<p>I enjoy talking about politics as much as anyone but I would like to know more about those of you who I so frequently disagree with but yet enjoy talking to. I figure we can start by bragging about our kids. I’m not trying to compare kids or anything like that…just get a glimpse of who you are through your kids.</p>
<p>My D is a junior at Vandy studying ChemE. She was a good student in HS but not top of the class (had the smarts…avoids recognition like the plague). Played HS soccer and has stunning beauty (all courtesy of her mother).</p>
<p>Oldest S is a senior in HS. Has some learning challenges but is extremely bright. Just recently named a National Merit Semi-Finalist (blew it out of the water…scored at 237, missed 2 questions on the whole thing). Did pretty well on his ACT’s with a 34 but SAT was lower with a 2010. He is drum line captain in the marching band and does Academic and Chess team. We loving refer to him as “our geek”. He is looking at Vandy, Case-Western, WashU and Brown to study civil engineering. His GPA is on the low side so we are really hoping for the best but preparing appropriate safety schools.</p>
<p>The baby of the family started Kindergarten a few weeks ago. He is totally and thoroughly spoiled rotten and knows it. He’s unique in our nuclear family in that he is the only lefty and had red hair (my mothers side of the family…I hope!).</p>
<p>I would love to hear about your kids. I hope people don’t think this is too weird or anything. I know the parents but nothing about why we are all on CC…presumably our kids!</p>
<p>I think my high school freshman son was elected to student council today. There were more openings for representatives than there were kids running to be representatives so even though the results are not in yet, I am pretty confident he won. I am so proud. ;)</p>
<p>My 9th grade daughter who didn’t win a single end-of-year academic award last year is carrying a 4.0. She is beasting everything. Says she likes hs so much more than middle school. Don’t know what lit her fire but I’m trying to keep fanning it.</p>
<p>Older daughter just started at Harvard and calls me frequently through the day and sounds really happy. What can top that?</p>
<p>Knock on wood - I’m feeling pretty good. Won’t last of course . . .</p>
<p>pmrlcomm, my hat’s off to you…a 20?-yr-old, a 17-yr-old, AND a 5-yr-old? Goodness, I can’t remotely imagine the energy that would take!!! Good for you!</p>
<p>D1 is a soph, majoring in Astronomy and Physics at U of MD… and will start her part-time job at NASA in a week or so!!! D2 is a sr. in high school, polar opposite of her sister in personality, interests, etc. but really wants to join her sis at UMD. (Sis is the one who started campaigning for it!). She’s got the #'s for the honors program, we’ll just keep our fingers crossed for merit $$ to make the OOS tuition bearable.</p>
<p>D2 and I “butt heads” a bit more than D1 and I did…D2 tends toward the Drama Queen moniker, but I know it’s going to be really, really tough for me when she leaves for college.</p>
<p>I listened to the advice of someone who told me (when my kids were young), that her secret to happy, successful child-raising was that she enjoyed each stage of their lives than the ones that preceded it. I’ve fully embraced that point of view, and can really say that I really, really like spending time with each/both of them…moreso than at any other time in their lives.</p>
<p>I try not to be too obnoxious about it IRL, but I’m so proud of both girls…I sometimes almost break my arm patting myself on the back !!! :D</p>
<p>Younger S, a soph, is co-president of an organization at his college.
