<p>My S2 never got considered, was picked, for anything that was subjective. The only reason he received a scholarship for college was that it was based upon non-subjective criteria- SAT & GPA. Prep school admission was based primarily on a test. He’s a nice kid, I don’t know when he will get a break. Oh well, as long as he gets considered for a JOB when he graduates, I will be happy. Rant over.</p>
<p>He is enjoying orientation. I wish I could have gone, but another plane ticket was out of the question. It’s a little warm however, forecast for tomorrow is 99- ha ha. It has cooled down a bit up here. I was thinking of taking some time and going to the beach today, but it isn’t beach weather. I am happy, haven’t had to turn on the ac this week.</p>
<p>Amusing job hunting situation. I have a preliminary call this week with a Group VP who is going out on maternity leave and she is going to schedule anyone she speaks to this week (who is a good fit) for interviews in September. I know the economy is bad, but I guess she thinks we are all going to be available 3 months from now. Gee, I hope not.</p>
<p>Where is Chihuly exhibit and for how long plz? </p>
<p>I agree with ST that age of control of estate depends on maturity and size of estate.</p>
<p>Went to doctor today for blood test. Weighed myself. Happy to announce that my eating plan, started in Nov, is working albeit very slowly…one pound a month. I’m down 8 pounds. YIPPEE.</p>
<p>Also got my ears repierced today. Holed had closed. Bought CVs to wear for next 6 weeks.</p>
<p>32578233, on documents, I had a hard time with that question because it depends upon the magnitude. If someone is getting $40,000, I’d not be worried about age 25 or even age 21. But, if someone were getting $2.5 million, I’d be worried about that all becoming available at age 25. Some kids would be mature enough to handle a reasonably large amount at age 25, some would not. </p>
<p>We have what is called a dynasty trust, so that it would work not only for the kids but for their progeny. The trustees instructions are expansive in terms of the health, education, housing and other needs of the kids. Although we have already covered the kids’ educations (barring a collapse in their 529s), I would be very happy if the trust would supply down-payments on houses, for example, which I expect it will. Whether there will be assets for the progeny or not will depend upon certain things paying off sufficiently. But, assets in the trust are exempt from estate tax (not a big deal today but will be when we get serious about paying down the deficit) and are also hard to reach in a lawsuit because of how it established.</p>
<p>Finally! Last final for my son - Calculus. He’s done very well in the class, but generally does poorly on these big tests so he was not a happy camper when he left. After school, he and some friends are going to have fun at the local amusement park. Tonight, my girl comes home!</p>
<p>Holliesue: I’m glad to hear that Orientation went well and that you and your D are thrilled with her choice. </p>
<p>OWM: It sounds like you’re enjoying your free week and getting things done.</p>
<p>Idinct: Hang in there with the job hunt. You may as well make the best of things and spend a lot of time at the beach while you can.</p>
<p>Flmathmom: Congrats on the weight loss!</p>
<p>Kath: Yay for the last final! Enjoy the time with your daughter. </p>
<p>After 15 years on PTA boards, I have my last meeting tonight. I’ve particularly enjoyed my years on the HS PTA working with great parents and staff members. When I hear about the frustrations that Kinder and others have had, I realize how lucky we have been. 19 years ago my husband and I moved to a new community and didn’t realize that there was a HS on the other side of the woods behind our house. Things weren’t always perfect, but both of my daughters were happy to go to school most days. I’m excited to be DONE, but a little sad too.</p>
<p>I love to hear about others’ great experiences at their schools. I never had a problem with my schools back in the day. And I honestly never had a problem with D’s school(s) until middle school when the private school could not deal her disability appropriately (which is understandable and forgivable) and then this new high school and the questionable choices it made. D has become a HUGE proponent of homeschooling- I wonder if she realizes that means SHE is back in school again most likely? </p>
<p>Idinct- it really kind of hurts doesn’t it?</p>
<p>So Holliesue is your D the first full fledged orientation? I thought I remember of one or two others going to pick classes but am not sure- accepted student days, college visits, orientation- it all blends together.</p>
