<p>Just went to his schools facebook page and everyone assigned S’s dorm is unhappy… So at least they will have something to bond over.</p>
<p>Congrats mommylaw! Sounds like a wonderful ceremony. Next week at this time, I’ll be sitting in a gym waiting for sons grad ceremony to start. My niece is graduating tonight!</p>
<p>My son has no choices for classes. First semester is pre-chosen for his major. He won’t find out about his roommate or housing until August. Once we’re done with graduation, I think we’ll be in a lull for a month until he goes for an orientation. He did get some good news. He’ll be allowed to stay in a dorm the day before and the day after the orientation - for free! He’s going to take a train up to his college in Vermont and since there’s only one train per day, I was having trouble figuring out the timing was going to work. They’ll also pick him up for at the train station. The person I talked to said there are usually a handful of students that come in from out of the area that do that. Nothing like a small college!</p>
<p>Sorry for the not-so-good dorm outcome mamom.</p>
<p>ST: Congrats on your D’s internship. Mine has tried half-heartedly to look for a job with no luck. I think that she plans to spend as much time as possible at her friend’s beach house.</p>
<p>Amanda: Glad to hear that I’m not the only one whose kid will live in a concrete bunker.
Not surprisingly, she picked it for the social life.</p>
<p>Mommylaw: Congrats on a wonderful graduation.</p>
<p>Mamom: I’m sorry to hear that your son didn’t get one of his top dorm choices. If it makes you feel any better, the kids at my D1’s school who ended up in the less desirable dorm made wonderful friends and really bonded with their hallmates.</p>
<p>EAO: Welcome back to Maryland. I’m a native also.</p>
<p>I guess it was inevitable but the natural disasters in Missouri have forced the Governor to cut $16.9 million form the state education budget and $172 million across the board. Flooding of the Missisippi in southeast Missouri, tornado at the St. Louis airport, tornado in Joplin and the impending flooding of the Missouri River from the northwest border to Kansas City have all taken their toll.</p>
<p>The $172 million also includes a freeze of $100 million in capital improvements on our state college campuses. And $3 million in college scholarships. That had me concerned. But our friend’s son is a student on a state university’s board of regents and he has seen the details of the cuts. He says it won’t affect our Bright Flight merit program for ACTs over 30. Last year it was cut to $1500 per student per year. The legislature tried to put that funding back at $3000 per student as originally legislated. That return is gone now but Bright Flight will still be $1500, maybe $2,000.</p>
<p>I don’t know how other states fund full rides.</p>
<p>Still exhausted from graduation, maybe it was the 95 degree heat and the full house. I was grumbling about my D’s stuff all over the house, now she’s gone 
I am going to fly out to SF to see her in a couple of months though. It looks like they will only be together at the Christmas holidays now. I am having warm cookies for dinner. H is gone for the weekend & S is out. A harbinger of the rest of my life I’m sure.</p>
<p>S is flying to freshman orientation on Sunday for 2 days. We were supposed to do a bunch of stuff prior- vax, online placement tests, picture for id and none of it was done, oh well I’m sure it will all get taken care of. I just remember to book airport transportation for him today.</p>
<p>We have successfully completed our college orientation program and my D has her college id and fall schedule!!!</p>
<p>It was a long 2 days and I am having information overload from all the various departments that presented. It will take a few days for it all to sink in and I know I don’t remember half the stuff they said. But at least its all on the internet and I can look it up later.</p>
<p>Congrats to the recent grads!!!</p>
<p>I haven’t read back to catch up on every thing that has gone on over the last few days but I am sure there’s some good news I haven’t read yet…so congrats in advance :-)</p>
<p>A plea for brevity in the title of our new thread? Since we’re on the Parents’ forum, no need for the word “Parents” in the thread title. Also, could we lose the “infinity” part? I vote for a straightforward Class of 2015 and Beyond.</p>
<p>
I’m hanging out here until the last of our kiddos graduates. Then we can all skip over together.</p>
<p>Collegemaw, that song gets me every time. Pops into my head unbidden, and I’m a wreck for awhile.</p>
