Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - Original

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
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<p>Well, we made it through our marathon graduation-state soccer tournament weekend. My parents came in Friday, DS and I left the house at 7:10 Sat. morning for graduation at 9:00, DH and others followed a bit later. Graduation over by 10:30 or so, took some pics outside under some lovely trees, then had lunch at a great Mexican food place with 12 family members. Went home to rest a bit and then DS played with his indoor soccer team; these games only last 45 minutes start to finish (plus, they are indoors!) so we all went to that. He came home, showered and went to GF’s grad party. Then at 9:45 p.m., DH and I went up to the school to work at the all-night grad party. DS didn’t really want to go initially, but had a blast. He won a Tom-Tom GPS. DH and I went to bed at 2:30 a.m.; DS got to bed at 6:10 a.m. Sun. </p>

<p>I got up about 7:30 Sun. morning and woke everybody else up to leave about 8:30 to go to the soccer tournament about a 45-minute drive. Got there about 11:00; played two games – one at noon and the other at 5:30. It was in the high 90’s temp-wise and the wind was blowing hard the entire weekend. These games are 45-minute HALVES, so 90 minutes of play time with about a 5-minute half. We won the first game 3-2, lost second game 3-0. Our guys who had stayed up for their graduation parties were out of gas by that second game. Then we go home, have supper, get to bed about 10:30, get up yesterday morning (Memorial Day) at 7:15, leave home about 8:30 for the last game, which is at 10:00 a.m. More wind and sun. Lost that one 2-0. We had four guys missing for the last game due to injuries or other reasons. So, we ended up in 4th place out of the 4 teams in our age group that made it to State, but we beat the team that ended up in 1st place, so that was nice. Got home about 2:00 p.m. yesterday; DS took a nap and then went to yet another indoor game; his team lost but DS scored both goals! </p>

<p>This morning, DS had to get up at 6:45 to report to work at 7:30 with DH, plus younger DS started his outdoor camp today. I am just glad to have made it through the weekend and now I’m at work in the air conditioning and not outside! And in three days, we leave for Alaska!!</p>

<p>Oh, I did not cry at graduation, just got a little misty once or twice. But before our first game on Sunday at state, our coach made a speech to the guys that got to me, and then yesterday after the last game, one of the moms that I’ve known since our boys were in 4th grade was crying and hugging me, so that got me going too! </p>

<p>All in all, it was a great but exhausting weekend.</p>

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<p>gamom: I am holding the graduation gift money/checks in a secret location until all thank you notes are written. (12 done–32 more to go.)</p>

<p>Then we will open a bank account on campus with it during summer welcome. It is his “disposable, discretionary income” and he knows when it is gone, it’s gone and we’re not replenishing it. He has to work out his own budget of “other expenses” based on those gifts, his on-campus research grant and his summer job. (Here’s where the Personal Finance Boy Scout Merit Badge will kick in, right?) Gas prices have created a harsh reality for him and his friends. They have designated the friend with the Prius as the primary “road trip” driver!</p>

<p>We are paying for room, board and books–and the basics of his dorm room. Fortunately, he has earned tuition through merit scholarships and knows he has to keep his grades up to maintain them.</p>

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<p>Good morning!</p>

<p>Congrats to yesterday’s grads and to Amanda on her son’s Carnegie Hall performance!</p>

<p>Boychild has put all his graduation money in his savings account where it will rermain, hopefully for a good long while. He’s had a part time job since last summer 1/3 which we made him put in savings. He has the rest for spending money/gas. Going to school where he won’t have a car will cut down his expenses and he’ll so work study and can use that cash for spending money. Going to school in Lewiston, Me., he won’t need much money. The kids can go out and have a good time on $20. We will supplement if he needs more money. </p>

<p>OT - I put pictures of my gardens up on shutter if anyone is interested. We put all the mulch down yesterday (4 yards worth!) Now all I have to do for the garden tour is keep everything watered and the beds weeded. </p>

<p>Warning - there are a lot of pictures. </p>

<p>We are paying for his books</p>

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<p>I don’t have time to catch up on all the weekend activity…congrats all around. I don’t know if I’ll catch up for a whle…reading everyone’s grad experiences makes me misty-eyed.</p>

<p>I did want to pop in to share an idea I had. There are a few kids in D’s class of whom I am personally fond. Some are her current friends but others are neighbor kids we’ve known since birth, kids at church, etc. The custom is that you typically don’t send grad announcements to families who also have kids graduating. If I sent a gift, then they’d feel obligated to reciprocate, etc.</p>

