<p>So proud of DS. (With a little push…OK a big push), he is turning lemons into lemonade. When his summer job fell thru last week, in addition to looking for another job, he told his GC that he was available to tutor all levels of math and SAT/ACT math. GC emailed all 9th - 11th graders. He also made a flyer for math tutoring and computer lessons (both of which he has done for free for years). Within 2 days, he has 3 paying clients at $25/hr. He is still looking for a job too.</p>
<p>FlMathmom- wow, congrats to your S!! He can carry those skills to any community to find work. </p>
<p>Kinder - hope the reunion goes well and everyone gets along! </p>
<p>Gosh it is like my S has already moved away. He never eats at home anymore. On one hand I am a lousy cook so I understand, OTOH, I kinda miss having him home for dinner. We haven’t tried to make him eat with us, he is having so much fun meeting up with friends and hanging out. </p>
<p>Nephew’s graduation party tomorrow. Not looking forward to it. My brother and SIL are not getting along big time, nothing new but it seems to have gotten worse. SIL has never been friendly with my brothers side of the family to the point of being rude. Last xmas eve when my brother invited about 15 of his relatives over for dinner, she sat in another room and watched tv all night. Oh well. I think they are serving dinner so at least I won’t have to cook!</p>
<p>LOL mamom, I am a lousy cook too. I can bake, but I really can’t cook. Occasionally I will pull something fantastic out of thin air or most likely Ina Garten’s cookbook but mostly it is pretty bad. I have 5 things that I make reliably well and thats it. Since I have been taking an economic vacation I have been cooking more, but I’ve pretty much given up. S has always eaten prior if I’ve cooked and of course starving if I haven’t. </p>
<p>Today was a harbinger of what my life as an empty nester is going to be like, eek. H works late 6.5 days per week. S is out of town for 2 days. It is so quiet, I have been talking to myself. I’ve been a mom for 31 years, eek (spaced the kids way too far apart) so it will be hard to not have anyone around. I have tried volunteering and I do help a non-profit, but I have met very few people who don’t have their own agendas. I’m sure I am not finding the right charities. I think it will be better once I go back to work. Then I will be running around like crazy on the weekends trying to catch up on errands.</p>
<p>CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATION
GaMomof3, Greatkidsmom, Cgpm59, Momofsongbird, Shawbridge, Novelisto, Snoozn</p>
<p>Hope all the graduations were beautiful and you had plenty of tissues for the happy moments!</p>
<p>^what she said! I hope everyone has great weather and ceremonies bring tears to everyones eyes.</p>
<p>Bad cook here too…it does not surprise me at all when chooses to eat with friends!
That is great news for your son Flmathmom…definitely turned those lemons into lemonade.
It sounds like all of the graduations have been lovely and also bittersweet. My turn won’t be until late June.
amandak: my D told me recently about a comment one of her teachers made and though I’m normally very non-confrontational, I needed to let him know he was inappropriate. The teacher who “advised” your daughter was so far over the line that he should be reported to the school.</p>
<p>Ok, I finally cried today. D had her last race, won her last gold medal in her sport. I totally get why she is not planning to continue in college (she says she’ll see…) because of the time commitment, but it is hard to see her give up something that has given her so much.</p>
<p>highhead - congrats to your D on the medal, great day for a race, although a little warm for May I think.</p>
<p>Oh HighHead --congrats to your D! and hugs to you…</p>
<p>And congrats to all the latest proud graduates and their families!!</p>
<p>Highhead: Congrats to your daughter! I know how sad that last meet can be.</p>
<p>FLmathmom: Great idea for your son to offer tutoring. I hope he finds a job soon.</p>
<p>Idinct: I need to find a new charity also. I’ve been heavily involved in PTA for years, and I’m going to miss it. </p>
<p>Mamom: My daughter misses a lot of dinners also. I guess it’s helping us transition into having them away in the fall. I have found that my older daughter appreciates family meals when she’s home. (Not bragging, but I’m a pretty good cook).</p>
<p>Congrats to this weekend’s graduates and their families! I can’t wait to hear all the details.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the graduates this weekend. I was in spruce up the house mode- touch up painting etc. Hopefully will get some veggies into the garden box today.</p>
<p>I will have them all home for graduation week after next, plus D’s bf. Debating whether I should cook, LOL. Definitely breakfast because that involves baking, I think Paula Deen’s baked french toast. S2 probably won’t make any of the dinners due to graduation parties. D has requested one of her fave restaurants. And no… she is not taking the dog back home with her. She has finally found an apt after 5 mos in SF and she is going to send for him after she is settled. I’m sure it will be too hot for him to fly then.</p>
