<p>Glad to hear Zach is well. Hugs for all the worry MomofZ.
Hope all our kids are feeling well/better, enjoying (new?) classes, and getting the news they hope for regarding rush, summer jobs, RA stuff, and whatever. </p>
<p>40 and sunny here in the upper midwest. I love it. Last year was 4 months of unusually heavy snow and cold temps (up here, that means a lot). I am not a fan of ice fishing, Nordic skiing, or pond hockey, so I am much happier this year. I probably just jinxed it ;)</p>
<p>momofzach- so glad he is doing better. </p>
<p>D1 called last night very upset. She did not get a spot in the sorority house. There was space for all but 4 girls from her class. She had said that there were enough spaces, based upon the initial interest, but 4 girls added to the list recently. They pulled names out of a hat in front of everyone, and her name wasn’t pulled. She also said that 4 girls in her sorority tried out for RA and also did not get the positions. Needless to say, she was not in a good mood, and nothing I could say helped, and it was all my fault. Don’t you just love 19 year old girls?</p>
<p>Of course, when I started asking questions about her alternative plans, she got more upset, and said “I really haven’t thought that far. I never thought it would come to this.” She does have the option to rent an apartment with some friends, but she is not 100% sold on that idea. She can join a group of friends in the wonderful 'housing lottery", but she needs to figure that out. She is the kind of kid who plans things to the minute, so the whole uncertainty is driving her crazy. </p>
<p>She is going to drop off her paperwork today for the alternate RA position and ask how many are on the alternate list, is it ranked, if it is, where does she fall, and how many alternates typically get placed.</p>
<p>I just hope it works out in the end.</p>
<p>gdmomma - How disappointing for your D; trying so hard and hitting roadblocks. Hopefully they will turn out to be bumps in the road and either the RA situation will result in a slot for her, or she finds a group of friends that she gets excited about living with. Best of luck.</p>
<p>D is home for a week-long break after January term. She has adopted some healthy lifestyle habits (daily exercise, healthy meals, very limited sugar…) which is quite different than her pre-college lifestyle! She even joined me and a couple of friends for our regular morning run at 6:30 this morning and believe me - she has never been a morning person! My friends, who have been on some overnight trips with her, were practically speechless when she got out of the car with me: it was pretty funny. It is nice to see her taking good care of herself and I think her outlook about school is improving as well - she had been a little down about not finding her cohorts, but is more optimistic about things coming together in the near term.</p>
<p>Momofzach: I’m so glad that your son is allright.</p>
<p>EOA: I hope your D gets a bid from the sorority she prefers. My D1 had no interest in greek life before college, but did join a sorority and has had a great experience. D2 decided not to pledge. Greek life is pretty low key at her school, and she didn’t want the committment. She’s been lucky enough to find close friends, so she felt that she didn’t really need to rush.</p>
<p>Cooker: Both of my D’s became more health and fitness oriented in college also. Enjoy the week with your D. </p>
<p>D2 called us last week to tell us that she landed a part-time internship for the semester. She saw a listing that interested her and applied even though she did not expect to get it. It sounds like a great opportunity in two areas that interest her, so she’s very excited. I’m very proud of her. She sent in a resume, cover letter and writing sample on her own and was offered the internship at the interview.</p>
<p>Sorority thing did not work out for D either :(</p>
<p>But she called me this morning and told me 2 of her best friends also did not get in – at all – anywhere – so she doesn’t feel alone. And she said it’s a big time commitment – the girls who got in were out for a while and there are more events planned. Would have been fun, but I think she’s able to see that it might be tough to juggle that plus sports plus school. And she can always try again next year. This is all part of the learning experience (dealing with disappointment).</p>
<p>Gsmomma: I’m sorry that you D is having such a rough week. It’s usually very hard for sophomores to get RA positions. I hope that she finds housing that she’s happy with.</p>
<p>Happy to share your good news MomofZach</p>
<p>Gsmomma - I am a planner extreme so I understand your daughter’s angst and disappointment. What she doesn’t understand (nor should be expected to at this point in her life) is that no matter how much we plan, there are things beyond our control. If the RA job does not happen, it is because there are other opportunities waiting for her. Same with the spot in her sorority house. </p>
