<p>S’s school apparently has office available for free download to all students. Although… admittedly $60 is a GREAT deal. Wonder how unethical it would be to buy it through son’s .edu and put on daughter’s new laptop (which she announced she has saved the money for to buy exactly half - her dad agreed a year ago to match her thinking she’d probably come up with something else to buy. I am impressed with her ability to plan for a reach a long term goal.</p>
<p>Ok… how’s this? I found a card in my glove compartment that was all about how when you get bad news it’s really too bad, but I am here to tell you how wonderful you are anytime! I had bought it for the possibility my son would have been extremely bummed about college admission rejections. And… I never had to use it!! How’s that for being prepared AND not needing to be. Win/win.</p>
<p>Symphony. I love the symphony. But I am also very picky about where I park. And to parallel park on a busy city street does so not come easily to me. I also am slightly directionally challenged. I once missed an exit and couldnt get back to where I needed to be for about an hour. This is why I like BIG reference points… skyscrapers, mountains, an ocean is good.</p>
Great news! Glad to hear he had a great time too.</p>
<p>
Depends on how she uses it. If I recall correctly, the Office license is restricted to “academic use only.” Using it for any business or non-profit use (even a newsletter for your HOA or Girl Scout troop) is against the EULA. Just be sure to read those terms first.</p>
<p>Modadunn, so nice that you never had to use the card. :)</p>
<p>geek_son slept in till after noon today and is now playing big-screen video games. After this school year, I told him he needed to take some serious down time… well, I guess he took me seriously! ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the hints on shadowboxes and ribbons.
Last night was D’s grad party. Mostly family but some friends and their families as well. I put together a “shrine” of her more outstanding awards etc. from academics, sports, music and art and pix from prom silly stuff. I used one of those 3 panel science project poster boards. Even had the plaque and program from an award she won when we lived in London: “Cup for Sustained Effort”. (Cup remains in London at the school. She was reading picture books when we arrived - classmates were reading Narnia - poor child - what an adjustment!)
I offered no apologies other than it’s probably the last time I can brag wholeheartedly and without shame. Most shocking of all is that she actually loved it!!</p>
<p>missypie–glad the trip went well for your son. </p>
<p>I wanted to clarify something in one of my recent posts. It may have been read wrong. We are very appreciative for a lovely piece of jewelry my D received as a graduation gift. I didn’t mean to imply it was a silly gift. I intended to convey that it was nice enough I didn’t want her to take it to college so wondered when in her life it would be “safe” for her to wear regularly without the risk of loss or theft. </p>
<p>We went to orientation day one today. The theme of several sessions seemed to be that we need to let them make mistakes, become adults, and let go. Of course the blades of every helicopter parent in the room, myself included, started to warm up when the career development counselor mentioned the importance of internships and experience in landing those first jobs. ;)</p>
<p>Went to the local public health service office and D got her meningococcal and tetanus shots required by the college. Waited 5 minutes, tops. Couldn’t get into the pediatrician till end of July but the paperwork is due August 1 and I didn’t want to cut things too close. </p>
<p>I was quite impressed! and glad to get it over with…</p>
<p>I called our pediatrician today. Son is going to H’s GP next monday. All forms are due July 1. He went into the pediatrician this spring when I thought he might have an ear infection and there was a moment when I looked at him… He was sitting in a chair that was slightly small for him, even though it was an adult chair. There was a little boy watching the fish who was about four of five tops. I saw my son look at the boy and the boy looked at him in awe. Complete and utter awe. My son is not HUGE, but what he is not is slight of frame. I knew then it would be our last visit to the pediatrician.</p>
<p>There are some moments when he takes my breath away. His very last HS report card came the other day. The comments his teachers made about him were so thoughtful and encouraging. And while he got straight A’s for the year (a first I might add and considering there has only been 4 4.0 students to graduate from his school in the past 20 years means it’s really hard to get straight A’s especially with his classes ), Anyway… he said what he was most proud of over his four years was not the grades but the respect he earned from his teachers along the way!! This surely makes up for his making me HOLD my breath when he relays a story from his recent camping trip that he was so proud that his study of physics help convince a friend that if he jumped off a particular rock cliff he’d be impaled by a tree. No sarcasm whatsoever. He didn’t even blink in telling the story. I literally shuddered to think!!! Oh the ying and yang of parenting.</p>
<p>jewelry – lock it up until she has renters insurance or similar. She can wear at Christmas (or other holidays) and unless it’s something you wear all the time, it will almost surely get lost or stolen in college. Trust me. I have three sisters and we all lost valuable jewelry in college. College Graduation present from parents however was a string of classic pearls. Still have em and still wear em.</p>
<p>modadunn–the take your breath away moments–they come out of no where so often. The only thing we can do is hold our breath, or we might become a big mess thinking about the possibilities.</p>