<p>Sb opened her first checking acct today. Fun moment. Had to use a different bank than mine because I wanted one that would charge no fees for her to use the campus ATM. She was excited to deposit her Grad gift checks. This is a girl who DOES NOT spend money, but gets a kick out of making a deposit. Go figure.</p>
<p>Regarding how much involvement and “letting go,” I just want to comment that families are all so different. Sb and I have been a family of 2 forever, best friends, and not at all “dysfunctional” because of that - at least we don’t think so, and neither do our friends, most of whom admire our relationship and tell us they wish they had that kind of mother/daughter bond, mutual respect, and affection.</p>
<p>We are unusually close, we don’t have “issues” or friction, and have just never experienced any bumps in the road. I’m still waiting for the terrible-twos!</p>
<p>I read your philosophies/plans with interest, but we really have no intention of “letting go.” She’s very mature and independent in terms of being capable of leading her own life and making excellent decisions, but prefers (as do I) that we stay very closely connected. Not out of a sense of neediness or immaturity, but simply because we like each other a heck of a lot and like being very connected to each other’s day to day lives. One size definitely does not fit all in this regard.</p>
<p>Amending my recommendation for our new thread name: College Class of 2015 and Beyond (so we don’t get HS 2015s inadvertently confusing us with their 4-year-younger cohort.</p>
<p>Congrats to CC’s most recent graduates and awards winners! There can’t be a whole lot of seniors left with impending commencement ceremonies, at this point? </p>
<p>I feel like I never see my graduate, between work, practice and time spent with his friends… He is really burning the candle at both ends. I guess it is conditioning DH and me for when he will be away in 9? weeks. </p>
<p>This weekend he needs to take a math placement exam and review the course book to map out his freshman schedule. He travels to campus next week for June Advising Days… to review these choices with an advisor, and to take a foreign language proficiency exam. Requests from upperclassman teammates have also begun, for participation in unofficial practices on campus (7-on-7’s). </p>
<p>All health requirements have been completed…physical exam, health history, vaccination records and baseline impact testing (for possible future concssion). </p>
<p>I need to provide proof of our own health insurance sometime after 6/15, so the college’s approximate $700 default student health insurance fees can be credited back to his student account. Do most schools tag on this charge by default and ask you to provide proof of other insurance?</p>
<p>We also need to activate his on-line student account, submit updated FA award documentation to reflect recent awards…and prepare to receive that first tuition bill.</p>
<p>This thing is happening… and soon!</p>
<p>I am gladly on ‘the other side’ with a newly minted graduate! Two and a half hours in 97 degrees with heats evil cousin, humidity last night. The rain did pass us! After the first half hour I was just too hot and didn’t cry much after that.</p>
<p>The kids enjoyed it, which is what matters, the speakers spoke to their peers, which I loved. Some was lost on grandparents but the kids and faculty were rolling with mentions of inside jokes and memories. That’s hard to do with a class that large. I thought it was awesome, it was their day!</p>
<p>I haven’t talked with bluejr, but I’m assuming the aftergrad party went well. He said he’d stay as long as he was having fun. He called about 5am to let us know he was driving home (we’d asked for a heads up), so he stayed most the night. He must have had fun. Family party today so I’ll let him sleep until the last minute. Bluedad is busy getting burgers premade for the grill and setting up. What a guy! 
</p>
<p>Finally, we raised bluejr’s university flag outside yesterday. The colors look beautiful and I have to say I’m a very proud mom!!</p>
<p>Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Congratulations to everyone else with kids graduating…it feels pretty darn good.</p>
<p>Hurray for the most recent batch of grads. Sorry OWM that MO is cutting the scholarship funding. Because D is going out of state, she did not qualify for the state $$ so I guess that was lucky in a way. </p>
<p>Parents of the year before us have a thread:Parents of the College Class of 2014 and Beyond. We might want to make sure our thread is different enough to avoid confusion.</p>
<p>(The standard addendum here. 
