<p>We just discovered a service called ooVoo, which is kind of like Skype, but it allows for as many as six computers to have a video chat at once. We had both daughters on line with video/chat, so we were linking California, Colorado, and Ohio… Very nice! :-)</p>
<p>ShawbridgeSon knows how to do laundry. Folding on the other hand is a foreign concept – but I am folding impaired as well (my grad school roommates also pronounced me Saran Wrap impaired). He also would have no idea about temperatures, etc. I love the idea of the explanation that emgamac describes. Let us know if it hits youtube.</p>
<p>He’s got a long weekend on the second weekend of October, I believe. I’d be stunned if he’d done laundry by then. In his mind, life will be simpler if he can just bring it home. </p>
<p>He jokes (?) that he is going to use (the Columbia laundry system. One of his friends at Columbia says that the way they do laundry there is to put your dirty laundry under your bed at one end and keep adding at that end and when the laundry comes out at the other end, it is deemed to be clean and can be worn.</p>
<p>Post-euphoria crash: S, who has been loving everything about school, called at 3 am with the whole litany of expected complaints - can’t figure out his new boundaries, when to sleep/eat/party, never sees his roommate, doesn’t have any friends, staying up way to late so as not to miss anything, forgetting why he’s there, etc. I told him that after 1 month of euphoria that such a crash is inevitable and to try to use it as a wake-up call to restructure his days and nights. Tested my resolve to listen to him until 4:30 am, but I got through it. Today he’s a little better and hopefully more of what I recommended will sink in - primarly, give it time, use the school’s resources for help, and don’t be so hard on yourself that you haven’t got it all figured out yet. I learned that a big problem is that all the other kids LOOK like they have their acts together - so our kids assume they are the only ones with any adjustment difficulties. If only they weren’t so guarded all the time.</p>
<p>laxtaxi – I’ve been wondering about “post-euphoria crash …” Kudos to your son for reaching out and even more to you for listening! I think you’re right that it’s easy for kids to think everyone else has got this wired but me, and if they could realize that they are not alone in their struggle it might help alleviate the stress and anxiety. Here’s hoping that your S finds a good rhythm soon. The fact that he’s aware of the need to do something is a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>lindz what an awesome post and kid brings tears to my eyes you should be proud.
I sent my D to school withthose sheets that go in the laundry and then to the dryer. ? how many things she has put in the dryer that shrunk , did send the laundry rack and woolite. She is still happy but is tired, lots of work, not feeling well, I 'm sure reality sets in at some point and then evens out to their new norm. Just like ours.</p>
<p>Lindtz and laxtaxi - What great posts - thanks for sharing!</p>
<p>Just asked Son if he’s done laundry yet. Nope, he’s still got plenty of clothes. Hmmm, going on three weeks. Naah, I really don’t want to think about it.</p>
<p>My dd is good with laundry-it’s the remembering to go back and get it that I was worried about. Fortunately her school has a system that texts you when your load is done!
I learned last year that my dd had never used a pay phone! She was receiving an award at a luncheon at a fancy club. We were early, and she went out to the lobby to use her cell phone to call someone. An employee told her cell phones were prohibited, that she needed to use the pay phone and pointed out a phone booth in the corner. She had to come back in and find me to ask how to use the pay phone. She asked me how much it would cost, and I had no idea-it’s been so many years since I’ve used one. Another lifeskill that is almost obsolete, but could be essential in an emergency.</p>
<p>Well, DS reports today that he is feeling better today and is w/out fever! Hopefully he can go back to class on Monday. I’m so afraid of him getting behind on homework, etc. </p>
<p>I used Skype w/ my sister a couple of weeks ago when she went to Paris. It was so clear visually and sound was perfect. I highly recommend it. (Just don’t install the “toolbar add-on” if you are on Firefox… it slowed my laptop to a crawl… but all was fine once I uninstalled the add-on)</p>
<p>Lindz- what a beautiful post. You have raised a wonderful daughter!</p>
<p>I’m so glad that many college students are warm and reach out to other people. I think for so many of them it’s really a fresh start, to get away from the rigid social structures of high school, and to really see other people as individuals, and enjoy getting to know them.</p>
<p>I just watched that video of the 17 year old boy being beaten up (twice) on the school bus…I must be living under a rock - hadn’t seen it before but my dad emailed me about it since I went to that HS…horrifying…</p>
<p>I must admit that I’d be hard pressed to stay awake on the phone between 3-4:30 am, but I’d be terrified enough when the phone rang at 3 am that I’d be wide awake.</p>
<p>missypie – you survived a day of volleyball?</p>
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<p>Yes, thanks for asking. They won the consolation round…played six sets/12 games. I think they won 6 of the 12 games, which is 6 more wins than they’ve had all season. I’m exhausted and all I did was sit…and sit…and sit…</p>
<p>Holy cow! It’s been almost 24 hours without a post!</p>
<p>Could it be the Sunday phone calls home??</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</p>
<p>Oh, that’s funny! “the Sunday phone calls home” </p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</p>
<p>No Sunday phone call here…</p>
<p>Well #theoryson actually spoke on the phone with me and #theorydad.
I think the post-euphoria-crash is starting to hit him too. He says his math classes are HARD - this would be an absolutely novel experience for him - and probably a bit frightening. He is hedging about how his grades will be, but says he will “pass”. Eek I reminded him he needed to do better than pass to keep his scholarships. He said, oh…yeah…those. He is worried about his humanities breadth requirements (he has recognized this part will be writing intensive - I hope he figures out how to ask for help - and I am going to ask him if he will get tested when he is home for Winter break and perhaps line that up and find out if there will be any way he can get extra help for his writing issues)
He is in tennis but can only play once or twice a week - enough to satisfy his PE credit, but not enough to satisfy his desire to play. He says he does not have time to play more (ever-hopeful, I assume it is because he is in class or doing his homework)
He will be singing for parents weekend (bummed I can’t be there)
He took “the fifth” when I asked if he was partying on weekends - however I called him Friday night and he was in his dorm room with his roommate…so…
I must confess I was less worried when we were just exchanging texts. The term is now half over. So I guess we’ll see pretty soon how he is holding up academically. He sounds in great spirits though and is happy to be there (half the battle)
I booked his flight home for over Christmas break. So far he still wants to come home and I have shown great restraint and not touched his room 
Must also confess I feel a bit at loose ends. The frantic-ness of getting him graduated, then the building project right on top of it, and getting him to college and driving the 2400 miles home. It feels odd to not have anything that is totally “pressing”. In a few days I suspect I will have come to enjoy it.
Great to hear all the stories from everyone. I have missed this “connection” with you all.</p>
<p>At loose ends is a good way to describe the feeling. I have an empty place inside. Son and I talk on occasion, but I want to be with him. I miss watching old Star Trek episodes with him, miss seeing him play Guitar Hero, etc.</p>
<h1>tm - you’re back!! I couldn’t figure out how I missed your return, but then I realized I’ve been gone from CC myself for a couple of days… having an unexpected appendectomy! I can’t believe I missed your much-anticipated return! now I have to go back and read your re-entry posts :)</h1>
<p>if it is any help, I started out relaxed after we dropped D off, then got less relaxed as the amount of contact increased - felt like I was getting too much information at the same time that I had less influence. but we’ve settled down to a new *normal" level of both contact and stress. I do think you will come to enjoy the less frantic day-to-day pace, although missypie is right - there is a little aching, empty place. </p>
<p>anyway, welcome back!</p>