<p>H and D went to D’s final teacher conference. The adviser had a list of questions she was going through. It started witht the usual: “where is your form for volunteers hours, of course you have to fill it out” “Did you post your h.s. reflective journal yet?” “What kind of verification is there for your community service hours?” Of course D had provided none of the info yet but had done the work and documentation has now been provided so no worries about graduating. </p>
<p>However H said the teacher developed a deer in the headlights look once the logistical questions were answered and she wanted an overview of D’s/parents’ perspective of the last 4 years. D wanted to decline until after graduation but adviser encouraged her to be honest. And she was. When the teacher asked similar questions of H he indicated that we think sending D to the school was a mistake and mentioned just a few of the questionable choices. So the school has a very little bit of our honest input and can do with it what it will.</p>
<p>Hugs to AK and any others teary about firsts, lasts or just missing someone or something.</p>
^ I hear you, mamom! I don’t want my DS living too far away either… </p>
<p>momjr ~ Glad your D returned safely from senior week.</p>
<p>MOSB ~ I do understand your relationship with your D. </p>
<p>AvonHSDad ~ Sounds like a fun party…Have a wonderful vacation!</p>
<p>blueiguana ~ That quilt sounds so “cool”, lol.</p>
<p>
^ So cute, kathiep…</p>
<p>cgpm ~ Welcome back! Sounds like a dream cruise!</p>
<p>Collegemaw ~ Congrats on your D’s graduation!</p>
<p>Amandak ~ Sorry about your mom not being there…</p>
<p>FlMathMom ~ Congrats on the 8 lbs loss! I am getting there too, just in time for the summer.</p>
<p>momjr ~ Wishing you a nice “retirement” from the PTA. </p>
<p>We still have legos and blocks and trains/tracks.
Concerning parental involvement, DS is fiercely independent on some issues and much less on others. I make sure to be there if he needs me as a sounding board or if he wants to share fun things too. He is our only child.</p>
<p>DS’s Prom was Saturday. It was at a historic hotel. He and his date had a great time. The only glitch: they lined up for pictures and it was too crowded so they decided to try later and when they returned, the photo session was already closed.
Oh well, at least a few informal photos were taken earlier at the pre-prom party.</p>
<p>What I need to send D1 in Puerto Rico, after 1 week:</p>
<p>Socks for hiking boots (she thought she’d be in sandals more, but no)
Cramp-ons (lots of slippery rocks)
Fruit snacks (yes, they have fruit, but she craves these for some reason)
Chai tea bags (nowhere to be found in PR)
A replacement water pouch for her camel-pack (first one ripped and poured water down her back)</p>
<p>^^Interesting list. When D was in Italy (even though it was mid-Sept) we got a plea for mosquito repellent. We never thought this would be needed in such an urban environment and it just is not sold there according to D and her Ameican sponsor for the internship. D also craved granola bars as the meal times were too late, and she wanted something to tide her over. EB- hope postage is not too bad to send things to PR? It was really high to Europe for us.</p>
<p>Emmybet: It nice to know that college grads still need care packages. </p>
<p>Aria: Glad to hear that the prom went well and you got some informal pics.</p>
<p>We didn’t save any legos, but we do have several large bins of Beany Babies in the basement. My daughter is convinced that they will become valuable the minute we get rid of them.</p>
<p>Mostly this is a question of access. She’s finding they don’t sell the tea or fruit snacks there, and really she’s so far from civilization that she has to wait a week or two to buy anything. Some of that list is optional - the socks are the most important, and the most urgent! Her BF is visiting in July, so maybe some of it will wait until he can take it in his suitcase.</p>
<p>I was a terrible care package mom … maybe once a year in college, and only a couple of times when she was in Africa. I’ve already told D2 not to expect much; I have good intentions, but procrastinate, and then realize the school year is over. Researching? I’m great. Making lists? Absolutely. Putting together something thoughtful and cute? I think myself into a corner every time and completely blow it. </p>
<p>My girls quickly learned that they’d have better birthday parties if they planned them themselves … D2 is starting her to-do list already for her combo b-day/grad party in July. Luckily H is the kind of guy who loves to “feed the world,” so really I’ll be almost completely off the hook.</p>
<p>Aria and Flmathmom, congrats on the weight loss, how did you do it?</p>
