Parents of the HS Class of 2012 - New beginnings

[mspearl]

Worked with a young guy who just received his practical nursing license. We were discussing college (he started out at a division 3 school on a football scholarship but quit after one year) and he told me his fiance has $100,000 in student loans. She is a teacher making around $35,000 a year. This just blew my mind. I realized how lucky I was to have found CC and have people pound it into my head, the importance of minimizing debt.

Anyway, I am just sitting her and that poor girl is on my mind. He told me she doesn't know how she will afford the monthly payments as it is a graduated payment that will rise every year. As my grandma says - my goodness gracious.

[ltlltl2017]

wow............

[oldfort]

Tell this young man to think twice before he marries this girl. Sounds harsh, but...

[Lakemom]

Son came home last nite. Looks good, is happy, really likes his dorm mates and definitely seems in the grove of things. Nice to see.

[glido]

"This just blew my mind. I realized how lucky I was to have found CC and have people pound it into my head, the importance of minimizing debt."

True that!

[eyemamom]

ooof - 100,000 debt for a teachers job? I think the rule of thumb I heard was no more debt than the first years salary - and these days it's no guarantee there will be a first year salary right after graduation. I agree with oldfort sort of - I'd say be aware of what a future spouses debt and spending habits will have on your future.

Gwen - that's funny about the webcam. I think I'll show it to S today so he can stand on the hi mom balcony and wave to me - lol

psychmom - I think are kids are more capable than we give them credit for - I'm sure she made it fine. S never flew alone and he managed to print the boarding pass, get a taxi and figure it all out just fine. I need to stop being such a worry wart.

[mompop]

Oldfort is absolutely right. They should hold off on marriage until the finances are on solid ground!

[notakid]

Can't say that I agree that marriage should wait because of a big loan debt. That debt is not going to be paid off except over many years. If they are ready to marry, then they work to pay if off together with their joint income. If that's too big of a commitment, time to move on anyway.

[Creekland]

We're up here in Rochester visiting middle son over break. It was wonderful to see him and he's doing great! We took him out for a steak dinner last night and, earlier in the day, bought him a winter coat and new jeans. Youngest spent the night in his room. (I forgot to e-mail his rm telling him to go home for break though... somehow I'm assuming they survived. ) I'm not sure what's on the agenda for today. It's kind of chilly, so a potential trip to Niagara Falls is off (we've been there before anyway). We might do some geocaching. Dinner tonight will be at Tullys.

It's been absolutely great hearing both middle and youngest sharing things again, both academic and non. It MAY even be inspiring my youngest to return to his first love (flora/fauna/micro) as a potential major for him and MAY have him longing for a higher level college (which MAY encourage him to put some time into studying for the SAT/ACT). Time will tell. Where we live there are very few who aim high - and youngest was literally born a researcher. It's good for him to see the possibilities out there. He doesn't have any peers he can have similar level discussions with at home.

So right now, I'm lovin' it! I only wish we could stay Tuesday as well, but we have school that day and middle son really needs to study for a test on Thursday, so we only have today and the first half of tomorrow. Then we'll be back at Thanksgiving! (My family is in NY and we always get together with them for Thanksgiving.)

With regards to the high debt... we often try to caution kids at school about that, but they are at the age where they know it all. Hopefully they can make it work.

[ReneeD7]

Hello, Wackaloons...and new folks. It has been a while since I checked in here. Just had my girl home for the weekend to meet her new niece...my older stepdaughter's new baby girl. She was over the moon, and loved being here for the beautiful changing leaves as well. It was a very short weekend visit though--fall break is next weekend at Tulane, but she isn't allowed to leave then because they have a home football game, and band is a commitment. She couldn't get away then. But it was great seeing her.

She loves her classes and is very happy with her roommie. I know the big party scene there bothers her, but she is staying busy with band, the lit society and a committee in her dorm, so that's good.

I don't think we'll go down over family weekend/homecoming--I haven't been able to find a RT flight that weekend for less than $500. And there would be 3 of us...so we will likely see her again at Thanksgiving.

Happy to hear about all the recent visits! Isn't it great to give them a hug??? I was ecstatic to have her in her own bed under my roof last night. She's already winging her way back to NOLA this morning.

[Gwen Fairfax]

Creekland, does your son know of E. O. Wilson, whose research on ants is just amazing? He grew up in the backcountry of Florida...no scholars, no ambition around. Teaches at Harvard, has won every kind of award. His autobiography is wonderful, and might be very inspiring to your son.

That debt story is terrifying....and all too common. Horrors.

[texaspg]

I was listening to an interview given by an occupier about 6 months ago. She insisted she needed to be taken seriously because she went to an Ivy and so she considered herself superior. She has been part of the occupy wall street for 2 months or more already.

Her demand - the government has to write off all student loans. Her loan - 120,000.

[eyemamom]

Son is home and it's great just to check in and see him again. He's loving school and even told us he hasn't been this happy in years. He actually told me switching to the school we did senior year was the right choice at the right time, and the college was the right choice as well.

We got him the flu shot, supplies for his printer/computer, and he had a late arriving graduation card with money that will probably last him til Thanksgiving.

I think these breaks are just as much for us as them. He slept 11 hours in his own room last night. He's got a big comfy bed, air conditioned, quiet and dark. When I woke him at noon he couldn't believe he slept that late.

He leaves Tuesday night and it will be another 6 weeks before he's home again. He's mostly hanging with the gf and friends but we've got lots of time with him as well and I'm comfortable with how he's doing.

[SnowflakeVT]

Happy weekend everyone ... especially those with kids home or for those of you traveling to parent's weekends. I just returned from Boston for D's parent weekend; finally as a senior she said we should come down. We had a great visit; so nice to see her and spoil her a little as she's working so hard.

When we got back home we skyped/facetime'd my S and poof ... he was clean shaven again. He decided his 'beard' wasn't thick enough yet to grow out, plus it itched, so he cleaned it up. Best news of all is that he might come home next weekend instead of the outdoor trip. No problem for me!

Note to self ... stock up on food.

[chemusic]

We heard both S1 and S2 play in their college orchestra concert yesterday. It is so great that they are both able to be at the same school and share the experience - I understand what Creekland means about her sons sharing a common interest. The orchestra was excellent and the audience was enthusiastic and supportive. The concert hall was filled with students, friends, relatives, faculty and community people and all were cheering at the end. It was so fun - I am so glad they have this kind of environment there. Next week is the break so they will both be home. I think S2 grew another 2 inches in a month! I expect them to be sleeping until noon also. Yup - we better stock up on food also.