)</p>
<p>Blue, congratulations! Sounds like a wonderful Graduation, in spite of the heat and humidity! Definitely raise that flag! I’m putting the Hillsdale decal on my car today. :)</p>
<p>I’ve gotten up the past few mornings, no lunches to make, D and Japanese D still asleep. A chance to imagine what it will be like when no one is here. Well, except 3 cats and a dog. Not so bad, but an odd sense of freedom.</p>
<p>mosb I couldn’t agree with you more, and I admire your relationship with your D. I do think that with their busy schedules even the closest kids sometimes just don’t have time to check in when they’re in college, and I do think the conversations change. Even kids and parents who are incredibly close find that the “kids” are are taking care of things and telling the folks later, rather than processing decisions so much beforehand. My older D and I are closer than ever - but she is now my adult friend, and we discuss the philosophy of life and what we both think about everything in a whole new way. It’s really quite wonderful.</p>
<p>My only admonition for someone who is wondering - or worried - about how much to be involved is that if they’re sensing they’re over-invested for whatever reason (that the kid is too dependent, or might be getting rebellious) it’s OK to pull back and encourage them to try making it work for themselves. </p>
<p>We all have pretty much the same long-term goal - independent grown offspring with whom we have an enjoyable relationship. That of course can be accomplished in many ways.</p>
<p>With my first D, talking about what courses to take became pretty irrelevant in my case, since I didn’t understand her major at all. She had wonderful advisers who were much more helpful than I was. But I enjoyed hearing all about her plans. Just last night we FB chatted about her adjustment to her newest situation - at almost 22 she said it was nice to get some cyber hugs from her mom and to hear it will be OK once she gets used to it. She also said how glad she is that I will be coming to visit. </p>
<p>D2 has gradually been getting used to the idea that “our” NYC is going to become “her” NYC … we’ve gone together three times, and I think she feels a little guilty that soon she’ll be seeing countless plays that I’ll have to miss. We’re joking about it, and I want her to know that I truly have no problem that she will be doing this (I for my part have been plenty happy to see plays here at home that D couldn’t get to - some that she teases me she’ll never forgive me for going to without her). </p>
<p>What I really will miss is SEEING her perform. That’s just something I’m going to have to budget time and money for, on some regular basis. Another great reason for having taken that scholarship!</p>
<p>Yesterday she and I also had a long talk about HS vs college. We were talking about how kids really practically kill themselves committing to so many activities in HS, and how much they are under a microscope about how well they do, how many prizes they win, how long they stay with it, etc. By the time they’re seniors they’re so piled up with activities that they think they’re not allowed to “quit” that so often the joy goes completely out of them. I think she managed to have a decent balance herself - but she definitely got a lot of crap from people along the way when she would downsize or switch, and she missed out on some things she wished she could have done but just never had time for because of the other demands.</p>
<p>I told her that college was almost the complete opposite. This sounds simplistic, but I do think that with the exception of those aiming for the very top med, law, etc. schools, kids can pretty much do whatever and however they want in college. Get good grades, but don’t sweat every last decimal point of the GPA any more. Join a club - unjoin a club. Do a different activity every year. D1 loved ballroom dancing, and loved her ballroom dance friends, but she quickly learned that she didn’t like to compete. So she’d go to the practices, dance a little, do the social events - never got a whit of crap from anyone, just happy times (especially because she gave up her competing partner so a more invested girl could have him!).</p>
<p>D2 has to keep a 3.0 to maintain her scholarship, which is totally fair. She’s confident she’ll manage at least B’s in college. But I told her that if she is getting what she needs and if even by working very hard she can’t manage it, we’ll understand. College is full of surprises, and all I wish for her is an open mind and the chance to try anything she wants - especially immersing herself heart and soul in her work (without the dumb distractions of HS), enjoying activities and new experiences as much as she can, while finally being out from under that awful microscope.</p>
