Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

sabaray · June 17, 2009, 11:23am

ellemenope, I love the suggestion to be inclusive. D graduated this past Saturday and that was something sorely missing in the speeches.

bblfraser · June 17, 2009, 12:59pm

Missypie, I’m having the same angst about move-in day. We’ll be down the road from you in San Antonio with the same climate challenges/furnace activity. We’ll find out soon exactly what time we’re required to do the drop off. As I understand it, they stick to a strict schedule, so I hope we draw an early morning slot. But I also wish we had some wiggle room we could build in to do the BB&B/Target runs as well. We find out about D’s roommate-to-be on Friday. My hope is that they can coordinate the who’s bringing what stuff over the next month so we can at least be “armed” with the right equipment. I think I have at least as high a butterfly quotient as she does!

missypie · June 17, 2009, 1:05pm

I can see how minor irritants when it’s 75 degrees could become angry flare ups when it’s 105! And that’s 105, carrying heavy things. I guess bringing a giant icy “adult drink” in a Big Gulp cup would set a bad example, right?

geek_mom · June 17, 2009, 1:31pm

Who needs to know? If you start getting noticeably tipsy, just shout, “Hey, what shmartash kid shpiked my shoda?!” :D

Maybe I’m less stressed about the move-in because geek_son is going more or less a day trip’s length away from home. He’ll have sheets, clothes, toiletries, tools, power strip, first aid kit, laundry soap and quarters, his laptop and backpack, and the all-important sidewalk chalk (friends and family members were awesome gifters! :)). Beyond that and whatever incidentals he packs (ipod, rubik’s cube, cell phone, wallet…), we’ve agreed that for the first week or two, he’s going to “hotel it.” Then he’ll tell me what else he needs and we’ll make arrangements to ship or schlep as appropriate. I mean, he did just fine living out of his backpack for a week in Europe… how hard can this be?

And for Christmas or next summer…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/632029-end-year-storage-vs-transporting-issues.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/632029-end-year-storage-vs-transporting-issues.html</a>

And this one might have some fun ideas for things to sneak into the boxes
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/240831-do-any-other-parents-include-silly-gifts-when-sending-care-packages.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/240831-do-any-other-parents-include-silly-gifts-when-sending-care-packages.html</a>

missypie · June 17, 2009, 1:35pm

I’m more concerned about the actual move-in…MISTERpie (father of Son) gets awfully tense when things don’t go perfectly and dorm move-ins rarely go perfectly.

missypie · June 17, 2009, 1:47pm

Just read the “what not to pack” thread…Son will need a tuxedo for choir…I’ve got to put on my list to find a poly-blend tux shirt so if he ever does wash it, it won’t need to be ironed.

Cali_mom · June 17, 2009, 3:38pm

PRJ, D didn’t really get it because she wanted to drive either!! It was more of a condition of going away to college! LOL!

Those of you who have seen the dorm rooms are fortunate - D won’t get any dorming info until late August (including room mate info!). Luckily she has found a room mate though they won’t know which dorm or what their room will be like. Hopefully then we’ll get specifics so that we know bed size (some are reg twin and some XL twin!) and the lay out. All of this uncertainty makes the ‘planner’ in me crazy! OTOH at least she was able to find a room mate and put in a request before the housing deadline, her college does a random room mate match - no survey of any kind - should be interesting to hear those stories the first few weeks!! Don’t see how hard it would be for the college to do maybe some kind of basic match…

Bandie_Mom · June 17, 2009, 4:06pm

For Good…wow, I know I saw the play and I have the sound track, I never thought about putting it in the context that you have. Oh yeah, it hit a chord.

Here is a link to the youtube version of it for those of you who don’t have the soundtrack.

[YouTube</a> - Wicked-For Good](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kecram4pUe4]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kecram4pUe4)

Bandie_Mom · June 17, 2009, 4:20pm

College email.

I guess we’ve been pretty lucky. My DD has been giving us the login name and pw to her college account so we can follow up on her due dates, etc. She does resist the nudging, a little, but since she knows we will be traveling w/o internet access she doesn’t mind the nagging. I heard the term “benign neglect” several years ago. In theory, you let your loved one have their independence…until it seems it will hurt them or prove dangerous, then you step in with a “little firmer grip”, fix the situation and then back out and sit on your hands again. It has worked wonders with my DD with special needs, it has been even useful with D2. These days it is not easy, especially now that my D2 just turned 18…but like I reminded her just yesterday, I am not here to see you fail b/c I forgot to “ask” you to do something.

missypie · June 17, 2009, 4:41pm

Just got Son’s roommate/dorm assignment. Ah, Facebook! I now know what he looks like, what he’s majoring in and where he went to HS.

Modadunn · June 17, 2009, 4:46pm

OK… It has been a crazy two weeks and I have tried to play catch up on and off since then. Still don’t know what “context” wicked’s For Good is supposed to be listened in! And DowntoEarths complications.

Saw those purex fabric sheets and thought exactly like CPeltz.

