in a primary last May.) He is now waiting to see what Hurricane Sandy might bring to the mid-Altantic coast next week.

Took D-14 to visit Notre Dame this past Monday. She enjoyed the tour and campus was wasn't real pleased to hear that all of the dorms are single sex!

lacrossemom · 10-26-2012, 07:37 AM

DS didn't do so hot on midterms. He was sick with a flu the week prior which impacted his studying. Luckily he dropped one class last Friday before the W went into effect. He picked up an online class which he likes. Hopefully he can make it through this semester....

Pepper03 · 10-26-2012, 09:43 AM

Sorry to hear that lacrossemom. It is hard enough to do well but then when they are sick-poor kid.

AvonDad watching the developments of Frankenstorm with great interest from my perch in southern New England!

My son is in the throes of his continuing fun with Calc 3 and his other math classes and interviewing for coops-so far no news doesn't mean good news! UGH!!!!

He told me last night when he actually called me that he was heading to the store to buy junk food and going back to his place and watching Survivor-poor fella.

AvonHSDad · 10-28-2012, 12:24 AM

Must be the season for the kids to get the first cold or other ailment. S reported to AvonMom he has a sinus infection and had been to the campus clinic and was now on a Z-pak of antibiotics. He also admitted to sleeping over 8 hours two days in a row and last night he said he stayed in and did laundry and wrote a paper. On a Friday night!

He hadn't been watching the weather so we warned him to be prepared to be shut down for a couple of days when Sandy hits this coming week.

Hope all the kids with various ailments are doing better and here's hoping that the coming storm doesn't cause anyone any real problems. We don't need a repeat of last years fall hurricane/snow storm.

Pepper03 · 10-28-2012, 11:05 AM

Hi All,

Update the interview went very well...and he didn't get the offer.

Bad times......he is now questioning the meaning of everything-I know you've all been there but when they are in the throes of it it's just so hard to know how to help other than letting them vent and then letting them go to figure it out.

He is even thinking of changing his major....

Stay safe everyone in the path of this storm!

mathmomvt · 10-28-2012, 12:11 PM

Aw Pepper, sorry about the job, but there will be lots of opportunities for him. Hope he hangs in there (or figures out there really is a better fit for him out there in another major).