Older S continues to be able to support himself and to make better and better decisions about his life. :)</p>
<p>astro, that is so cool that your D is doing astronomy and physics and will be working at NASA. My dream was to be an astrophysicist until I got stupid and my girlfrend/wife-now got pregnant. That is great!</p>
<p>I hear you about the patting yourself on the back. I think that we are all on here trying to help our kids deserves a pat on the back. I don’t think any of us are on here strictly for ourselves…</p>
And that’s what it’s all about anyway, isn’t it? </p>
<p>S1 is a gov’t economist, working full-time and attending Georgetown Institute of Public Policy in the evenings, studying social, educational, and something-else policy. Used to tutor one day a week in a neighborhood school, till they closed it last year. Someday he’s going to run for office and fix the DC schools. ;)</p>
<p>S2 and D are musicians. Someday they will be like NSM’s S - self-supporting! We hope.</p>
<p>Pmlrcomm, I covet your baby! Mine is going to be two handsful (ten) in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Things are finally getting on track here. D2 is immersed in the IB program, editing the school newspaper, writing for the local newspaper, a paid inernship, etc. She seems to (knocking on wood) be totally happy and totally on track.</p>
<p>The little guy has the same teacher again this year and she was amazing last year so I feel like we’ve been given a gift.</p>
<p>D1 is (crossing fingers) finally healthy. It took a solid four months, but she’s back to running and feeling well. She’s starte the CUNY and has already learned a major lesson that makes me so happy. She said “you know, Mom, I think I might be interested in exploring psychology. Since I’m here, I can take my time and find my way, right?” Indeed. Her other problems sort of resolved when the ringleaders left for college. She won’t see them again and thankfully, we’ve found that her actual participation in the antics was much less than we thought. But more than it should have been. She’s managing a store and working two other part-time jobs and totally raking in the bucks.</p>
<p>Today all is well. Tomorrow, who knows?</p>
<p>Astrophysicsmom, I’m fascinated by astronomy. I keep picking up the course catalog and consider taking the intro class here. It just sounds so exciting.</p>
<p>D1 is an '08 Harvard grad in Physics and now has a great first job and is self-supporting.</p>
<p>D2 is a senior in high school with good stats: 4.00 UW, rank = 1/700, SAT:2210, ACT:34. So she’ll probably go to a very good college too. Wants to major in Neuroscience. She aspires to go to H like her big sister, but we’ll have to wait and see whether lightning can strike twice in the same family.</p>
<p>Both girls are attractive, healthy, well-liked by their friends, and they care about others. And neither one has given us any trouble to speak of (knock wood). The biggest heartbreak we’ve had to deal with so far is some seriously messy rooms. We’ve been blessed in uncommon measure.</p>
<p>BUT, having said all that, I have a hard time taking very much credit for it. I give nearly all the credit to the girls themselves. We just didn’t mess it up – just didn’t ruin what they were going to do anyway. All we did was feed and water them, love them a lot, and give them interesting things to look at and talk about. That’s it. They did the rest themselves.</p>
<p>S1 (aka mathson) is a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science, he participated in Google’s Code Jam this summer. He got through the three online rounds (8000 whittled to 500), they are flying him into NY in a couple of weeks for a local round. </p>
<p>S2 is a junior in high school and the school work is already (4th day of classes) keeping him much busier than last year. He plays violin in the orchestra, does Science Olympiad (though he has no interest in being a scientist) and usually likes history best of his academic subjects. His grades are all over the map C+ to A+ - I think his weighted average is just over 90.</p>
<p>I agree. Everyone has great kids… Then again, it’s because we do what we do for them. I agree cour that it’s hard to take credit but looking around at other kids with similar intelligence and opportunity that blow it I feel like we do deserve credit. Don’t dismiss your hard work and guidance.</p>
<p>My D entered Kansas State University last fall as a sophomore (completed her first year of college while still in high school). She is an early admission veterinary scholar (awarded a guaranteed seat in the DVM program in the College of Veterinary Medicine after she completes her undergraduate prereqs) and is also in the University Honors Program, where she is participating in stem cell research to find cures for degenerative neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). High school stats were 4.0 gpa and 98th percentile ACT. She is currently maintaining a 3.95 GPA at K-State. Plays the oboe, accomplished equestrian and is taking up skydiving.</p>
<p>Since the moment my S’s were born and looked up into my eyes, I have never ceased to be amazed at the wonder of them. Seeing them sit up, walk, talk, grow and learn has just been such a joy. Older S is at Yale and making us so proud with everything he accomplishes, but especially how responsible, thoughtful, and simply such a nice young man he has become. Younger S is growing in leaps and bounds as a musician, and is so devoted and diligent in his practicing. It is so wonderful to see him so dedicated, and seeing his hard work pay off. Can’t say enough about how great being a parent has been.</p>
<p>S1 is in grad school… a musician (maybe he can get in an ensemble with Binx’s kids and make a living). DD is an engineering major. We’re hoping she will support us and DS.</p>
<p>Last week my older D managed to 1) Rent a UHaul truck 2) Pack it up with the help of friends 3) Drive 6 hours to her new grad school by herself 4) Unload it alone 5) Return it unscathed and with the gas tank refilled 6) Only gripe about the cost of the gas.
I guess my work here is done.</p>
<p>Hooray! I love reading about everybody’s excellent kids. I just checked in to say how nice it is to know that I won’t be the only oldtimer coming back to CC (well - if I ever actually manage to leave) in 2016 or so: I also have a college junior, a high school senior, and one starting not kindergarten, but first grade. It’s fun, isn’t it, pmrlcomm? And zoosermom, of course - though your double handful is way ahead of the wee ones. (Jolynne Smith, where are you?)</p>
And zoosermom, of course - though your double handful is way ahead of the wee ones. (Jolynne Smith, where are you?)</p>