<p>So, here is what I thought of. I am finding baby/kid pictures of these kids with my kids, and am going to make each graduate a nice photocard. Whether or not the kid appreciates it (do they appreciate any cards that don’t contain money?), the parents will appreciate the gesture and that it took a bit more effort than buying a card at the Hallmark store.</p>

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<p>Congrats to all the new grads! </p>

<p>Cooker - I hate what I call art for science/history/whatever project. I still have one going into middle school so I envision many more years of pasting paper and last minute runs to Staples. -(</p>

<p>We talked to S the other day about his gift money. The plan is to get him set up with an investment account and let him do some investing with H’s help. S is planning on majoring in finance so this will be good experience for him. We told him he could spend some of the money but the bulk of it will go into the investment account. Gas has been a killer for him as well. $50 to fill up is a shock and it cuts into that disposable money. </p>

<p>emilybee _ I can’t wait to check out the photos. Anyone know how to sort folders so those with newest pics come up first?</p>

<p>cgpm - sounds like a busy day. D particpates in a lot of basketball tournaments. I hate all the down time between games, especially when it is too far to drive home and I have lots to do.</p>

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<p>Busy weekend - lots to catch up on.</p>

<p>AK - sorry to hear the comment the band director made to your D. Completely out of line - but I agree with the suggestions to give it a few days and then talk to him. D has heard her share of racist comments/jokes - I always tell her that if these are made by her teammates in good spirits, in a teasing kind of fashion, that’s acceptable - but if not, she needs to talk to them. Except for an incident back when she was in elementary school, most of the comments she has heard have been of the teasing kind though. Nothing like what your D heard.</p>

<p>missypie - good idea about old pictures. D and I were just talking of including an old picture of the team for a couple of her coaches - they were her first “team” coaches and have coached her on and off for several years.</p>

<p>Had the graduation party this weekend. Gorgeous, gorgeous day - all our prayers to the weather gods paid off !! Huge turnout (except for her friends - that’s another party!). What’s with these smart kids not recognizing they would get grad gifts? My D was the same - when the first person gave her a card, she was surprised - and even more surprised to hear from me that there was a table set aside in the basement for these :slight_smile: S made incredibly easy, cute graduation hat cupcakes. We ordered a cake. It would have been very emotional - but H decided he would make a top ten list of reasons why he was glad D is leaving :slight_smile: Most parents agreed with his reasons, made everyone laugh. I was holding it together very well - until D decided she was going to say a few words!! She spoke to everyone, thanked them for the part they played in getting her to where she is and that was all I could take . Tears were coming down and I found a reason to go hide in the basement :frowning: </p>

<p>We had posters of D all around. Put out a poster board with wallet size pictures of her from pre-K to now. She had a memory book that she asked everyone to sign - now, reading some of those notes made me cry again! She did get quite a bit of money - current plan is that she will use those for books, expenses etc. She made a list as she opened her gifts and boy, she will busy writing those thank you cards for a while! She finally did get around to writing the thank you notes for her GC and her favorite teachers at school - took gifts for them today with those notes.</p>

<p>Best part of the party according to D? I had ordered balloons for the party in her high school colors - H picked them up and then went to the grocery store for ice. Let all the balloons loose in the parking lot while loading the ice. Calls home - “the balloons flew away - what should I do?” :slight_smile: :)</p>

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<p>CONGRATS to all the recent graduates and their families…just can’t believe everyone is marching and grabbing those diplomas every week…we’ve still got prom and graduation to come…</p>

<p>cgpm–wow! what a weekend. D2 is passionate about sports so we are familiar with the tournament challenges but to also be doing indoor sports AND graduation…hopefully that’s not us in 4 years…I’m one of those “older” parents and just don’t think I could swing it in 4 more years (well, maybe with IV caffeine drip set up!)</p>

<p>need to review the finances again with D1, she’s had a job since 8th grade and pretty darn good about $ but just the past 6 months having a bit of a challenge with minor shopping sprees–NOT compared to most 17/18 yr olds but with our situation and with the gas prices high need to be soooo careful, she does get frustrated putting more gas $ in the car but somehow it doesn’t sink in that of course it means there is less for anything else. Need to remind her those college scholarships don’t pay for everything!</p>

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<p>Congratulations to all the award & athletic tourney winners, AK’s son’s musical performance and to the Class of 2011’s newest graduates. Good stuff~</p>

