<p>D is home today baking an apricot pie (instead of attending the Chemistry field trip- as she was not enrolled in that class so she thought it not a good use of her time). This is the main reason I want her to find a job- she will spend all summer cooking to the detriment of our budget and waistlines. In the summer heat, can’t exercise enough to compensate for her “experiments”. </p>
<p>I think maybe after the last graduation we should start a new thread. I like how Class of 2014 recognized the “and beyond” as not all of our graduates will get through college by 2015. It’s big, wild world out there and there are a lot of experiences to have, so don’t want to limit participation or make anyone feel bad. Plus we all know my little drummer (e.g. marching to her own) has a great chance of being one of those kids. ;)</p>
<p>I am feeling a little bummed because D is going to be away for most of the summer, and we won’t really have much time to spend together before she heads out. She leaves Saturday for a one-week church service trip in Canada, comes home for five days, and then leaves for a six-week stint in South America doing what I see as “Peace Corps light” work - teaching, building and community work in Paraguay. This is all wonderful work, and I know it’s kind of selfish of me to want more time with her - but…
Fortunately, she does not have to be at school until September 3 - a little on the later side. I have to take a two-week vacation from work some time this year (our company has a policy requring that all employees take a two week leave with no office contact every year). Most people seem to take fun out of town vacations which are not in our budget, and I mentioned this to D. She said - “You should take those two weeks in August before I go to school!” Well ok then - that wil be our hanging out time. Most of her friends will have left, so this will be nice time for the two of us. So I can look forward to that.</p>
<p>We are almost done with school for the summer. S has finals this week, finishing on Friday. He may be taking a summer school class later in the summer, but we’ll be school-free for at least the next few weeks.</p>
<p>kinderny: when exactly is your graduation? Date and time, please. I want to be sipping something refreshing as a toast to you and your daughter at that exact time.</p>
<p>^ I’m right there with you cooker. I count the vast majority of bluejr’s time out of the house as important to him in one way or another, be it his internship or summer bonding with cousins on a road trip. But I do find it hard not to count the time with him. I have a friend who laughed and said ‘You’re such a sap, I’m kicking mine out the door!’. Different kids, different relationships, at different times in their lives. I sure didn’t honor my time with my oldest when he was graduating, and I may very well not honor my time with bluejr when he’s graduating college and moving back in. Who knows?! But right now, this summer, I find any excuse to go plop down on his bed and ‘just be’ for an hour. Luckily he indulges me.</p>
<p>I agree OWM, if it’s not TMI I would happily raise a glass to kinderny and dd at graduation. Moving on can be so freeing!! </p>
<p>When my oldest graduated, they called his name and out came this loud, involuntary “THANK GOD!!” from me. It brought a few laughs. I should have been embarrassed but with 700 graduates and families I didn’t care. I did get a few text smilie faces from his teachers during the ceremony though which was touching. In a school that has been excellent for bluejr who fits in the mold of a high achieving student, the same school was terrible for my oldest who is aspie. We just wanted to get him the heck out of Dodge! Bluejr has expressly asked that I NOT utter a word when his name is called. :)</p>
<p>2 pm, EDT on June 18th. D is still “suggesting” that her attendance is not obligatory. I can’t wait. </p>
<p>The question of the day though, is IF asked (and there will be lots of media there) do we disclose our true feelings about the school. The conventional wisdom is currently- no- as we do not want to be seen as doing a “ring and run”.</p>
wow, I have to go back and reread your previous posts. I wouldn’t say anything good or bad to media. You never know what the reprecussions will be. Someday your D may need something from someone there.</p>
<p>You know, based on that one post, #16585, I would suggest letting your D skip graduation. Really sounds like some bad karma so what is the purpose of attending?</p>
<p>I’d encourage her to attend, but leave it to her. I would really not say anything to the media, or something really vanilla. I would hate to have something come back to bite her in the rear. This has already been a less then satisfactory experience for your dd… You can always go back a year from now and write a letter to the school. The things you find important to express to them right now may not be what is important a year from now. You may still choose to address things with them, but those may be slightly different in nature. I’d give it some space.</p>
<p>That’s the direction I am leaning as far as talking to the media- discretion and …restraint? taking the high road? basically showing some class about the whole thing.