<p>Speaking of becoming a big mess, the past five days have been crazy around here! I learned the following things make me cry:</p>
<p>“Pomp & Circumstance”</p>
<p>Having the young woman speaking at graduation say “I love you mom & dad” in her native language and having dad stand up in the bleachers and proudly yell “we love you too” in accented English.</p>
<p>The choir singing in close harmony</p>
<p>Talking about how my sister cried at her daughter’s wedding</p>
<p>Seeing pictures of my niece’s wedding</p>
<p>Taking my brother & his family to the airport.</p>
<p>I had a take your breath away moment on Sunday. S and his Dad were asked to perform their piece at the opening concert of a weeklong music event my S is participatiing in.</p>
<p>At one point in the performance (S is usually very serious looking when singing) one of the week’s adjudicators/a jazz musician made a gesture that told him she loved it and he broke into this beautiful smile. He looked like a million bucks! Nearly broke me up, knowing how little I will see this in the next several years, AND how shamefully little I have seen it in the <em>last</em> several years…and then that really broke me up…</p>
<p>Graduation was last Fri. night and very nice. D was recognized for being in the top 10, she was most excited because her very best friend (of 11 years) and she tied. This was not intentional. There is a really cool picture of the two in cap and gown jumping up & high fiving each other. Also D got the Spanish award at the daytime awards assembly. This is the first time she has ever been recognized for anything, and maybe to some kids it’s not a big deal, but I can tell you she was really, really pleased and very excited.</p>
<p>I stayed dry-eyed at graduation, but Sat. was D’s final dance recital and the seven Seniors who have danced together presented a dance no one had seen before. The song lyrics say something about not saying goodbye, I will return. Everyone cried, especially at the end when they all hugged each other.</p>
<p>Then it was off to NYC to take D up for orientation. As I watched her go down those subway steps near our hotel, I got a taste of what it will be like in Aug. when we drop her off. I am a parent who believes strongly in giving them wings, but it was harder than I expected. (she did fine).</p>
<p>Well, now I need to shift gears, get the house back to normal after the party (which was Sunday), finish reading all of your recent posts and start thinking about what we need to do before school starts. On to the next adventure!</p>
<p>D and I are safely in our hotel room in Orlando. Today we have a meeting with financial aid then dorm shopping, finding that Bed Bath & Beyond store that has her “order”, going to Best Buy and buying a TV (her contribution to the dorm room), then more shopping. She will also be able to move into her summer dorm today (she signed up for early move-in). Tomorrow and Friday is Orientation. I’m flying back home Saturday night. Classes start Monday. </p>
<p>I cried a bit yesterday when 20 of her friends came over to see her off to the airport. They all cried and waved as we pulled out of the driveway. So sad, but all of their lives will change in the next few months.</p>
<p>It’s VERY hot and humid here in Florida, D loves it and I’m carrying around ALOT of water. Will check in again soon!!</p>
<p>Jerseyshoremom you are sooooo far a head of me. Graduation is tomorrow night and grad party is Saturday for my D. She doesn’t head for college until Sept. 1st and then only because she is doing a sport. Classes don’t start until September 9th. Please continue to post. Expecting to learn lots from those who have done this this year. I do have an older one but he was easy and I just don’t think guys want that much stuff – or at least mine didn’t and had not interest in being organized and matching.</p>
<p>I do not envy Florida summers, but I am sure my son will be wishing for it come Jan - march in Vermont!</p>
<p>Some of S’s friends are going to their schools this summer to take a few classes, especially those with a fall sport. Apparently at the larger schools, it makes a good deal of sense to get a class or two under your belt so that first transition semester (or whatever they’re on) can be a little lower key without them falling behind.</p>
<p>With S not getting room mate info until August, I wonder how it will go with the who brings what and who contributes what? So, if D brings TV JSM. what did room mate bring?</p>
<p>We are also scrambling trying to get everything in order. We have five weeks left before D2 heads out to school and starts her sports training/preseason. She is training hard but otherwise doesn’t talk about leaving. Having a great time with friends and enjoying time spent together but still no urgency or real desire to pull things together.</p>
<p>D is bringing the TV; roommate is bringing microwave and small fridge.</p>
<p>She applied to summer because being OOS would have been competitive for her for Fall admissions and this was her #1 school. Starting summer term she will be able to get 6 credits under her belt before Fall. She plans to go through sorority recuitment in August. Classes for Summer begin 6/29 and end 8/7, when she will fly back home. Sorority recruitment starts the week before classes in Fall so she will be back in Orlando on 8/17. Then when she comes back for Fall term, she will be familiar with the campus and surrounding area. They say that Fall term during Freshman year is the busiest (adjusting to college life, football games, etc.).</p>
<p>JSM, definitely way ahead of me. Starting to think about the buy here/buy there/haul in the car packing list. D’s working a full time job so much of this will fall on me with her approval.</p>
<p>Definitely not looking forward to saying goodbye in August.</p>
<p>Just had to bump this up since it was at the bottom of page 2!!!</p>
<p>Tried to talk with D2 about school getting ready for today and she avoided the subject again. sogh…I know this is going to be tough in a few weeks…</p>