<p>I am a dad! and I will not rant!</p>
<p>Vanmo, go ahead and rant. We can take it. It’s nothing we all haven’t done before ourselves! :)</p>
<p>For myself, please wish some patience . . . no, not for anything admissions-related, but because DS and GF of 15 months had what I believe is their first big fight last night. He came home early, told me they’d “gotten into it,” but didn’t want to talk more about it. I immediately wanted to jump in with “What’s wrong? What did you fight about? What did you say? What did she say? And then what happened?” etc. etc. etc. But I tried really hard to just rub his back and say if you want to talk about it, we’ll talk, and I jokingly said “You want me to nag it out of you?” There are certainly enough reasons for them to get into a fight – both are seniors, she found out last week that she won’t be able to go to her first-choice college due to money issues (she’d end up with $80K loans!! So, I think she’s being sensible not to do that to herself), his prom is in three weeks and hers is the week after. They went yesterday after school to order prom flowers . . . and I suspect maybe somewhere in there is when things went south. She has always been a very smart, sweet, sensible girl, but I’m wondering if she’s wanting to ratchet up the already-expensive proms (tickets are $90 PER KID!) But I don’t know . . . and on top of all of that, his high school soccer team needs to win the last three district games to make it to the playoffs; luckily, the remaining three teams are the ones at the lower end of our district.</p>
<p>And then there’s the fact that he’s a senior and spring break is next week and college is looming and he hasn’t decided between School #1 which has offered decent aid, but which coach has not said anything definitive, and School #2 which we haven’t gotten any aid yet (letter is supposed to come today) but the coach absolutely loves him. </p>
<p>Trying really hard to be calm and supportive and not let my personal anxiety reach him. <deep breath,=“” deep=“” breath=“”></deep></p>
<p>Okay, for everyone else like EmmyBet dealing with the tragic news from Japan, strength and patience to all of you too!</p>
<p>My thoughts and prayers are with EmmyBet’s 'daughters" and their families and to everyone else who has a connection with people in the devastated areas. Life is fragile. So many aspects are out of our control.</p>
<p>Thank you. And vanmo - sorry for the assumption! Please rant all you want - we love it with a sense of humor like yours (and we’re here even if the humor fails you sometimes).</p>
<p>Met a parent I hadn’t seen for a while last night, and chatted about the whole “senior” thing. It’s a hard year for everyone. I think I’ve mentioned that my D1 surely was ready intellectually, and I think mature enough, too, to go to college after 11th grade. I wondered sometimes, what use is senior year? But really the growth they go through and the experiences they both enjoy and endure are very important. When they’ve hacked their way through all senior year throws at them, they really are ready to face the world!</p>
<p>And D2 has definitely reached the “so tired I could fall asleep right now” phase. But they have 2 more weeks until spring break. Oh, well. She was jealous of Japanese D getting the day off - until she heard about the earthquake. Soon I’m going to take the 2 girls to town, get some sushi and do a little shopping to distract them. In a few more hours they’ll be in better contact with people and can set their minds more at ease.</p>
<p>On the other hand, our boys’ b-ball team is one step closer to state, and JD (avid b-ball player and fan) is so excited. There’s a girls’ playoff game tonight, too, so she’s doubly excited (she played JV, but will go cheer - luckily her friend enjoys watching b-ball, too).</p>
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<p>Good news for the Japanese girls - all of their family is fine. But our visitor’s family had to evacuate, because they live near the coast. And there are massive power outages, no trains running, etc. </p>
<p>JD’s twin sister is having to stay at school, can’t go home, because of the trains. JD thinks that’s hilarious - her sister hates school!</p>
<p>The general news there is horrific. So sad, so scary. But my girls here are feeling much relieved.</p>
