<p>S’s graduation was Thursday and after last yesterday’s graduation party with his entire class of 60, I think it’s really done. No tears at the graduation, but I did feel like bursting with pride and joy at what a great group of kids he spent the last four years with. They are so supportive of each other, I think it will be a good lesson for all of them going forward.</p>
<p>We bought S a laptop for graduation, a nicely loaded one, but NOT his dream machine that he first suggested.</p>
<p>S has talked via Facebook with both of his roommates - one he says is cool, the other not somebody he’s normally hang with, but that’s okay. We head out for freshman Preview this week, so we’ll see the actual room and can plan what hell need to bring.</p>
<p>It’s very strange having nothing to nag about. Whatever will I do?? ;)</p>
<p>you’ve almost guaranteed there’ll be something almost immediately!!</p>
<p>Son’s college doesn’t give out room mate stuff until August! Not much time to grow to dislike the guy(s). But I do think, for the most part, boys can exist with pretty much anyone. My college BF’s roomate was, I swear, mute. He never spoke, always studied and never, ever did anything on the weekends. BF’s room was not the place to hang out but he was on a great floor so it all worked out fine.</p>
<p>On son’s roommate questionairre that he has to fill out it says, if you are an athlete do you want to room with someone with your interests or your habits (sleep, social activity, neatness, etc). Personally, based on the above, I’d rather have a roommate that I shared habits. It would just widen your social circle if you werent involved in the same things.</p>
<p>CPeltz, all of the speakers at S’s graduation from the head of school to the dean of their class spoke to how kind to one another this class was. The dean’s speech was especially thoughtful because he has seen up close and personally how this class has matured. The one constant was how absolutely supportive they were of one another in all things. It was truly a touching tribute to the 125 kids who shared that stage as well as the last four years. (See? Now I get all misty - only because its over)</p>
<p>Oh wait, has he started thinking about classes and making a preferred list in preparation for his July 9th registration? NO!! I better ‘talk’ to him about that. ;)</p>
<p>S’s school had no roommate questionnaire. I suppose with 2,000+ freshman it could get overwhelming, but they say it all works out. S is a definite night owl (aka, the ‘vampire’), so hopefully his roommates are as well.</p>
<p>Do you think our thread will heat up again as the kids start to head to school? JSM’s D is the first out - hope it goes beautifully for her and the rest of our freshman!</p>
<p>thumbs up on the tool box idea. I think a small toiletries essentials are in order too. Like a toenail clipper for one (S uses the household one) So that is going on his “tool box” as well.</p>
<p>Cpeltz…
how gratifying to hear!
And how cool he is getting excited about his next stage of life.
I think this thread will heat up again in the fall with tales of drop off days and planning for thangsgiving or Christmas breaks.
I am heading out of communication for practically the entire summer - traveling and visiting family on the east coast. So I’ll be sure to check back in the fall</p>
<p>Now that graduation is over, the bling is hanging on the doorknob of S’s room. A step up from the closet floor, but not really right for posterity. I’m not a scrapper, but I do keep notebooks of certificates and such. What should I do with this stuff?</p>
<p>There are 3 medals and a cord to preserve/display. Ideas? Or directions to a website with ideas? I am not skilled in the ways of crafting.</p>
<p>I am thinking of getting a shadow box and somehow notch the ribbons to feed behind so as only to show a small portion of the ribbon part. I am sure I am not making any sense but I have a vision AND a somewhat equal number of medals to lay out. I am wondering however, if I should update his letter jacket with spring bling. On the one hand, what does it matter at this point. On the other, they make a great halloween outfit when you’ve hit your 40’s and 50’s. I have been blown away by some of the stories behind the jackets coming out of mothballs.</p>
<p>Another vote for shadowboxes. It doesn’t take any real craftiness to put together a nice shadowbox. I’ve done them for a number of geek_son’s events, actually have a few more in mind that I want to finish this summer. He’s really appreciated the ones I’ve done.</p>
<p>They’re great for just about anything that isn’t huge but wouldn’t fit in a frame. Medals can be pinned to the background board; ribbons can be threaded through a hole you cut in the board (although some modification to the back might be needed if it’s a great big cord in a small shadowbox). An honor stole (nicely folded, draped, and pinned to the board), especially a zebra-print one ;), would look nice as a background for other grad bling. I like to include a photo or two from the event (stuck to the board with a small piece of the included velcro).</p>
<p>I get mine at places like Joann’s or Michael’s. The latter has them on sale sometimes, so I tend to stock up. They come in all different sizes. Definitely worth a look.</p>
