<p>Well, when we went up to Son’s room, I immediately started picking things up and throwing them away. It wasn’t the worst I’ve seen his things, but definitely needed improvement. The desk area of one of his other roommates was absolutely immaculate, which I pointed out to Son. Son then informed me that roommate was much messier than him and that he had spent an hour cleaning in preparation for his parents.</p>
<p>Now if he’d chosen to go to Rose-Hulman, then the housekeepers would keep the rooms clean.</p>
<p>Housekeepers? You’re kidding!!!
Wow
Seems to me that college is the time to start to learn to take of things yourself. </p>
<p>But what a deal! A $50,000 housekeeper. LOL</p>
<p>I am sure your S was correct. His roommate did a clean up for his P’s. I guess he did not feel the need to ask your S to do the same for the room’s sake. My bet is, the room will go back to “normal” - oh probably by now!</p>
<p>Update on D:
D went to a very rigorous high school with tons of homework and is feeling prepared at colllege. She made the varsity team for a sport she used to play pick up games in, so that is nice for her, and she likes her new friends in the dorm. She is breathtakingly levelheaded.</p>
<h1>TM and lindz, yes it was good. He packed up extra underwear so that he wouldn’t have to do wash for 2 weeks (when he comes home for a long weekend). He packed up a suit we got him as a birthday present and some dress of my old very fancy dress shirts (custom-made in Hong Kong with my monogram on them from an era when they still fit me) and a blazer and pants bequeathed to him from a 6’5" lacrosse player friend for debate tournaments.</h1>
<p>He was working hard today – completed his art assignment, wrote a short paper on whether animals can think about the future, listened to part of Plato’s Republic, and started on his math problem set. I dropped him off at 11:00. Several kids were sitting in the common area (working in a study group?) outside his room and a guy said, “ShawbridgeSon, I haven’t seen you in forever” and a girl who he’d waved to asked him if he’d gone home for the weekend. He told them he’d been at a debate tournament in Boston and then stopped at home and upon questioning, said the tournament went well (which it did). The whole group was friendly. Friendly, but not friends, but is not having trouble meeting people. I think he’s realistic that it will take some time to find kids who will be the kind of deep friends that he values most highly. </p>
<p>His roommate was working in the room. My son told me he’d wake himself up to finish the math problem set. The room did not seem that messy. You could see and walk on the floor. All in all, my five minutes suggest that things are OK.</p>
<p>Son finally went to a party last night - it was the annual party given by his First Year Seminar prof for her FYS students and her research assistants. We heard about it in mind-numbing Aspie detail, but I was glad to hear that he went. </p>
<p>His school is so small that everyone is invited to the frat parties. Son skipped the one Friday night but his roommate went. He came back after a while saying that it was really awkward to be the only sober person at a party. Pretty wise kid!</p>
<p>A very long time since I checked in. Parents weekend starts this Friday and we’re leaving for the 8 hour drive Thursday afternoon with a plan to arrive after D’s last class on Friday. We’ll do the entire drive home on Sunday. Really looking forward to seeing her even though we talk, text and IM fairly regularly. Her classes seem to be doing fine. She loves her dorm and friends. Complains about the weekend food a bit but says the other food is great. Overall she just seems happy. She loves being in the women in science dorm, loves being in the advanced integrated science program. Despises her CORE required class professor who seems to make everything about religion even when it isn’t. Enjoys playing in the orchestra even though she isn’t allowed to play solos this sememster. And seems to be making some very good friends. I am just so happy for her.</p>
<p>We’re still working on getting used to the empty nest condition but we’re managing. Getting out more, getting a bit more fit, changing our eating habits. All very good things.</p>
<p>D’s unexpected visit home really was just for clothes. She only took a couple of pairs of jeans to school. I was a bit concerned initially since she did plan to come home the upcoming weekend. It was great seeing her, even if just for a couple of hours. She picked up some warmer clothes, and showed DS her blog/website for a class. Actually spent most of the time with him. Lucky for her I had thrown dinner in the crockpot yesterday so she also had a nicer dinner than the cafeteria food. I was a bit concerned to learn she hasn’t been exercising regularly for the past couple of weeks. It’s always been so important to her well being. I’m going to blame it on the first round of tests. Overall she is adjusting beautifully. </p>
<p>Missypie—I was thinking about you last night as I watched the Amazing Race-one of the contestants has Asperger’s.</p>
<p>D just called to say she’s having a great day. Her early morning class was cancelled; she got some of her test results back, and got great scores on German and Calc 2 test; they had a really good discussion in her freshman seminar she called it “eye-opening.” AND her sister sent her a care package.</p>
<p>We’ve had several weekly calls from D along with some in between the weeks. That being said she seems to really enjoy school. Her floor does a lot of things together which is nice and being on the CC team is helpful for meeting people as well. She seems to be getting along great. We don’t hear a lot about school unless we ask her but when we do she is very honest. Some good grades - some not so good but I did expect an adjustment period for her. She likes all but one class so that’s good. </p>
<p>Funny thing is that before she left she was explicit about she would call but wasn’t going to spend a lot of time on the hone with us every week. We just said okay no big deal just need to hear from you once a week. Now she spends about 20-30 minutes on the phone with us every week. Of course if I told her that things would be different once she was gone she wouldn’t have believed it.</p>
<p>My daughter called today to tell us she found out she is “waitlisted” for private voice lessons. She also said that they were told that no one ever gets called from the waitlist (why do it then?). When she chose this college it was with the understanding from the head of the MT program that any student who wants private voice lessons would be able to get them; you would have to pay extra for them, but nonetheless, they were available, auditions were for placement not acceptance. She’s devastated as voice lessons are very important to her. We’ve discussed going outside the program/college for lessons and have some contacts who, hopefully, have good recommendations, but she still feels a little like the college played “bait and switch” with us.</p>
<p>She emailed her advisor who suggested she email the person in charge which she did and received a form letter about being waitlisted. She is going to try to set up a meeting with this person to see if something else can be done. </p>
<p>I really really really want to step in as I feel we were misled about this. I’m not sure what can be done and I don’t want to start her Freshman year as a “troublemaker.” I don’t feel the same will happen if my daughter speaks to the appropriate people but still it’s killing me to just let it go. </p>
<p>Okay, talking this all out tells me what I shouldn’t do but it’s still killing me! Thanks!</p>
<p>amtc - I am annoyed on your behalf. I would be spitting nails.</p>
<p>Doesn’t the head of the MT (musical theater?) department share some responsibility in this situation? If your daughter doesn’t call him/her and ask why you were misled, then I think you should. </p>
<p>And if it can’t be fixed, at least the private (non-program) lessons will be on her terms. </p>
<p>AMTC: my D plays an unusual instrument and the school unexpectedly lost their teacher at the start of this semester, but found one two weeks later. So the lessons are back on. I am wondering if this school cannot accommodate all of those who want voice lessons for whatever reason? I would probably let my D handle it (as your D is doing) and go off campus for lessons this semester. Maybe your D will have some sort of priority next semester from the wait list. It does seem a shame but it also seems like you should let your D handle it.</p>