<p>My son got a $100 check in a graduation card from from an Aunt & Uncle, and a gorgeous, leather weekend travel bag from another Aunt. He didn’t want a party, and we didn’t send announcements… so those gifts were a nice surprise. </p>

<p>He landed a 40 hr /week job, beginning the day after graduation… so we have asked him to bank 75% of his take-home pay for books and spending $$ next year, and allocate the other 25% as he pleases. I had to tell/show him how to endorse and deposit a check this morning… so he could run to the bank at lunch. Pretty funny.</p>

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<p>EmmyBet–Ah, the ups and downs of our creative kids’ paths!</p>

<p>Shawbridge–it’s great when our kids can finally relax and enjoy life. Mine has also been smiling a lot more. I happen to be secretly addicted to watching America’s Top Model, so if that isn’t on your radar, you and D might learn a lot about the rigors and wackiness and luck involved in that career. The most successful young models seem pretty driven and intense about it. But perhaps your D might be interested in fashion marketing, or editing, or designing? Lots to think about.</p>

<p>AmandaK–late shout out to your son and his Carnegie Hall concert. He’s amazing.</p>

<p>momjr, momofboston, arisamp – your grad party stories are inspiring. Glad so many things went right for your graduates. I’m a little overwhelmed seeing our little party approaching.</p>

<p>FlMathMom–slight tear of envy in my eye to read that your DS spent hours cleaning and clearing. I was also envious that he kept the same backpack for 4 years. Why, then, have I been buying S2 a new one each year? How rough can one boy be on a backpack?? Too late to worry now. But for college…</p>

<p>AvonHSDad, now that you’ve done such a splendid job planting, cleaning, clearing, hauling and repairing your home, are you at all tempted to visit California? I have a house that needs… your special touch? Good luck with your weather.</p>

<p>“And if you have no clutter, you may not have a life.” (ugh–I forgot how to do the quote thingie!)
OWM–so that explains our garage, closets and public storage unit!! We’ve got too much of a life!</p>

<p>cooker–congratulations on your D’s awards and scholarships! I’m so impressed with everyone’s kids. I sent S2 off to school today (they have their senior awards assembly this afternoon) pretty much knowing he won’t be among the honorees. He has always worked hard, cared about school, and achieves among the top kids–but at his school, there is a level of extreme students who are truly amazing. He doesn’t mind. He loves to cheer for his friends.</p>

<p>VAMom2015–LOL at the thought of you driving the Clown Car. And congrats on DS1 voted Commencement Speaker. What an honor and also a great reminder of how fondly his graduating class thinks of him.</p>

<p>cgpm59–congrats on the graduation. Plus, I seriously need a nap after reading about your weekend! Enjoy Alaska!</p>

<p>MaryOC–how great that your S landed a job! Somehow, when we okayed S2’s plan to take a trip to London in June, I had absent-mindedly forgotten that it would make getting a job rather complicated. D’oh! So he’s been working odd jobs and looking for more. I’m taking notes from FlMathMom’s son’s great experiences.</p>

<p>Busy weekend and now I’m caught up!</p>

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<p>All graduation money and earned money are Ds discretionary income…for the summer and for the school year.</p>

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<p>S1 knows how fortunate he was to land a FT seasonal job in this economy… it’s dirty & physical… doing a bunch of assembly, cleaning and moving of stuff in a manufacturing environment 40 minutes from home. The gas is a killer - but my husband and I figure anything he can save for college, above and beyond transportation costs, is gravy. The manual labor and appreciation for how hard he must work to earn $10… priceless.</p>

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<p>@classof 2015. I was referring to money received as graduation gifts.</p>

<p>I really wish D could find a summer job. She really didn’t start looking until today and everyone does online apps so I doubt if she finds anything before its time to leave for school. Slight chance that she may be able to work at the gym where she tumbles…fingers crossed for that.</p>

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<p>Full time jobs are so hard to find. Back in the day, most summer job offers were full time. (Or they’d work you 24 hours one week and 55 the next so you’d never receive OT pay.) I really think it’s the “on your feet for 8 straight hours every day” that gives most kids an appreciation of how hard most folks in the service processios have to work to earn the pittance that they earn.</p>

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<p>Amen… and believe me when I tell you his size 15 feet are hurting in those steel-toed boots by the time 5:00 p.m. rolls around ;)</p>

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<p>Goodness, we were on page 3! :eek: Can’t have that!</p>