<p>OK… so a few pages back, I mentioned that geek_son was going to be “thrilled” to drive my SUV to college. Which of course meant I would be buying a replacement, without a trade-in, and insuring two vehicles with an 18yo guy as the primary driver of one in the Los Angeles area. :eek:$$:eek:</p>
<p>As I was dumping my worries on the phone with my mom, she asked whether it was really worth the expense just so he could “save airfare” when he wants to come home. Well, but I’d already promised him the car – how could I back down now? Then she asked whether he really wanted the responsibility of a car in his first year there. Well, but who wouldn’t want the freedom to just pick up and leave any time he wants, and drive wherever he wants to do whatever he wants just because he can? Who wouldn’t consider that worth the responsibility of pumping the gas, changing the oil, checking on it regularly, and driving it around the block once a week to keep the battery in good condition? I ask you, who wouldn’t?</p>
<p>I asked. He doesn’t.</p>
<p>The car was going to be my grad gift to him, after he finally get his license. I thought he’d be devastated that I was even suggesting not following through. In fact, he pounced on the suggestion with genuine delight – and called my mom on the spot to thank her! Turns out he doesn’t want to deal with a car. He was worrying about where he’d even park the thing. So instead, I’m giving him a travel fund he can use to buy plane tickets and come back when he wants. That and a very cool enhancement to his video game collection, which he can’t wait to share with his suitemates at the dorm. Something I couldn’t afford because of the car payments and hefty insurance bills looming over the next few months.</p>
<p>The kid thinks he’s died and gone to heaven, and I’ve just saved tens of thousands on a car he didn’t want and the insurance payments to cover it. Holy cow. All because my mom has more common sense than I do.</p>
<p>Keep it in mind, moms! We’re not through being useful to our kids, and we’re (well, I’m :o) not through learning.</p>
<p>awesome geek<em>mom - very wise of your mother to question your judgement, AND wise of you to not take offense.
and geek</em>son was trying not to hurt your feelings. Love these happy endings!</p>
<h1>theoryson, did not want a car - even if he lived close enough to drive to school, he did not want one. He saw the hassle of parking there and is not keen on driving in the city (or anywhere for that matter) anyway. Nope all he wanted was a computer. We have not yet had to pay insurance for a teenage driver either. Yeah! But we will have to buy insurance for the dang computer! (It will be a tempting item)</h1>
<p>Ahh… but now the question remains, geek-mom… are you going to take the SUV with 80k miles and trade it in for a nice little economically friendly new car for you? Seems to me that there are deals to be made at this point in time – regardless of brand and despite a wise mom? Red and sporty? Hair flying in the wind with a carton of margarita mix strapped in the back seat on your way home from Costco?? I can see it.</p>
<p>And yes… boxes were on sale at Michaels but that might have been last week? Will try to do that this week. Husband took younger D on father/daughter camping trip to Yellowstone and son is working… it’s all of a sudden getting very quiet around here.</p>
<p>All this talk about driving…my evening activity tonight is being nervous about Son driving…one of his grad presents was tickets to the symphony - they are doing music from *Final Fantasy <a href=“a%20video%20game”>/I</a> - he has to drive into the city, to the symphony hall, park the car, then repeat in reverse in the dark when it’s over. I’m very worried. Husband and younger D went to see Up in 3-D, but I felt that I needed to stay home by the phone because there is a real possility of his getting lost, missing the exit, etc.</p>
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<p>According to his Facebook page, Son’s rooomate is interested in men. Son will be fine as long as there’s not a high level of drama (and he hopes his roomie doesn’t cover the wall with posters of hot guys - he won’t put up pix of hot girls, so it should be fair.) Son also is hoping for none of his dates spending the night - I told him that a “no overnights by dates” would be a terrific agreement to make with each other, no matter the gender of the dates.</p>
<p>OK… not homophobic at all, but this might bother my son or at least affect his ability to feel comfortable in his own space. Actually, I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with a gay woman as a room mate… and this is someone who has a gay sister and a gay aunt in committed relationships. However, sharing a house or family occasion is not the same as living in a 9x14 room (on a good day). Seems to me that the no “special friend” overnight rule would be fairly imperative for good …um… relations.</p>