<p>Idinct: I hope you like the dog. My nieghbor’s daughter came home from college with a dog. She lived at home for a while, and then she got a job in NYC and couldn’t take the dog. A few years later when she was ready to take the dog back, her parents said “Sorry, but we’re not giving her back.” She’s a sweet dog, but she has no discipline because she was raised by college students!</p>
<p>Congrats to this weekend’s newest graduates!!! I’m in franatically trying to get my gardens in shape for Garden Tour mode hence my absence. </p>
<p>My sister has had her two children dump two dogs and three cats on her - thankfully for her not all at once. One of the dogs is now at the DD#1’s in laws and one of the cat’s just died - but it’s been 5 years from DD#2’s graduation from college and my sister still has the other grandanimals. </p>
<p>There have been several take backs but for some reason they never last.</p>
<p>
pictures forthcoming I hope!</p>
<p>Congrats to all the new graduates!! I had a 1 day road trip yesterday with my son–awesome to get so much rare time with him alone. Still celebrating graduations of kids I know–today a brunch for a niece.</p>
<p>I have to deal with the feel of an empty nest as early as next week with both my kids off on trips as of next Saturday. Ack!</p>
<p>Speaking of dogs…my DS finally got the dog he has been asking for since he was a young child. Due to my parent’s inability to care for their dog, we have inherited their very well-behaved 11 year old miniature silver poodle. It is great. We used to care for him when my parents went on vacation. Now they will return the favor. What goes around, comes around.</p>
<p>DS got his third client today. His business is starting to take off. I’m so proud of him.</p>
<p>HI All</p>
<p>AK- I am so sorry to hear your news…I am sure you will navigate that appropriately–whether your daughter handles it alone or if you have to go in to back her up.</p>
<p>Well–we have a 2011 grad in our house.
The past week was busy yet all went generally smoothly.
Someone helping with dinner at a restaurant asked if we wanted a “gift table” at which point our kiddo turned and looked at me saying with a quizzical look and asked “I get gifts???”
Never occurred to kiddo that the event might include a little gift as a congratulatory gesture!
I love that!
I just love my kiddo–very humble and unassuming.</p>
<p>As far as pranks…there were some that a small group of Srs did…even though the hs had told the Srs explicitedly that pranks=not walking at the ceremony…however…when the Srs are sons of deep-pockted alumni, that rule seems to be forgotten…ridiculous really because their kids don’t get punished at all…Thankfully, those kinds of kids (entitled and arrogant) are not people my teens hang with</p>
<p>Mamom, I will post some on shutterfly when the mulch is done. I’ve been waiting until all the tree fluff has fallen. I wouldn’t normally but since I was chosen to be on the tour this year I want them to look their best. Tour isn’t until the 8th so I still have time but all the rain we’ve had set my work schedule behind so when it’s nice out I have to work my bum off. It’s exhausting. </p>
<p>I will never agree to be on the tour again!</p>
<p>Graduation was held Friday morning outside with overcast clouds but the sun managed to peek through right at tassel ceremony at the end of the program…what an appropriate time. D took a couple of pics with classmate and we went out to nice lunch.</p>
<p>I spent the rest of the day getting ready for grad party. It was nice with mostly family and my friends. Ds had a few friends show up but just about everyone was having parties at the same time so she wasn’t expecting many. I followed that with a reception at church today after morning worship. Last family member left this afternoon and I followed that with a nice long nap. I was exhausted. It was great having so many people out to help celebrate but it was tiring for me.</p>
<p>Now to just sit and wait for college orientation.</p>
<p>Well, thanks to 2education, I now have my shutterfly account back up and running and I even figured out how to post some pix. Stand aside as I belatedly welcome myself to the year 2011. 
</p>
<p>Anyway, S2 attended 2 proms, so I’ve added shots from each. Don’t you love all those pretty dresses and guys in tuxes? This has been fun.</p>
<p>Meantime, S1 is getting set to launch his first iPad game (designed with his best friend/partner) and we’re pretty excited. S2 has stepped up to do market research and social networking consulting. I am amazed to see these young men working together–as in WORKING. Anyway, if anyone is interested in seeing a short trailer for their game, here’s the link. [YouTube</a> - Semi-Automatic Trailer #1](<a href=“Semi-Automatic Trailer #1 - YouTube”>Semi-Automatic Trailer #1 - YouTube)</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me blather. :)</p>