<p>Momiac - You’re right in that son is a really great kid, for the most part. But I definitely saw how thru the summer he pushed the limits and my buttons just a tad more and more until when it was time to go to school, it was definitely time!! Now, however, I really miss the little conversations of his just wandering into my room or the kitchen to tell me whatever it was he had to tell me. And nope… still haven’t heard from him. But seriously? It’s been all of three days! However, my older D called three times today, so that would be enough for me and all three kids!!</p>
<p>Talked to my son last night. He asked for me to send him a photo of me and his Dad for his desk! Awwwwwwwwwwww…</p>
<p>LOL, Son called tonight to scold me for never telling him how truly horrible the movie *Jesus Christ Superstar *is. He is a big fan of the original rock opera album, saw the movie in the library and checked it out. It really is a terrible movie…fun to hear him rant about it.</p>
<p>Fried butter? They freeze whipped butter, dip it in dough, then deep fry it - it’s allegedly like a very buttery biscuit.</p>
<p>Every year the state fair of Texas has a contest for new foods - most of them are fried. The beauty of going to the fair with a family of 5 is that we get one order of all the bizarre stuff and each take a bite or two…a bite or two of something like a deep fried twinkie is plenty. However, the deep fried peanut butter jelly and banana is worthy of a second order, as are the deep fried truffles. One year the winner in the “most unusual” category was deep fried Coke…among 5 of us we couldn’t finish one order.</p>
<p>I will grant you that I haven’t gone often, even though my sister who no longer even lives here was a pro, but the state fair of Minnesota offers pretty much anything you can imagine on a stick, even a pork chop. But despite all the butter around (including queens heads carved into the stuff), I’ve never heard or had fried butter. That just sounds like you’d be asking for a heart attack.</p>
<p>BESusan - awwwwww is right.
Jealous…</p>
<p>Just checking in from farflung Zimbabwe, and say how great it is to identify with the feelings of the other parents who are feeling isolated from their freshman offspring that doesnt sound quite right, but you know what I mean
I was so sure of my relationship with my son I didnt even bother to discuss comms with him before he left! One thing that is different though, is that I can not envisage a lot of what is spoken about in the posts but am happily absorbing it all so I can sound a little knowledgeable when I do speak to S! We are quite westernized in the towns here more than you would think, but the influence is mostly British. My sons peers from HS have mostly headed for universities in South Africa but the degree syllabi there are very proscribed. My son is an English/arts/computer/drama/singing kid and is loving the freedom to dabble before declaring his major. The liberal arts option is not something available anywhere else in the world as far as I know
…
I did receive an email from him today my heart leapt when I saw his name in the inbox, but the info was quite general. One thing that made me happy was the he spent some of the parents weekend with new GF and her folks from Albany, and they both work at SUNY Albany, so I guess he has access to some good advice as time goes on
</p>
<p>typo - meant to write prescribed not proscribed in previous post sorry</p>
<p>WAH, Black-eyed Susan!!! And Zim, very nice for you that he parents to share! I can’t imagine being as far away as you, even though mine are across country. I’m hoping you can get into a regular schedule of contact with him!</p>
<p>Haven’t posted much lately, which is a good thing as I usually post when there’s a problem I need to share or on which I could use perspective. This I am choosing to share, though, even though there is no problem at the moment - I am hoping to share the smile it gave me. </p>
<p>Contact with S has been intermittent, which we are getting used to. Yesterday, out of the blue, this text message arrived (in context, we live up north and he is in school down south):</p>
<p>It’s October and I’m wearing flip flops.</p>
<p>Cool (or should I say warm) laxtaxi
A smile indeed</p>
<p>laxtaxi—
how nice to hear, he sounds like a happy camper!</p>
<p>(we live in sunny florida, and my d is few hrs away~for parents’ wknd we got to picnic on the beach, my s is in Va which feels northern to him–I get texts when he’s wearing a jacket in October)</p>
<p>besusan–love it!</p>
<p>downtoearth–thinking about you and hope today’s a better day…bet you are looking forward to parents’ weekend–hope my own post was clear that it’s really wonderful to see our kids so immersed in their new lives that its a challenge to fit us into that world. enjoy seeing your d!</p>
<p>zimmom—how nice your s has gf’s parents to “borrow”–it takes a village, or make that a world</p>
<p>I’m getting the warm fuzzies on here today! </p>
<p>Hoping for continued healing and improving for downtoearth and NorthMinnesota.</p>
<p>Remember the discussion about sending orchard apples to kids away at school? I ordered some from a local orchard for D, who never got them. After some searching, it turns out there is a girl at D’s school who has the same first name and the same last name except for the vowel. Not-quite-chintzygirl got them last week. 
</p>
<p>The campus mail room is a UPS store, and they will be reimbursing us, but I’d rather D had the &!@#*%# apples!</p>
<p>I wonder if not-quite-chintzygirl is enjoying the apples…who knows, maybe they really made her day. I wonder who she thinks they are from…</p>
<p>S is very happily wearing jacket, shorts, and flipflops. Husband and I have a bet going as to what temperature will cause him to switch to pants and shoes. After a bit of prodding, S finally emailed birthday greetings to his grandmother. She forwarded the email to me and it just about brought tears to my eyes. He may not be timely, but when he does express himself it’s worth the wait.</p>
<p>Hi lindz and chintzy!
(or lindz and chintz…nice ring to it!) 
Wish it was still flip flop weather here! I need boots for tomorrow! My girls would be jealous!!!
So sorry about the apples chintzy! Maybe a Halloween care basket instead? I’m taking some Honeycrisp apples this weekend.</p>
<p>How are things today downtoearth? I hope you feel better!</p>
<p>D2 is still amazed today that her prof had tests corrected already from yesterday. I bet they went through scantron as it was all multiple choice…something D2 isn’t used to. I was glad to hear she FINALLY found someone in her Econ class to get notes from when she is out of town. May sound small deal to most but that is a big positive step in her growth! I keep telling myself …baby steps! She can be quite poised at times…I still haven’t figured out her anxieties and quirks!</p>
<p>Hooray for fireflyscout boy!!!</p>
<p>So…just starting to set up FB account. How do I find the CC group?</p>
<p>NM, when you get in, there will be a search box (upper rt hand corner). Type in College Confidential Parents and you’ll find it. There’s a “who’s here” thread to match real names with screen names.</p>
<p>Ok…just sent request! Hope I get approved! :)</p>
<p>missy–thanks for that tip, I didn’t even know “we” were on fb. I just clicked to join the group but it said, “This is a closed group. Members must be invited or approved by an admin.” </p>
<p>northminn–did it let you join?</p>
<p>Not yet…i think it takes some time! Heading out to grocery shop. How fun! ;)</p>