<p>I don’t know what you have in mind, NM, but there is an organization called Reading for the Blind & Dyslexic ([Recording</a> for the Blind & Dyslexic: Accessible Audiobooks for students with visual impairment, dyslexia or learning disabilities](<a href=“http://www.rfbd.org%5DRecording”>http://www.rfbd.org)) that has volunteers record books. He gets some of his textbooks that way. There is also some pretty cool technology out there.</p>
<p>Well, I think we have our first major change. DD started as undecided, but was leaning towards a double major in English and Spanish. She’s now thinking more about Informatics and Spanish. (two different schools within the university) I"m not too surprised. The prof that teaches the honors section of informatics is very well known and well liked. And he passes out free books and candy in class. (This wasn’t my college experience.) It’s all good. Please don’t ask me to explain what informatics is. It’s related to how humans use technology.</p>
<p>Ladies (and gents)… we spent nearly two pages eating. :-)</p>
<p>I have a '12 daughter. She is asking me to which college do I hope she applies. I have no thoughts and really… as it was with S – wherever you want. But I find it interesting that she is thinking about it so much more than S ever did!</p>
<p>Missy… your S is very good at trying your advice it would seem. Tips to make that the case with my D would be very appreciated! She is one obstinate gal and I, of course, was never 15. </p>
<p>: : puts out a bowl of jellybeans : : (because frankly, that’s what I am currently noshing on:p</p>
<p>Munch,munch. Thanks again for the cheesecake Owlice and the jellybeans, Modadunn. Delicious and no calories :).</p>
<p>D is doing well at school. We will be in the area at another event this weekend, so we’re stopping by to see her and taking up some stuff. She told me last night that some of the campus dining halls are open until 10 or so at night and I was so surprised. I can’t figure out if this is a generational difference or it’s because she’s in NYC and I went to college in the midwest.</p>
<p>I don’t have another college admissions process to deal with for another 4 years, but S will be applying to a HS magnet program as well as a magnet HS (these are 2 completely separate things) this fall. We have already attended info sessions and visits, now there is testing, transcripts, teacher recommendations and essays to work on. Sound familiar?</p>
<p>son’s school does not have a meal plan per say (although apparently it is now one of the things on the table with all the cost cutting still going on). However, son goes to class until 1:30 and the place closes at 2pm for lunch. He is obviously starving before he gets there, but at least there are no lines and he is getting to know all the dining services workers. I say that could come in handy at some point. He has great manners and so I do so hope he is using them. </p>
<p>I realized sometime late last night that much like my parents are somewhat just vague concepts with my friends (for the most part), that is who I will soon become (if not already am) with my kids.</p>
<p>Modadunn - what do you mean no real mealplan. Do the students pay for everything or is it just basically all included? Just curious.</p>
<p>Love reading about the food. Just finished dinner here after pilates class. I will say that I’m doing better at making sure I exercise during the week now that there are no “after school activities” that I can make an excuse for attending – and not exercising. The food though made me hungry again… My need a snack soon. Ugh… Maybe I can just reread the posts and have a virtual dessert. Sounded soo good.</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota, speaking of prom dresses, my daughter wore a stunning dress to a friend’s sister’s wedding. My my wife bought the dress for her at the equivalent of a TJ Maxx that was going out of business last year and she bargained for an incredibly good price. Well, my daughter developed a fair bit in the time between purchase and wearing. She looked stunning and everyone apparently asked the family, “Who is that girl in the dress?” She wasn’t even going to wear it until my wife and I independently suggested it. But, when I saw her in it, I told her that I was going to have to go the wedding to fend off the boys or send her in a burka (burqa?). </p>
<p>However, I only want to fight a small number of really important battles and burka-wearing is not one of them. Do well in academics, be a good person, no sex for a while (she does attract a lot of male interest but does not appear to have responded), no drugs, and I’d like to say no alcohol except with us but I suspect that she’s been there already.</p>
