<p>Bi - very wise words…</p>
<p>A thought about tenacity - I have found that tenacity is a key ingredient for success in the business world. Tenacity combined with talent can rocket someone to the top quickly (with a little serendipitous luck thrown in) …tenacity with limited talent will still enable someone to rise…but talent without tenacity…is just a waste of talent.</p>
<p>Tenacity can be learned…but the intensity does come from within…</p>
<p>Hi All</p>
<p>No new grades here yet.</p>
<p>There is a gaming system in the common room and kiddo is a stem major and a varsity athlete–Others are not and have far more “down” time. Hoping for the best. This is a generally responsible kid AND the whole college away/freedom to choose etc etc plus fitting in meals, laundry, errands etc is all an adjustment. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>All baking done. Pears are ripe. Those gift-received candy apples are stored in the fridge
All shopping/wrapping done.
House was clean though I need to run the vacuum again…will ask the kiddos for help with that.
Most of the silver polishing is done…right now my kiddos are pitching in…I did all of the flatware. They are polishing some old trophy cups…we drink champagne (or sparkling cider) out of them for Christmas morning. These are fun–they are things I have collected over time–range from 1914 to in the '60s.
Running a load of glassware through the dishwasher. I dont use the “good stuff” often enough and it gets grimey in the armoir. </p>
<p>Spoke with my mom yesterday. She sounded better than she has in a long time. Is on break from chemo (stage 4) so perhaps less pain med, idk.<br>
MiLs b-day is today. Her first without FiL. The holiday season has been rough for her.</p>
<p>Hugs all around.</p>
<p>A lot of life going on around here - multigenerational. It’s an honor to share these experiences with you people.</p>
<p>In a couple of hours H will be home with D2. Wow, one semester done. She did get her scariest grade back, and it was OK, not as bad as she feared. The others should be fine. I’m sure she’s just relieved now to be done.</p>
<p>There’s a thread out there right now about “fit” vs. “prestige.” Got me thinking back on D’s decision last year. While her university isn’t perfect in every way, I will say that what is making her life most enjoyable and rewarding are the 2 or 3 aspects that she couldn’t have gotten at her “higher ranked” options. Yup, I think we’re good.</p>
<p>I wish everyone peace and the enjoyment of your families around you.</p>
<p>D made her flight to Chicago and found her aunts at O’Hare. I told H that she missed her flight and he believed me… he should know better after 20+ years!</p>
<p>D also made a B+ in Calc and a B in Biology. Those were two classes she thought for sure she would be getting C’s in as she entered finals week, so we are both pleased. She was a straight A student in High School, B’s are new for her, C’s would have killed her. </p>
<p>I am glad she is surviving getting the B’s, doesn’t have to learn yet what it feels like to get a C, and hope she learned enough about time management this semester to maybe not have to learn what it feels like to get a C. I am also glad she is learning it is OK to ease up on herself and not require perfection at all costs. (needing to be perfect can be toxic to the soul)</p>
<p>So fun to hear how everyone’s holiday visits are going. DS 1 has been home a week. Like some other posters, I am concerned about how thin he is. He has always been a picky eater and doesn’t eat alot. He is not a snacker and will simply starve himself if he misses a meal. I am trying to feed him alot of calorie dense yet nutritious foods over the break. Easy to do during the winter holidays. He also has a sinus infection and is happy to let me baby him. At Thanksgiving he was so anxious about approaching finals. He was upset over a 65% on an engineering midterm. Proud to say that he earned an 85% on final and pulled out a B+ in the class. He has a 3.0 for first semester and I think will really find his groove in the spring semester. I have been baking cookies all day- pleased with results. Would love to share!</p>
<p>D went online today for the first time since she got home (!). Two of her classes have posted grades, but she is not going to look at them until ‘later’ because she doesn’t want to spoil her holiday. If it were me, I couldn’t wait, but she did the same thing with SAT’s and even some college acceptances so I should not be surprised. She has a pretty good sense of where she stands in most classes and understands that she just needs to get through the pre-reqs with solid, not necessarily stellar, grades, so I am not too worried. I think she was disheartened because so many of her first semester classes were with über competitive pre-meds or finance geeks. She needs the same foundation courses but is headed in a radically different direction; once she can start work in her major departments she will feel better.</p>
<p>I am impressed at how organized you all are. We are still baking, shopping, doing laundry, wrapping, etc. I thought I would get to Christmas cards early this year, but no such luck. Oh, we’ll, I still have a few days! Both kids are done with 1st semester exams (D’s HS did them in January, so we used to have a pall hanging over the vacation) so we are all just taking it easy and enjoying the process.</p>
<p>Happy Holidays to everyone!</p>
<p>Still baking here. We ahve made about 12 different types of cookies, and have 4 or 5 types to make. I am off from work until January 3, so I will bake tomorrow to finish up.</p>
<p>I haven’t started wrapping at all. I have all of the presents in our bedroom, many in the bags from the store. I need to sort them out, put in boxes, and wrap. I have asked D1 to wrap in the past, and may ask her to do it again.</p>
<p>We are travelling to my family in NJ for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We usually stay home but, I have a neice and nephew who live on the West Coast, and they will only be home for the weekend, so we are making the trek. At first the girls were not happy about not being home for Christmas, but they are getting excited about seeing all of their cousins at the same time. I think that the last time all of the cousins were together in the same place was 4 years ago at my father’s funeral. This will be a much happier occasion.</p>
<p>Morning all! Coffee’s on and holiday cookies are out. Help yourself. Thought I’d give us a bump from page two. Everyone is busy with last minute prep and enjoying having their kids home. I know I am! I wrapped the last gift yesterday. I have been ignoring my SIL’s darn FB updates for two weeks… “Done with EVERYTHING, just enjoying some nog”. Goodie for you, you empty-nester-over-achiever is what I want to write, but I don’t. 
