<p>Hi - just checking in. S still has no job (maybe a fireworks stand?), is happily playing games on his new laptop, and spending time with friends, either live or virtually. His final grades were not great - keeping fingers crossed his college won’t notice his transcript. Puppy is pretty much housebroken now. Not stressing about dorm purchases since its my second time around. And it’s really, really hot around here.</p>
<p>ffscout
here is hoping with you!</p>
<p>Grad party done yesterday. It was beautiful weather and went well. As usual H had a great time, I worked. little perturbed He will help under guidance until the event and then feels free to party and ignore "host " things. .He is golfing today. Guys have the life.
This is not my first round with BC, had it when the kids were little and it was tough because they were little obviously ,we all know how that goes. I had a glitch a year later and have been good for 15 years. This is alot with my D leaving and this diagnosis but life goes on .
It’s good to see my emotions are normal with D impending departure, the emotions do get mixed up.I am missing some of the excitement. i intend to go to D’s orientation and then surgery.
Seems like alot of kids got tired and decreased some grades, will the schools hold back money? My D’s time management skills have improved and she is suprising me by taking on things by herself this was before the diagnosis. I get concerned because some of her decisions are like What? but she is a good kid who has made some important life decisions.
I placed many of her things from HS on the dining room table her variety and accomplishments were amazing, she was so well rounded and up to try anything. perhaps that is why she hasn’t chosen to be a partier as she has had her share o f excitement in other ways. People were pretty impressed
I have often wondered about having a dog and keeping it in the garage or yard. Our dog a Golden Retriever also is a member of our family. We all love him ,something we have in common. I hate his hair all over my house I have to admit, but we love him so we deal. I have a sign in my porch that says DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO. If you choose to adopt the dog he/she would be one lucky dog.BTW I got my dog from Minn. to you northern folks. I went out there for a family reunion and it was cold in the summer, but I still love it there. My favorite aunt lives there.
Anyway good luck to all thanks for the good wishes, I felt very hesitant to write it on this thread for some reason, but I do really appreciate it. Funny thing you all know more than people in my real life do, cyberspace is a great outlet.</p>
<p>And you are wonderful people.</p>
<p>Sending hugs, prayers and warm wishes!!!</p>
<p>It is great to be back home with access to internet 24/7 8-D</p>
<p>Congrats to all who finished this week and managed the parties and the emotions. Positive thoughts and well wishes to all who are “under the weather” or missing the kids because of trips.</p>
<p>DD is having a sax sectional in the garage as we speak. Their group is playing in our city’s first Jazz Festival later today and they are a little rusty from not playing since they graduated last month.</p>
<p>On the banking front - We got a student checking account for DD last year. It has no charge for checking and it comes with an ATM. I am teaching her how to save receipts, balance the checkbook and ensure that her atm and debit charges match what is on the statement. She has caught on pretty well. When we did orientation we were happy to see that the school has an ATM at the student center (Bank of America) so we don’t have to worry about atm charges.</p>
<p>One thing that has surprised DD is that some of our friends have sent her gifts just because they have known them since they were babies. D2 was very touched with a basket one of our friends made for her with a personalized card. Mind you, this lady is a pretty busy lady and DD knows it so she commented: “Mom, when did Ms C have find time to do MAKE this, this is just very sweet.” I have been very touched by the outpouring of love too. I guess I am not as done with the emotions as I thought I was.</p>
<p>D just opened her gifts today and it was very touching to see the notes and some of the personal gifts that friends and neighbors gave her. We definitely feel supported and loved by the “village” that helped us raise her. </p>
<p>Positive vibes and warm wishes to downtoearth, my H definitely needs direction as far as party preparations! I’ve observed that generally the wife/mother takes on the household manager role which is a lot of work and not very appreciated. I get frustrated at times with it, but I think I’m pretty darn good at it. I’m learning to be better about making lists and calendar entries so I’m not the main repository of all knowledge.</p>
<p>Oh Downtoearth - Healing thoughts going your way!
On the husband-helper front- if it is any small consolation, DH is also good as far as following my pre-party directions are concerned but no initiative and once that party starts and he’s jabbering away - no help at all. It’s gotten better though - once upon a time he would think that 6 hours before a big party was a great time to re-tile the bathroom.