<p>How have you guys handled the daughter who has become very attractive and is dressing in a way that shows it off? This dress was not the hooker look, just very nice. I think the girls dress like that for the other girls more than for the boys, but I would be stunned if any of the males there failed to notice.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’ve done a good job already…you don’t say her age (or I missed it). I have 2 d’s, so been there, done that. Teach them good values (and to be a little picky is OK too). Personally I found that lots of boys would look but not talk to them b/c they are both quite intelligent and the boys were intimidated. The looking at part is part of growing up. She is likely doing some looking back (we all do). I remember it as a teen and it was fun but most all of it went…nowhere. Be proud of her and the young woman you’ve helped to create.</p>
<p>I accidently ate a little candy corn and 6 tiny Dove chocolates IRL today.</p>
<p>Thanks for the well wishes. I spoke with DS a few hours ago after I got a text message telling me his sandwich decided NOT to stay down… (TMI ? sorry). I’m so happy we have all this technology though. He finally let me be his friend on facebook and hopefully sooner rather than later, he’ll set up skype on his laptop so I can see his adorable (pale & sick) face 
</p>
<p>Owlice: can you do a virtual fedex of chicken soup to him? Thanks!</p>
<p>:: sends DizziMom’s S chicken soup ::</p>
<p>DMom–so sorry to hear that about your S. I stand by my mom’s homeremedy–a lipton or other black tea bag in 1/2 cup of water steeped dark with no sweetner and sip slowly. Works frequently! and is always my first line of defense. works for up and down. :p</p>
<p>ooohhh…is it too late for the strawberry cheesecake/chocolate mousse & coffee? ::mouth watering::</p>
<p>Well, as one of the last to leave we are in the madness & chaos called packing! D insists that it will be all done by morning but since I have yet to see the several loads of laundry she had done get folded and no other clothes set out, call me crazy but I’m thinking she’s being optimistic! We leave Saturday morning - she can’t wait to meet all her new friends/floormates she has been FBing. We’ll keep you posted (and I’ll bring back some JellyBelly’s too)!</p>
<p>Add me to the '12 list - S is def gonna be a whole other ball game (sorry to bring up the whole sports thing again…). </p>
<p>Get well wishes to all who are under the weather and congrats to all who are working off their virtual (and not so virtual) goodies! I’m hoping once we have launched to get back to the gym.</p>
<p>eggson: Um, Mom, I need to know how to mail a letter.
me: there is a post office on campus (he already got packages, I know he knows where it is)
eggson: they dont have a place to put mail
me: is there a slot in the wall?
eggson: they dont have one
me: is there a person at the counter? hand it to them.
eggson: they are only there in the morning
me: maybe your RA can help
eggson: how would he know?
me: I AM SURE YOU WILL FIGURE IT OUT</p>
<p>That’s my boy!</p>
<p>khsstitches, she is 16 and a junior in HS. She’s now 5’8" (maybe more) and slender. She does modern dance and/or yoga every day and has abs of steel, dark hair, pale skin and very blue eyes. A year ago, NM and I were talking about finding size 0 dresses at TJ Maxx. Now I think she wears size 4 but the extra size is just due to development. So, I figure burkasonline.com may be the thing. Her HS is a pretty selective private school so all the kids are reasonably bright; the boys aren’t likely to be intimidated by her intelligence. We’ll need another strategy and you are right that good values are a part of it and she is good on that count. However, another part of the strategy involves not being influenced by peer pressure, and on that count, I think she may only be partway there.</p>
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<p>hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!</p>
<p>Oh, and Owlice, that lemonade is great with a splash of vodka! (A good reason NOT to have more kids–9 months without a drink!)</p>
<p>Cali-mom, D also assured me she would have time for laundry after the long drawn out good bye with BF. The next morning we headed out with her damp laundry draped around the car to dry on the road. Yup, just call us the Clampetts.</p>
<p>eggmom – I laughed out loud. Anyone remember the thread about things their kids called home from college to ask? Pretty funny.</p>
<p>eddieodessa – I confess: I could never accidentally eat candy corn … but Dove DARK chocolate? Oh yes, that accident could happen … a lot …</p>
<p>I sent my D a care package with a pound of dark chocolate M&Ms, said she could share them with friends. “SHARE?”</p>
<p>I like this recipe-esp for me rather kichen challanged buy the choc chip squares bake them partway 8 minutes or so in the small cupcake tins, have as many reeses peanut butter cups (small) ready to pop in the center of the cookie as soon as they come out then return to oven for 2-3 minutes and done. now will try to ship.
D is emersing herself in college running for dorm something or other and making friends. she was a lways the kid in preschool who was like 'dont let the door hit you in the a as we left. She does ask to skype, is busy and communication is brief.
Glad to hear kids are making their adjustments, you all should be proud they all sound like a great group. It must be intimidading to wonder if you will maintain the standard you kept up in High school and grow as an adult.</p>
<p>chintzy best wishes!</p>