<p>Then again, given that this would be a great opportunity for some open dialogue, as long as your son is up to the task of “sharing” - not a common trait for a lot of straight men unfortunately - but if he is, this could be a really insightful beginning. Thing is, kids can be really insecure and mean. I don’t envy the situation but then again, one of my husband’s best friends from college came out of the closet a number of years back. They are still wonderful friends without a doubt, but others weren’t as accepting. It was weird. And had he come out in college, would they have ever become friends? Probs not, which would have been way too bad.</p>
<p>We had actually already had the “what if you had a gay roommate” conversation because his close-second school has renouned musical theatre and dance programs, so I thought the chance of his getting a gay roommate there was pretty strong. He didn’t choose that school but the roomie is a theatre major nonetheless. (Probably intentional matching with Son since he’s a choir kid and was in the musicals.) Son said he was cool with it then, and he’s pretty cool with it now. He doesn’t want his roommate to hit on him and I have assured him that he won’t be his roommate’s type.</p>
<p>What is so bizarre is that he is re-living his dad’s life. Husband’s college girlfriend (me) had the same unusual undergrad major as Son’s girlfriend. And Husband’s first college roomate was a gay theatre major, just like Son’s. Husband is a singer and a sometimes actor; I kid Husband that ALL of his high school and college friends are gay and I really think all his male high school and college friends have come out over the years. Consequently, Husband is definitely not a homophobe, so our kids haven’t been exposed to any of those attitudes.</p>
Heh… actually, I’d been thinking about a van. Sad, huh? :o But no, I so did not want to give up my SUV! I’ll drive something small and sporty when everybody else is… I don’t believe in unilateral disarmament. :D</p>
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Hoping everything went nice and smoothly for him.</p>
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This is a good idea. Think I’ll suggest it to geek_son, as this and the possibility of a gay roommate are probably way off his radar. He’s no homophobe, but I don’t think that would work out too well. I suppose the one advantage would be no worries about the roomie stealing a girlfriend. ;)</p>
<p>Edit: Long after leaving high school, I found out that a pretty large number of guys there – maybe the majority – were gay. No wonder it was so hard to get a date. </p>
<p>Son had been camping with the guys until last night… came home exhausted and bug bitten. Had a great time. When I was feeding him, I asked him about the possibility of a gay roommate. He said he didn’t think it would matter. I said, well, it might be wise to make a pac of no overnight company. He said… well, I dont think that would happen if I was in the room too! </p>
<p>The drive into the city went fine…no wrong exits - that is what is so worrisome about city driving - a mistake can take quite a while to correct. And of course, Husband told him to save money and find free street parking instead of paying for the symphony parking garage. Son managed it just fine, but I was afraid he would become tangled in a web of one way streets and lose the symphony hall in the quest to save a few bucks. Son LOVED the concert…imagine an entire smyphony hall full of *Final Fantasy *fans.</p>
<p>We’re finally settling into a semi standard summer routine after having returned from a week in London (went with DH, DD HS grad, DS college grad and DS’ girlfriend).</p>
<p>Now having to deal with DD’s work week which includes both days of the weekend (she’s off Wed and Thurs).</p>
<p>Just finished purchasing computers for both kids (DS’ laptop completely died after being hauled around for 4 years). Was having a hard time actually hitting the purchase button, kept having second thoughts. Both kids are getting very high end computers. S wanted a laptop which he could use for gaming and DD wanted to continue playing the Sims which required a fairly robust configuration. Trying to put all that together with the college requirements made things interesting. But at least it’s all done.</p>
<p>D didn’t want to take a car with her even though many others have cars. We’re actually going to have an extra car at home because it was supposed to be son’s but he doesn’t want to pay the insurance on it and his gf has a car so it’s not necessary. So we actually just took son off our car insurance (very strange feeling).</p>
<p>D3 couldn’t imagine not having a car at school. In fact she cut schools off her list of schools to consider if they didn’t allow freshman to have cars! I tried to tell her she would have no life in the fall and couldn’t go anywhere because of fall sport but she insisted. Must give her a sense of security.</p>
<p>sharonohio…thanks for the link! That is a little cheaper than D2’s schools offer!</p>
<p>Anyone know of other software discounts not tied to specific colleges?</p>
<p>Son will not be taking car to college. I will be interested to see how well he adapts from the suburban drive-or-die mentality to figuring out and using public transportation.</p>
I have been blown away by some of the stories behind the jackets coming out of mothballs.</p>
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