Maybe that explains why we have fewer and fewer parties as time goes on!</p>
<p>downtoearth – More healing thoughts, prayers, and hugs from here. Sounds like you’re handling it with your usual strength, but such crummy timing (as if there were ever good timing). What you did for your daughter sounds lovely.</p>
<p>missypie – A friend of mine in a similar situation often has the same worries about her son. She’s a social butterfly. When she saw him spending most of his time outside at a dance, she tortured herself with miserable imaginings of how lonely he must be. Turned out he was playing charades with some other students, and then just enjoying the place and the weather after the others went in. He had a blast and was very pleased with the way he’d handled himself at the event (coping with the sensory overload of a HS dance and having fun too). She told me she’s just come to the understanding that her idea of a good time is very different from his. Thought you might like to hear that. :)</p>
<p>Bandie Mom – Welcome home!</p>
<h1>theorymom – How did your final go?</h1>
<p>geek_son has a movie date tonight, scaled back from dinner and a movie. She’s in pain from some sort of respiratory problem, and her family has a friend visiting from out of state. He wants to put it off till she’s feeling better; suggested that several times; she (and oddly enough, her folks) won’t hear of it. Maybe she doesn’t like the family friend? Dunno. Whatever, I’m sure they’ll have fun. She’s a sweet, smart gal.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>From the early days of marriage:</p>
<p>Me: Yikes! Company is coming in an hour.
Him: Let’s clean out master bedroom closet.
???</p>
<p>I read in magazines about people who love to host parties…I don’t refuse to entertain, but I can’t say I actually enjoy my own parties.</p>
<p>Oh, I’m another with a husband with the oddest party sense. Send him out to hose off the deck. I go to the store, come back and with very little time before the party he has launched into some major landscaping revision and stuff is all over the deck and he is hot sweaty, grimy and oblivious. Ironically, he is the one who loves to have guests and he is great with after party cleanup but not much help in advance except for flower arranging. I do not enjoy anything with more than 6 people and an always nervous that there will 1) not be enough food, 2) it will not be thoroughly cooked OR it will not be hot enough. I enjoy people and am very sociable (in small groups) but I do not like to :entertain. So I am in awe of your major party givers.</p>
<p>Had a friend who went to the airport to pickup the house guests. Asked her husband to do something simple in the guest bathroom before she left. Came back with the guests to find he had decided to change out the toilet and in the process something happened so that it no longer worked! Helps me keep my complaints in perspective.</p>
<p>
Right there with ya! Who has time to enjoy their own party? I show up at other people’s parties and take lots and lots of pictures. I have not one picture from geek_son’s grad party… I think I have a single snapshot my mom took at his 18th birthday get-together. Oh well. He has the memories, and it was his party, not mine. :)</p>
<p>Edit to add…
I think this one wins! Wow, just wow.</p>
<p>My final is tomorrow
I am frantically painting away. Hoping to have it finished by class. The thing is you never know when a painting will be done. It just tells you it is once it is. This one’s not saying that yet!</p>
<p>I bet it’ll sing when it’s done. 
Good luck tomorrow!</p>
<p>Now that the graduation is over (2 weeks ago), the trip to France is done (1 week ago) and the graduation party has been held (yesterday), I feel like I can now post on this thread. It was all a whirlwind of activity, but the synopsis–DD’s class was very impressive, and I was proud she was one of those impressive kids, she loved the orchestra trip to France, party was a great success. (yes, my husband also started a little project yesterday morning that he swore he would do 3 weeks ago).</p>
<p>downtoearth–sending positive thoughts your way</p>
<p>On a down note–no tears at graduation, no tears when she left for her trip (one or two when I picked her up), but suddenly at 4:30 this morning I woke up and realized this phase is almost over. DD will be on her way. I think the celebration yesterday, seeing her with HS friends and family just made it real. I started bawling, but tried not to wake up DH. I’m crying as I write this. I think I just need to have a big cry and get it all out, but some how I can’t let myself do that.</p>
<p>Am back after being out of town for a wedding.</p>
<p>Downtoearth-Add my prayers & positive thoughts for you.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the graduates and cheers to all of you great parents out there.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Get in the car by yourself. Put the Wicked soundtrack in the CD player. Forward to “For Good.” Cry it out. (That’s what I did.)</p>
<p>thanks for the H sharing, We stopped in at a grad party today same scenario H socializingand wife cleaning and hosting. I guess some guys are like that, might make you understand your teenage sons more. Actually D1 can be like that sometimes too. She did thank me for her party loved it. I was determined not to give in and cancel had lots of help from some great friends before and during, totally lost the thread and didn’t get the house in shape before but it looks beautiful now! Is there a book out there on things you need for college. check list sort of thing that anyone can suggest?
For Good is such a great song. crying is cathartic, and this change is sad, no doubt about it. We were all remembering even the kids were talking about it. It will be great to see what great successes they become. TM good creative energy to get your art piece done.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on places to visit between NYC and Washington DC?</p>
<p>rrah
congrats.
We should all be proud of our kids…and of ourselves! This is what we have worked for, to send them (happily)on their way…to the rest of their lives.
oh so bittersweet</p>