I have no plans to leave. Although I don’t post much now, I enjoy reading the threads. This is an intelligent, diverse group of people and gives me lots to think about. I sometimes get news headlines faster on here!
My last graduated in 2011. They are now 32 and 28. I joined as my first was graduating college and we were getting into the visits for the second one. So the first search we did without any CC help. We did fine and fortunately, from what I read here after the fact, we seemed to approach things the right way. Maybe by accident, lol!
I appreciate the experiences shared by the people here (both life and educational), have learned so much, and still have more to learn! Coralbrook’s house flipping threads are amazing!
You can ask just about any question, on any topic, and someone will at least steer you in the right direction. I think some of us truly care about each other. I post things here that I may not even tell my IRL friends. Why would I leave?
Yeah, I think the draw is that you have a cohort of roughly similar aged folks, who originally showed up with an interest in education–which acts in itself as a filter, who chat with each other with civility, intelligence, and a wealth of knowledge. Hard to find that in the interwebs.
Great source of info, advice, recommendations from bright, insightful people. Why leave? My kids are no longer kids, but I am still involved in the college admission process with others, and enjoy the camaraderie here.
Just checked and my profile says I joined in 2007 but there’s no way that’s true. My youngest graduated college that year and I know I was here before he applied. Probably after oldest applied in 1999 though.
I’m another member who doesn’t post much, but come here for the stimulating conversation. Oldest just started her career in wind energy in Copenhagen in September 2016. Youngest just started receiving acceptances to grad schools.
But, LOL, I have not spent much time at all on the grad school forums. Been there, done that. That is so yesterday. Kiddo has it all under control. So I can focus on crock pots, flipping houses, and picking the right shoes for my outfit.
My kids are 29 and 26. Whether or not they’re in college is irrelevant to the sense of community in the Cafe. I haven’t posted on a college-related thread in ages, even though S1 got his PhD in 2014 and S2 is planning to go to grad school this fall.
@FlyMeToTheMoon <<i’m another="" member="" who="" doesn’t="" post="" much.="">>> I noticed you have over 2,400 posts…I would say that is A LOT! And your posts are well respected as you have about 500 points! i don’t know if I will ever be able to post that many–maybe it will take another 15 years! Lol!</i’m>
@trackmbe3, ummm, ok.
But have you looke at the number of posts the regular posters have? LOL
But thanks for making me feel like a regular contributor.
@FlyMeToTheMoon No i haven’t until now. Just looked at someone with over 49000 posts. And several others on the tens of thousands! Whoa! I am just trying to get past my “Junior Member” monitor status – which I think I need 300 posts-?
I kind of come and go with CC. S1 is through college and on his own, and S2 is attending community college part time after flunking out of a four-year school. But I enjoy Parents Forum and Parent Cafe.
Leave? We’re supposed to leave? I didn’t get that memo…
I don’t post all that much but have found such a great group of people here. Like someone noted upthread, we all are similarly aged, have grown or close to grown kids and all value education and helping our kids.
I’ve gotten some great tips and also some wonderful support over the years. I almost exclusively stay in the Cafe but got my certificate in college counseling a couple years ago and, as a volunteer CC working with first generation kids, do find myself in other areas on occasion when working with my students.
This is a good place for me to chat about a huge range of things I rarely talk about IRL because the cadre is here and over the years we have built up a nice mutual respect. It’s also somewhat more anonymous than “real life,” so you can vent about aging relatives without folks saying you’re ungrateful or awful, etc. I love the range of discussions here in the cafe as well. Lots of folks I’d love to meet in real life tho haven’t met any yet.
I have met several posters in person (we had a get together last year in San Diego) and it was great. There are a lot of us in the area. I really do feel like I’ve made some friends or at least friendly acquaintances! If anyone’s coming to SD feel free to PM me; I’m usually free to meet.