<p>I just found out that my Brother in law is in Japan on business. He was supposed to be in Tokyo but the plane was diverted to Sapporo and his wife is assuming that he is still there. Another friend, who is currently living in Tokyo said (via FB) that they are still feeling strong aftershocks, but they were going to try to sleep. Her youngest daughter, who is in college and on spring break, is visiting them along with her roommate.</p>
<p>Good news, Emmy. Tell them their “CC friends in Texas” are hoping for the best. Our local TV station’s weatherman this morning said his brother was in Tokyo near the epicenter and he had not heard from him yet. That was about 6:30 this morning, so maybe by now, he has gotten some news.</p>
<p>WashU results are up online. Have to wait for ds to get home from school, but letting others here know…</p>
<p>Great news EmmyBet! I am sure your “daughters” are still feeling anxiety. They are lucky to have you.</p>
<p>D2 is in at WashU. She looked pretty happy! I’m relieved. Four more to go.</p>
<p>Congrats to phbmom’s D!! And lots of good thoughts to those waiting to hear from Wash U today.</p>
<p>Well done on the tongue biting cgpm59. Its definitely a skill I need to work on. Hope your S and his GF have a better day today.</p>
<p>And glad to hear goodnews for your Japanese visitors Emmybet. Tragedies like this (and the smaller ones closer to home) put everything in perspective.</p>
<p>Congrats phbdaughter!!!</p>
<p>♪♫ *Congrats on Wash. U to phb Daughter’s *♫♪ </p>
<p>Soooo Happy for EmmyBet’s Japanese daughters!! They are still probably upset, but what a relief to talk with their families. And what a wonderful mom-away-from-mom to go out for sushi and shopping :)</p>
<p>Congrats to U to phb’s daughter and any others with good news from Wash U!</p>
<p>Thanks for the congrats for S - yes it was DECA. This is his 4th year, and last year when he qualified for nationals, the school cancelled the trip!! As of today the school is saying that the 4 seniors who qualified will not be allowed to take the IB test there (remote location with proctor) but instead must stay home for the English IB exam, skipping the competition altogether.</p>
<p>Any IB parents with experience like this? There must be ways around conflicts (!)</p>
<p>It is a huge disappointment to work so hard (research projects with a local business) and get snuffed by your school two years running. I keep thinking if this were a sports event they would find a way around the conflict! I am losing patience and saying what I really feel HERE so I can compose a diplomatic message to the school a little later!</p>
<p>Oh - and my S would definitely rather get in and not be able to go to his fave school. You always have that affirmation from them, even if you couldn’t make it work with your resources.</p>
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<p>I’d be at the school in person!</p>
<p>To give them a slight benefit of the doubt, I wonder if they have prior, disappointing experience with remote testing?</p>
<p>Just a quick, happy post: just found out that my S got into Wash U today! Haven’t read here since yesterday afternoon. will catch up later but wanted to share our news.</p>
<p>well, I know they allowed a previous diploma candidate to take a test during tennis district competition, proctored by a volunteer or coach. That person got their IB diploma. I don’t know, I think I’m still a little bitter about last year, to be honest.
BUT these 4 kids worked very hard and in a specific arena - coming out ahead in a very large field of competition ( 1000+ students) their 30 page technical reports of their projects, plus their presentations to judges, plus written exams.
It is another way I feel that the kids who are “academics” get the short deal over kids who are into higher profile things in our school (in our school those things are music and sports). I know there can’t be exceptions for everything, but I am willing to go to bat on this one unless there is some kind of IB rule (they DO have rules for just about everything!) that makes it impossible. And I’m not bashing music or sports - they are good - but equity for kids into all kinds of different things is my goal - especially when it doesn’t impact others.</p>
<p>Congrats to the Wash U admits.</p>
<p>So relieved to hear about EmmyBet’s J-D & friend’s good reports from Japan. Whew! They’re luck to be with you, EB.</p>
<p>Big congratulations to phbmom’s D2 & RenMom’s S on WashU!!!</p>
<p>Alas, just got text from S2–he got a “no” at WashU. Aw. Not a top choice for him, but ouch all the same.</p>
<p>Onward and upward!</p>