</p>
<p>Have a wonderful day everyone!</p>
<p>I wrapped in a hurry while H drove D from the airport last night. Suddenly I realized my empty-nester freedom to leave the presents all over the place was at an end. Amazingly, she didn’t go rifle through them. She is in good shape, has grown so much these past few months.</p>
<p>She has most of her grades, seems to have met her scholarship requirements, and has some tangible goals to work for next semester. I’m pleased, honestly, that she doesn’t have all As in her arts courses. She shouldn’t - she has too much to learn yet. She received good commendations and lots of constructive criticism.</p>
<p>I think I am finally at a point I can keep up with you all. Why is it one kids leaves the nest but I feel busier than ever? I honestly cant figure out am I getting lazier, or is kid # 2 just more work?<br>
Anyway, S made it home from school last Sat. after missing his flight the night before. He had to scramble from his last final back to the dorm Friday, at 5pm only to have the van scheduled to pick him up forget about him. At 5:20 he calls me so I can tell him to call the van service. He calls and they get him to the airport shortly before 6 for a 6:45 flight. Finds out flight is delayed 2 hours. S calls me back to ask me what should he do. Really?? Is there nothing to do at the airport for two hours? How about pulling out your Kindle, your laptop, or doing what you usually do, texting your friends? Do I need to tell you that? Ends up he went to get something to eat. Came back a little over an hour later to find the plane gone, departed. They moved the time up again but he somehow missed that announcement. Last fight out that day, so he had to rebook (thankfully they did not charge him for the new flight). Van ride back to dorm for the night. Short nights sleep it was because the van was back at 5:30am to pick him up the next morning.<br>
The place he worked at last summer was unable to hire him for winter break, unless it snows and then they will use him for snow removal. He was offered a babysitting job by a relative who changed her mind when she find out she could get free day care through work. It is unfortunate, but he has spent most of his summer savings and 5 hours W/S a week at school is not cutting it. We have encouraged him to look for temp jobs, but I know he has done nothing along those lines. If I knew he was trying, I would be more willing to give him some spending money, but I see no effort on his part. I asked to bring his textbooks home so I could resell them. He forgot.<br>
Not sure when I posted last, but S had to drop an American Politics class when he flunked the midterm. He did nothing up til the night before the midterm. Now the ironic thing is that S is an American History and Politics buff. If I had given him the textbook for pleasure reading he probably would have done it. Knew he wasnt doing much better in 2 other classes. So he supposedly buckled down and was doing great. Haha. Got his final grades last night. 2 C/Ds, a S (assume satisfactory) and an A and a C. His GPA is 1.9. He has a close to full tuition scholarship that requires a 2.0. Never did I think we would have to worry about that. I am not sure if he will immediately lose the scholarship or if they give him a semester to try and recover. He will be put on academic probation and will have to retake statistics which is required for his major. Of course, he was out last night when the grades came in so we will have the talk when I get home from work today. H & I have decided we will offer him whatever help he needs, but we will not micromanage his recovery and he will need to take whatever steps are necessary to succeed. I am not going to pull teeth to find out what he needs help with.<br>
We dont want to alienate him, he is a good kid. Just lazy and unmotivated. So I am hoping that I can keep the yelling to a minimum tonight. I just want some effort.<br>
So that is my story, sad but true. Now I will spend some slow time at work today trying to catch up with the rest of you.</p>
<p>Aw, mamom. Know we are are all there for you! Hugs!!</p>
<p>BI thanks for the laugh!</p>
<p>I am so sorry to hear of the struggles you are going through mamom.</p>
<p>BI: Ha ha! Don’t you wish the “done with everythings” would offer to help those of us “done with nothings”??</p>
<p>mamom: So sorry that you’re going through this. Know that you’re not alone. I have two friends whose kids are in similar situations and they’ve had “the talk”, too. Good luck.</p>
<p>mamom – I’m right there with you. Let me know how your talk goes. I don’t know if these kids aren’t getting enough feedback about grades as they move through the term, or if they’re getting bad grades and ignoring them, or if they’re doing well then the grade drops because of a curve. And most importantly, what is their plan to do a little better next term?</p>
<p>D’s prof (for the course where she got the F) actually emailed her and said she still had a chance to turn in the assignments (God bless her), so she’s been up late, working on them. Feels like the old days.</p>
<p>Classof2015: It was very nice of the prof to give your D a chance to turn in the assignments. Glad to hear that she’s working away.</p>
<p>Mamom: I’m sorry that you’re dealing with this situation. It sounds very frustrating. Good luck dealing with it.</p>
<p>BI: What’s the fun in getting everthing done early?? Thanks for the laugh. I thought that I had everything finished (Hanukkah did start on Tuesday) but I keep on making my “last visit to the mall.” The mall is getting crazier by the minute. Yesterday D1 and I spent about 20 minutes trying to find a parking space and finally bailed.</p>
<p>D2 got home late last night. It’s wonderful to see her happy and relaxed. She was happy to come home, but sad to leave school for a month. When I asked her how it felt to be back in her own room, she said that it’s lonely without her roommate. It looks like she found the right fit.</p>
<p>Joining the “done with nothings”, I am taking off tomorrow to start my “holiday-to-do” list. :eek: I managed to order some holiday photo cards online and sent them out yesterday. There are no wrapped presents under our Christmas tree. S2 has always wanted to display his Christmas train set under the tree, but he has not done it this year.