I want to model for D not burning bridges, too. I don’t think she is angry at the school (that’s what she has me for ), she just wants to be done. I wish we could get a copy of program completion certificate (actual diploma comes from her home school) and then have our church warden/pastor present at the volunteer function instead- where a huge number of people that care about her will be. (Not that there weren’t some great teachers and staff- but they are not the ones running things for the most part.)</p>
<p>OhioMom – I took your advice and called the class mom organizer and asked if there was any way I could get another ticket – she said yes if I drop off $$$ asap.</p>
<p>MOSB – then I took your advice and called S-I-L (who actually had never been told of dinner by H – aargh) and extended the invitation “we’d love to have you join us”. And she said yes.</p>
<p>So now, I have peace of mind. Now I know there won’t be any uncomfortable “we only have 4 tickets” show down at graduation. If she ends up not showing up (which unfortunately would be in character for her), at least I know I did my part and maybe I can offer her spot to someone else’s surprise guest. </p>
<p>Kinder, thanks for the date and time. I join the ranks of those who will offer a toast as you and your dd say goodbye to that school.</p>
<p>Echoing mamom…my policy is I don’t speak to media (only been asked to once, but figured it was as good a time as any to make a policy, in case I’m famous someday). :D</p>
<p>Classof2015, nice job. It’s five o’clock somewhere…knock one back. Cheers!</p>
<p>Proudmom and OWM: I’m impressed and jealous that your kids have written so many thank you notes. My D needs to work on hers when she gets home form senior week. I think we’re going to set a number per day. I’ll probably need to nag her for a few days, and then she’ll stay up late one night and whip them all out.</p>
<p>Cooker: I understand how you feel about not having your daughter home much this summer, but her plans sound very exciting. Spending the last 2 weeks together sounds like a great idea.</p>
<p>Kinder: Not until June 18??? I will be happy to join the virtual party to celebrate the end of your D’s affiation with that school. I agree that it’s not a good idea to tell the media the truth.</p>
<p>Class of 2015: I’m glad that you were able to get another ticket. That’s one less worry for you.</p>
<p>My house is very quiet this week with both girls away. I’m not sure how much I like this empty nest thing.</p>
<p>Quick check in here. Graduation went well. Surprisingly not too hot for the audience with the large fans running but the kids looked miserable. And, I did not cry! I did, however get misty eyed hearing Pomp and Circumstance and seeing him walk by in his cap/gown. But my heart was bursting when they called his name and I saw his grin. Everything went so fast. 1 hr. start to finish. It was like speed graduating. </p>
<p>Now I focus on closing up for the summer (I am a teacher) and I am super far behind. We have had record heat and closed early today and again tomorrow. It is helping me accomplish some things but …wowee…lots to go. I made myself take a few minutes to catch up here. I hope to post some grad pics later tonight.</p>
<p>Wow. I wondered about this since S graduated over 3 weeks ago but kept forgetting to ask. The academic dean/vice principal (or some such title) had something to say to each student as he walked by after getting his diploma. I assumed he said the same thing to each boy. I finally remembered to ask S tonight at dinner and found out he congratulated each boy on the college they will be attending and said something about where they were going. A little under 300 kids and for him to be able to that without a cheat sheet, well…wow. H & I have always liked this guy, well we actually like most of the folks at S’s high school, but this guy has always been a gem.</p>
<p>Congrats to our most recent graduate - momofzach! </p>
<p>My son is graduating the day before kinderny’s daughter. The difference is I like our High School! Our daughter is flying in from Nashville on Tuesday night and staying for a week. I am so excited to have my girl back! My folks are coming up for graduation, but I think they are just spending the night. We will be in our air-conditioned gym in the sort of handicapped section. My parents can’t walk far and would not be able to sit comfortably in the bleachers.</p>
<p>MOSB, I have to tell you that I read your post on this page where you said,
BEFORE I read classof 2015’s post so I thought you were telling our kids to all have a shot of liquor!</p>
<p>I love that quote. Must be one heck of a school. When is the time on the 18th? We will be in Europe then and it should be after 5 PM so I will certainly lift one or two and toast the finality of your hated high school! :D</p>
<p>classof2015: I’m glad you were able to get an extra ticket! I hope your SIL attends and the effort was not wasted. At least you’ll know you did everything you could to keep the peace.</p>
<p>kinderny: I’d be happy to join in the virtual celebration! And as for the media – I’d probably opt for an “I don’t talk to the media” stance. I think you’re right to take the high road in case your D needs anything from them.</p>
<p>mamom: Wow! I’m so impressed that he could remember the college/university choices of 300!</p>
<p>Congrats to momofzach’s family - time to celebrate.</p>
<p>I love you guys. So glad Ohiomom’s suggestion got Class of 2015 out of tough situation. Now everyone is happy.</p>
<p>Kinderny - I suggest writing or recording how you feel then erasing said letter or recording. There is generally no upside to to doing the aforementioned publicly. You never know how, when or where it will come back to kick you in the ____. Good life lesson for your daughter too. Six degrees of separation is true too often.</p>
<p>Sandwich generation day - went to see my parents as they got a letter from the IRS. IRS said errors were made and >$1000 was owed. I redid their taxes fixing the errors IRS found, plus errors I found and now they only owe about $100. Not a bad day’s work.</p>
<p>OMG, Kathiep…ROTFL, but sort of horrified too! Your jaw must’ve hit the floor before you figured it out! That interpretation, with 2015’s name never occurred to me. :eek:</p>
), she just wants to be done. I wish we could get a copy of program completion certificate (actual diploma comes from her home school) and then have our church warden/pastor present at the volunteer function instead- where a huge number of people that care about her will be. (Not that there weren’t some great teachers and staff- but they are not the ones running things for the most part.)</p>
:D</p>