Graduation was a gorgeous evening. The inlaws/Mother/Family in town was slightly draining (understatement), but was helped by lost of lacrosse that was being played and the need to be certain places at certain times. Plus, it’s not like we were having S’s party while they were in town - I couldn’t have handled that at all!

S’s party was this past Sunday and I think it went well. There was an appropriate shrine, but not over the top. Some people I swear! I don’t even have that many pictures of my son!

However, the Thursday before we had to put down our yellow lab. He was nearly 14 and it was clear he has been in a lot of pain for a long time. He also had allergies and we were coming into his most itchy time. He was miserable but still thwapping his tail on the hardwood floors or front porch when he could. H took him to vet… it was the absolute worst day - even H was overwhelmed with tears. Such a GREAT dog… Marly-esque and absolutely lovable.

ok… what do we think of those order linen’s through this business. Can you not find 80" sheets easily?

missypie · June 17, 2009, 5:00pm

Oh, having to put the dog down right before graduation? I’m so sorry!

CBBBlinker · June 17, 2009, 6:12pm

Yes to “Shout Color Catchers” – I use them all the time! I know D uses them when she does her laundry, and I’m equally sure S will not. (Oh well, I should just be glad he does his laundry!) We’ll skip the Purex all in one sheets, though – we’re not fans of fabric softener/scented detergents.

S is all registered for his courses for A & B terms – equivalent of fall semester. He did well on his math placement test. At the Advising Day yesterday I “won” him an alarm clock w/ iPod dock. (Nice, but he really needs a bomb to wake him up!) So, I think we’re set until later in the summer when I drag him to BB&B to pick out bedding – which is sure to be a quick trip.

_theorymom · June 17, 2009, 6:14pm

Dog’s are such important family members to those who let them be. It is devastating when they go - always too soon. I am so sorry Moda.

geek_mom · June 17, 2009, 6:43pm

Beware the college marketing partnerships. Other folks on the forum have said those linens are cheapo-crappy stuff that falls apart fast (like 80-count in some cases), and not a good price. Suggested JC Penney. Not hard to find XL twin sheets, especially around July. A set of sheets were a geek_son grad gift from a relative – she got them from QVC.

So, so sorry about the dog.

Modadunn · June 17, 2009, 8:01pm

Thank you for the condolences about Sam… very much a part of our family; not a hunter by any stretch. When we got him I looked high and low for “good looking slug.” He was brilliant and gorgeous… nicknamed menace. He could open the oven door and steal pizza and shut it again. He will be missed. Everyone got a chance to say good bye as it happened after graduation so older D was home as well. It was time, however, and for that I wish it were that simple for humans. He had been in a lot of pain for some time.

And yes… I thought those sheets LOOKED cheap and S was the type who had to cut tags out of clothing and wear seamless socks!! I will say however he ended up getting three monogrammed towels for graduation, which really… if he had any more would probably end up moldy. Plus… they are close enough in color he can wash them all at once. He also got a monogrammed fleece throw with just his initials.

I will also look at that store Home Goods or something similar. I bought a Ralph Lauren table cloth a few months ago for some ridiculously low price. It seemed to me they had lots of sheets and stuff as well. Frankly, it was one of those stores where I could probably spend a fortune!!

S shocked the h out of me when I asked him if he had gone online and registered for freshman seminar and then tentatively picked three other classes (they don’t officially register until they meet with their advisors during orientation)… And he actually did on the very first day he was able!! Talk about blown away. I’d say is lack of outward enthusiasm is belying his true excitement.

He’s camping this weekend in the boundary waters. I think it’s supposed to rain the entire time.

RochesterMom · June 17, 2009, 8:36pm

I did the online linen thing for D and I’m very pleased with the result. Just received but the quality appears good and it’s guaranteed for the 4 years so I figured what did I have to loose.

_theorymom · June 17, 2009, 8:52pm

missypie, I got one, an entire tux actually, all polyester, throw it in the wash type thing (shirt of course is white so needs to be washed separtely) If I can find out where I ordered it from, I’ll let you know. Great tux shirt, wash and wear

PRJ · June 17, 2009, 8:54pm

Modadunn - I am so sorry about Sam. I had the same thought when we put our beloved ferret (please don’t laugh!) to sleep last month. She was ill and in pain, and it was the obvious, right thing to do. I too wish it were that straightforward for humans.

Still eagerly awaiting D’s text telling me she has done the same. I will be equally blown away!

woody · June 17, 2009, 8:57pm

Hi Everyone - Just trying to catch up. I find it so funny how we are all progressing more or less to that inevitable day…prom, last ceremonies, graduations, dorm shopping, oh boy, it’s coming fast!!
D got her dorm assignment. Just what she wanted. Unfortunately. S will not be joining us for her graduation as planned. He’s concerned that with pandemic announcement that entry back into China will be difficult - very sad. Now we all can’t wait until end of July - but of course that brings us all closer to D-Day (Departure-Day!) Yikes!

Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

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