So I gave my boys a job to do. Paint our laundry room. I laid some brushes and a can of enamel white paint and meant for them to paint the mouldings, base boards and door frames, etc. I came home from work and found out they had painted the wall instead of the trims. Now I have a glossily white laundry room. Ugh…</p>
<p>Hugs to you. mamom. Hope something will work out for your S.</p>
<p>Happy Holidays to everyone!</p>
<p>Mamom-hang in there! I know lots of kids who had rude awakenings first semester and then went on to shine!</p>
<p>D is home!! Came home last night, in time for a late dinner. Was so nice to sit around the table all together and eat. She had ordered several xmas gifts and the packages were waiting for her. They found bubblewrap in one of the packages. D and S laid out the bubble wrap on the kitchen floor and jumped together on it to cause fireworks!! Did warm this mom’s heart to see the two of them together :)</p>
<p>She’s headed to the grocery store today and then baking cookies for a cookie swap tomorrow. She even offered to pick S up from school and drive him to his piano lesson so she can say hi to her old piano teacher!</p>
<p>She’s been checking, but not all her grades are up. The two she’s most worried about are not up yet - wouldn’t you know it ?? HighHead - I wish she would let it go like your D is doing, but that’s so not my D. It would kill her to not know…so she keeps checking :)</p>
<p>mamom - sorry to hear about your S’ troubles. Hope your talk gets through to him.</p>
<p>Class of 2015 Good luck to your D with those assignments. Oh when you figure out how one cannot know how badly one is doing, let me know. S seems to have the same trouble.<br>
Emmybet- Sounds like your D is in a good place. With an 11yo girl still at home, hiding presents is an art. Actually, H lost several fairly expensive presents last year that have yet to be found. They were big gifts for both kids so he went out and rebought figuring he would return the lost ones when he found them. I think they were video games which are probably worthless now if he ever finds them.
Gsmomma good luck with those cookies! Have a good trip to NJ. We spend a few hours at my brothers house a couple of days prior to xmas. Xmas eve my husbands family rents a skating rink for a couple of hours and we see the extended family. Then xmas eve his big family (he has 12 siblings) gather at his sisters house for a big get together. My kids love it, chaos and all. Xmas morning we have brunch and see a bunch of folks again.<br>
HighHead I am impressed at your Ds ability to wait. Like you I would have looked.<br>
Minnymom Funny my S lost weight too. Hope your S recovers quickly from the sinus infection. And congrats on the 3.0!
Bajamm- sounds like your D had a great first semester. I am sure my S could take some tips from her performance.
Fog- I find I have to clean all the good stuff when I use it also. Then I end up pulling the entire china cabinet apart to clean and dust inside before putting everything back. Those first few holidays can be tough after a loved ones is lost. I hope your MIL does OK. And best wishes to your Mother.
EAO1227 Perhaps you can swing by and pick me up on your way to the gym? I really need to start exercising again. We have a gang over every xmas for brunch, usually starting around 9:30 or 10. Used to be just the Grandparents and kinda morphed into 20-30 people. We now have to hurry to unwrap all the gifts before everyone arrives and still finish things up in the kitchen. Good luck with your gang.<br>
FLMathmom- Ill bet that was some sight seeing all those kids coming home.
Wow lots if medical issues gong on here while I took a break. AvonDad I am glad your wifes prognosis is good. Speedy recoveries to Bluejr and Shawwife.
ShawBridge whew, I go into hyperdrive when things like your Ds email happen. Glad it got straightened out.<br>
Crusin I am with you on being sick to my stomach.<br>
MM- 4.0 Wow!!
Kathie- Wow, great start to your Ss college years.
Emilybee goodluck with the family fued. It always amazes me how unreasonable folks can get when dealing with family.</p>
<p>mamom - Ugh, I am sorry that you have to deal with this during the holidays…hugs.</p>
<p>BI and Sunnyday - LOL! </p>
<p>BI - I too have an overachiever friend that is so organized it makes my head spin. If only I had 1/10th of the organizational drive just to plow through…sigh.</p>
<p>Sunnyday - I could definitely see something like that happening at my house!</p>
<p>Avon - Still sending warm wishes…</p>