<p>As for firming up our summer plans, we went to meet with her voice teacher yesterday, and while the teacher and I are a little disappointed we understood that D has decided against a recital. She said she feels she doesn’t have the time to put the proper preparation into it (even though she has dozens of wonderful pieces already learned!); she also said the idea of a whole event devoted just to her makes her feel uncomfortable. So she’ll focus on the one show she’s in, and even more on her internship, which may include a performance of some kind.</p>
<p>So I’m a little sad because it could have been fun, but I’m very aware it would have been a lot of work for me, too, and expense that can be used for other things. I wish we had more recordings and video of her; I guess I’ll just have to keep them fresh in my mind. This is just another thing that tells us that this phase is over, that the focus is really on what’s to come.</p>
<p>Since my DS is the last one to graduate, I want to thank everyone for waiting for us to start the new tread! :)</p>
<p>College4three ~ Congrats to your son!</p>
<p>Keylimepie ~ Thanks, and congratulations on your son’s graduation!</p>
<p>
^ Oh my, SlitheyTove…</p>
<p>
^ Glad you are done with the movers, have a nice glass of wine for me, EAO1227! </p>
<p>
^Good for you, FlMathMom! I hope I can do something similar, lol.</p>
<p>mommylaw ~ Congrats on your D’s graduation! </p>
<p>mamom ~ Sorry your S is disappointed with his dorm assignment</p>
<p>Idinct ~ Sorry your D left already…</p>
<p>blueiguana ~ Congrats to bluejr on his graduation!</p>
<p>
^ EmmyBet ~ I am sure what’s to come includes lots of great things…</p>
<p>Prom tonight…</p>
<p>First Day of the Bachelorette Experience. At 5 a.m., two adult males and 6 teenage boys tried to fit eight suitcases, eight sleeping bags, 6 air mattresses, two cots, two cases of bottled water, two table saws and two duffle bags full of of tools into a rented Malibu and a rented Altima. The moms watched knowingly as the dads tried to “make it work.”</p>
<p>At 5:30 a.m., I suggested that my mommy van might be an option since I could use either my husband’s or my son’s car this week. What’s another 1,600 miles on the speedometer that has 112,000 on it already? Put the back seat down and all luggage, power tools, etc., would fit and everyone would be way more comfortable. Amazingly, the dads agreed with no argument. So my first Bachelorette task was to return the rented Malibu.</p>
<p>And my husband’s sporty, six-speed Altima says “bachelorette” way more than a mommy van, right? I’ll be cruising in it all week.</p>
<p>First adventure, lunch and the Princess Diana exhibit in Kansas City with mom of DS2’s 2010 prom date. </p>
<p>blueiguana: So glad graduation was a great experience. Have a great party and wave that orange and blue UVa flag proudly.</p>
<p>
^ Hahaha, OWM, just read that!</p>
<p>“Parents of the year before us have a thread:Parents of the College Class of 2014 and Beyond. We might want to make sure our thread is different enough to avoid confusion.”</p>
<p>I nominate “The Best Parent Group” as our threads name. ;)</p>
<p>LOL, OWM! I hope to be reading lots of posts from you about chick flicks and ice cream.</p>
<p>
yes, yes, yes. oh, Avon - as an engineer I also have a “male side” so I would be up to talking sports, home improvement, etc. 
Do we have any other men?</p>
<p>
no mistaking us with 2014 parents.</p>
<p>OWM - I am sure they are glad you got up that early and offered up your car. Enjoy your time!</p>
<p>Emmybet - sorry your D isn’t having a recital, but I am glad you are allowing her to choose. My Mother was always so pushy and insistent on doing what she thought was right that we always battled. Our relationship never resolved. She is going to love NYC. </p>
<p>MaryOC - I am with you. S leaves the house at 7:30, comes home after work, showers and then heads out to spend time with friends and girlfriend. He is asleep when I head out to work and I am asleep when he gets home most nights. NOw that he can drive and has a car, he is never home. I am traveling with him out to his orientation Sunday so I hope we get some time together then (at least on the plane he is mine! no texting…omg he might have to talk to me). We are two peas in a pod actually and get along great. My only hope is he doesn’t fall in love with a great girl from the midwest and end up living there. I love Chicago so maybe it won’t be too bad. </p>
<p>He was friended on FB by his new roommate. So the cat is out of the bag and although he isn’t thrilled he isn’t too upset over his dorm assignment. He is actually getting a lot of friend requests from other guys assigned to his dorm. He hasn’t really tried to reach out to others attending his school so I hope this ropes him into their world.</p>