<p>Emmybet, glad someone else is like that, I always have great intentions and then never send it, wait till its too late, forget etc. I also buy Christmas Presents throughout the year,and hide them and find them a year or so later. Kids always ask, are you sure there isn’t anything else hidden!</p>
<p>As for lego, have those and K-nex’s that I found in the attic when the movers were packing. Good thing about moving a lot (16 houses in 24 years of marriage!) is that you go through and get rid of stuff, but I held onto the Legos (and American Girl Dolls).</p>
<p>D3 (the graduate) returns from Senior trip tonite, looking forward to hearing all the stories. I missed her! She is the chatty one!</p>
<p>Checking account question – Are you planning to have your S or D open checking account in his/her college town? S2 has had a checking account in our hometown for several years, but I’m wondering if he should open a new account near his college campus so that he doesn’t get hit with ATM fees if he is using his card to get cash. The bank where he has his checking account doesn’t have a presence in the college town/state. This wasn’t an issue for S1 because our hometown bank had a branch in his college town even though it was in a different state.</p>
<p>Just returned from “Preview” at Marquette with S. They have orientation in August a week before classes start. S got the list of classes he must take and registration info. he will use his AP credit for the required history class but will take calc 1 even if he gets a 4 or 5 on the AP calc BC exam. I was surprised to learn that 90% of the kids in the business school are starting at a level of math below calculus. I expected a lot of kids to take precalc but not below that. I forget that not all kids have an apptitude in math. </p>
<p>I really liked the campus, although it is right in the city (Milwaukee) it is pretty much self contained. I saw few non Marquette folks walking on campus. The dorm rooms were small and old. Dorms were not a priority with S and he had already visited the campus so he knew that. </p>
<p>Parents had two meals with faculty and administrators from the school sitting with us. It was nice to get to meet some of the faculty S may end up taking classes with. We also got the rah rah Marquette speech we all expected. </p>
<p>Kids were pretty much involved in bonding/get to know you sessions while the parents attended information sessions. I stayed overnight in one dorm, S stayed in another with all the other kids. S had a blast and I think he pulled his first all nighter. The kids had a social scheduled to end at midnight but it went later than that and from what I overheard (from some of the other kids he hung with), they never went to bed at all. He didn’t tell me that, probably because I didn’t specifically ask, “did you go to sleep?” LOL I know he is the walking dead today. </p>
<p>Bottom line is he is excited for school, but is in no rush for summer to end. He told me this is his best summer ever and he is loving life. </p>
<p>Regarding checking accounts. I was hoping S’s existing bank would have a non fee compatible ATM out by S’s campus, but they don’t. I think we are going to open up a second account at the on campus bank which he can use for everyday money needs and have him use his current ATM for emergencies only. Probably keep the bulk of his money in his existing account (less tempted to blow through it all the first month) and then have hm deposit money in his campus account using checks as needed. He is also doing work study so that may cover his spending needs. </p>
<p>Luckily for us, the bank we use has an ATM on campus so we opened an account for D at that back. For those of you who need to open accounts at your kids school, i would suggest waiting until orientation if you can. At Ds orientation, there were banks there who were giving incentives, like $50 for opening an account. I don’t know what the details around receiving the $50 but it would be worth checking out.</p>
<p>Not a lot of time - but amanda - hugs to you. Must be hard and incredibly emotional seeing the pictures of your S and mom. </p>
<p>We missed MIL at D’s graduation - time is the best healer, but on special days/moments like these, you do tend to miss them, no matter how long they’ve been gone. I was so glad/blessed to have my parents here for D’s graduation. My dad promised D he would be here for her graduation on his last visit here 2 years ago and all I could think of then was “Cross your fingers and hope that’s true”! Fortunately, they did make it. Now, S would like them to come for his graduation (2016!) - who knows!!</p>
The kids had a social scheduled to end at midnight but it went later than that and from what I overheard (from some of the other kids he hung with), they never went to bed at all. He didn’t tell me that, probably because I didn’t specifically ask, “did you go to sleep?” LOL I know he is the walking dead today. </p>