<p>CONGRATULATIONS to all the recent grads! It’s so exciting to read about everyone’s graduations, parties, and concerts!</p>

<p>My D has 3 more days of school. Graduation is on the 11th, and they are (for the first time ever) having an all-night grad party, at a secret location! I volunteered to help with the breakfast from 4-6 a.m. What was I thinking, LOL. I’m more of a morning person than a late-night person, so the early shift sounds better to me than trying to stay awake all night as a chaperone. We’re having a family graduation party on the 12th for D and my niece who graduates tomorrow. On the 13th, DH, D, her BF and I are going to San Francisco for a few days as a little celebratory trip.</p>

<p>No summer job for D. She will continue volunteering at the hospital two mornings a week, and spend a 3rd morning a week shadowing at a cancer clinic. Technically I suppose she could get an afternoon job (if she could find one), but we’re going on vacation in mid-July which might pose a problem. Cash gifts are hers to do with as she chooses. She’s choosing to save the money she’s receiving.</p>

<p>Housing forms are due to her college by June 10th. She’s found a roommate (online on the class of 2015 Facebook page) and chosen her dorm. I think we’ve decided which meal plan to choose. Advising (and I think registration) is next Monday over the phone. She has been spending inordinate amounts of time working and reworking her schedule. Trying to do pre-med along with a major and possibly a minor is daunting. There are so many requirements and it’s difficult to meet all of them in 4 short years! Hopefully an advisor will help, because she’s worried that she won’t be able to get it all done.</p>

<p>Gosh, high school is just about over for my little girl. How did that happen so fast?</p>

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<p>I’m back from Recital/Graduation sabbatical! Missed you guys!</p>

<p>First of all, VAMom, count me in on that trip/party/sleepover where I just show up and have fun! :)</p>

<p>Amandak, I won’t even comment on that unpleasantness except to say I’m so sorry it happened to your D…CONGRATS on Carnegie Hall! Wow, what a moment. You must be so proud! After seeing your S on shutterfly, I can close my eyes and picture (and hear) his magnificent performance. Bravo!</p>

<p>Congrats to my fellow Memorial Day Weekend Grad families. We did it!</p>

<p>Graduation was great, lovely, wonderful time, whatever…the HUGE event for our family was the day before Grad…sb’s long-awaited and planned recital (the one that almost killed me “producing” and “hosting”).</p>

<p>If I can quote madbean, I have “over-the-moon mom-pride” in telling you it was a smashing success. You know how sometimes in your mind’s eye, you have these little daydreams of your kid just nailing some spectacular moment in their lives…just blowing everybody away? She did!</p>

<p>We ended up with an audience of about 85, which was a “full house” for our library setting.</p>

<p>Set 1 – piano accompaniment only, un-miked, mostly classical singing with a Rodgers + Hammerstein thrown in, and a Gershwin sung in French, plus a Bach and a Debussy on piano. All in a vintage gown with vintage bling…she looked radiant and gorgeous (I know…Mom point-of-view, but other people said so, too. :slight_smile: )</p>

<p>Set 2 – accompanied by piano, guitar, percussion, and violin. Gordon Lightfoot medley, James Taylor medley, Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You,” dedicated to The Class of 2011 (lots of kleenex in the audience on this one), closing with Cat Stevens’ Morning Has Broken. Black leggings and a soft gauzy pale blue top for this set.</p>

<p>She sang every piece “clean,” and beautifully, with no glitches and with remarkable emotion, expressiveness and poise.</p>

<p>The response from the audience was overwhelming (of course it helps to pack the house with good friends and loved ones)! </p>

<p>For some who have known sb since she was very young, it may have been the emotion of this magical moment of seeing the butterfly emerge from the cocoon, so to speak…the little girl who always loved to sing now all grown up and turning out this caliber of performance.</p>

<p>For others I think her song selection and the beauty of her voice just brought tears to their eyes.</p>

<p>I can’t wait to get the DVD and CD recordings (I had them professionally recorded…leaving nothing to chance, OR in my wallet for that matter!). But we have to wait 2-3 weeks!! :(</p>

<p>In the moment, I was really sort of in a daze. Made 3 huge photo-boards (of all her performances since 2nd grade) the prior 2 nights…operating on 2 hrs sleep Thu and 3 hrs Fri, running constantly, handling a thousand details and baking for the reception with my Mom and my sister (God bless them!) the other 20-some hours, so I was in a weird state of exhaustion/adrenaline shock.</p>

<p>I didn’t cry…much too in producer-mode for that, and she was depending on me for a number of small but important things.</p>

<p>She had told me what she was going to say about me during the Acknowledgments portion so I wouldn’t be blind-sided (she knows I get verklempt quite easily). Can I share with you what she said, after thanking her accompanists?</p>

<p>"Lastly, I want to thank my mom. She has driven me tens of thousands of miles over many years to thousands of lessons (which she also paid for), and has listened - and offered very helpful feedback - to daily practices on voice and piano …some of which would have made even the most patient listener cringe.</p>

<p>She has encouraged me when I was weary, and she has never once doubted that I had the spirit and soul of a musician and could do great things.</p>

<p>For 18 years, my mom has played and listened to the most wonderful and diverse collection of music with me. She led me to music simply through her sheer love of it and by inviting me to share that love with her. She is a blessing to me. Thank you, Mom." </p>

<p>And then she walked up the aisle, gave me a bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath, and hugged me.</p>

<p>Well…you can see why Graduation the next day was a little anti-climactic (though she had kept a surprise from her grandparents and me: she was the soloist at Graduation Mass).</p>

<p>I’m still recovering: bruises all over me (hats off to crew and techies…you have to be young or tough; I am neither). I’m still on Ibuprofen at night for myriad aches and pains, but…bliss. Really, really happy for sb. She had worked so hard for so long, is pretty demanding and self critical (musically), and to see her just beaming to a standing ovation filled my heart with joy.</p>

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<p>MOSB - I can not believe you didn’t cry during SB’s acknowledgment of you! It made me tear up and it’s not even about me. It sounds like an incredible night and is certainly one that neither of you will ever forget.</p>

<p>Congrats to the latest graduates! DD will put whatever $ she receives in the bank and will use it to buy a few “extras” for herself and her room. In our area, most people give gift cards instead of cash so those cards will go into her wallet for the same purpose.</p>

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<p>MOSB - wow, it sounds like everything went off without a hitch and your D was wonderful!</p>

<p>aris - the balloons will be the thing you will always remember about that party!</p>

<p>Congrats to our recent grads
5/26: GaMomof3
5/27-29: cgpm59, momofsongbird, Shawbridge, Novelisto, snoozn
5/31: momjr</p>

<p>and good luck to the ones coming up:
6/1: researching4emb
6/3: Militarymom
6/4-5: EmmyBet; 2education; missypie D, arisamp’s D, happy 64’s D, AvonHSDad’s S, Proudmomof2’s D, Ohiomom24’s S</p>

<p>S just got confirmation he passed the drug and physical tests given and has the landscaping/outdoor maintenance job he applied for. $10 an hour. He was hoping to start today, but missed a phone call from his employer yesterday. I suspect he won’t be allowed to show up in shorts and flip flops which surprised him. I told him to call his boss and ask if he needed to wear anything special. He also thought lunch would just kinda appear and was a little baffled when I asked him what he wanted me to buy him at the supermarket. He is excited to have a good paying FT job at a place that has told him they will continue to bring him back during breaks and summers til he graduates. Of course, that may all change once he actually starts work and finds out manual labor is more tiring than being a camp counselor or doing after school care.</p>

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<p>Trying to get S to squeeze in a visit to his pediatrician for the gardasil vaccine and a visit to the orthodontist today before he starts working FT. I think they will both be able to fit him in if he (I) call early in the day. </p>

<p>S is not going to try and pick a room mate(s) himself. His school only has one meal plan which surprised the heck out of me, i thought that type of thing went away with the dinosaurs. It is basically an all you can eat at all dining rooms, except for two specialty restaurants where you can only get one swipe per meal. You must buy at least $100 worth of extra bucks to be used snacks, etc at the coffee houses, late night cafes. Makes it easy. </p>

<p>S & I are attending “preview” day in a couple of weeks. It looks like orientation: register for classes, meet your advisor, etc. They have “orientation” in August for a week. Cracks me up how freshman have a one week orientation where they do nothing school related, but fun things like picnics, field trips, group get to know you activities, etc. No wonder college has gotten so expensive. In my day we had a cookout.</p>

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<p>oh, I recently joined Groupon for the city S will be going to school in. For those not familar they offer great one day coupons for all kinds of events, restaurants and “things”. I have gotten some great deals locally through Groupon. I figure I might be able to pick up some stuff for S.</p>