<p>When the adoption of my foster daughter fell thru, I was devastated beyond words. I thought I never would recover. Within months I met my wonderful husband and married him the next year and our fabulous child was born the next year. </p>
<p>When one door closes, another opens. That is one of the many wonderful things about life. One day your daughter will be able to look back at this point in her life with perspective. Right now she just needs a shoulder to cry on, lots of hugs and chocolate. The magic trifecta.</p>
<p>wise words from FMM - </p>
<p>just have to add the “magic mom quadfecta:” shoulder to cry on, lots of hugs, chocolate, and chardonnay.</p>
<p>gsmomma - sorry your D did not get a room in the house. Hopefully, the apt thing turns out to ba a better choice. </p>
<p>EAO- good luck to your D, I hope she gets in the sorority of her choice.</p>
<p>Cooker - My S lost 15 lbs last semester trying to eat better. I have no idea why it took going away for him to do that. Nice that your D is taking better care of herself!</p>
<p>momjr - I hope the internship leads to bigger and better things. Kudos to your D for taking the initiative. </p>
<p>class2015 - pooh, sorry the sorority thing did not work out.</p>
<p>Seems like lots of mixed news at the start of semester 2. I admire those kids who are putting themselves out there and taking risks even if not being rewarded right now. Lots to learn.</p>
<p>Talked to DS last night and sounded much happier than last week. Think feels better back in full swing of semester although he did complain mightily about new physics prof. That’s ok - again part of learning process. And sounding good otherwise all that matters to this mom :)</p>
<p>Classof2015: I’m sorry that sorority rush didn’t go your D’s way. The process can be brutal at schools where there aren’t enough spots for all the interested girls. I’m sure that it helps that she has some other friends who didn’t plege also, but I bet that she’s feeling somewhat left out right now. One of D1’s friends didn’t get a bid freshman year, and she had a tough time that semester. Fortunately when she rushed again in the fall, she got into the sorority she wanted. I have to admit that I was somewhat relieved when D2 passed on the whole process.</p>
<p>HI All
Good to catch up.
Spoke with kiddo re skype yesterday–kiddo’s laptop is about 5 months old–and was giving error messages about not being abkle to read lisences for Microsoft Office etc…and kiddo is having issues with opening docs from profs.
And the web cam wasn’t operating.
Really :(</p>
<p>Hoping with tech support at the school etc it may be ironed out. idk.</p>
<p>Rollercoaster of things here…
-a dear CC friend’s dad passed away this weekend…
-a friend is having knee replacement surgery today…
-a friend’s son and DiL arrived late last night from africa with their newly adopted son (about age 10 I think) to an amazing reunion at the airport…their natural born children, cousins, friends, grandparents etc.
<p>Got a good start on travel plans to take kiddo2 on a “intro to college” tour.</p>
<p>thanks momjr for the caring and support. This’ll probably sound like sour grapes, but I wonder at the dynamic rushing creates – you make all these friends in the fall, then this process sort of undermines those friendships. Doesn’t undo them – just makes it harder to maintain and develop them. Or (to look on the bright side), it makes it possible to make new friends. </p>
<p>fogfog – so sorry about your mom – hope she is comfortable – cancer is such a horrible disease.</p>
<p>Fog: I’m so sorry about your mom. I agree with classof2015 - cancer is a horrible disease and it seems to hit most of our families. Hugs to you.</p>
<p>Classof2015: I understand your point about rushing, but I do think that it works better at schools with spring rush instead of fall rush. At least your D has made friends already. My D1 did make new friends in her sorority, but still has friends in other sororities and some who aren’t in sororities. It will be tough on your D for the next few weeks, while the new pledges are really busy with sorority stuff, but once they are initiated, the sorority won’t take up as much time. My D1 saw it from both sides. She was happy that things worked out for her, but felt horrible for her friend. She does have friends who never pledged who have had very satisfying social lives. Right now the best thing you can do is offer your shoulder, hugs and chocolate.</p>
<p>^^
</p>
<p>What – no chardonnay? I thought mnmomof2 said something about chardonnay…</p>
<p>Oh – that’s for the moms – I get it – thanks! :)</p>
<p>Yes, the chardonnay is for us! </p>
<p>Hugs to fogfog. At a party this weekend with a bunch of middleaged folks, every single one of us had an ailing parent. I am very sorry to hear the cancer is spreading.</p>
<p>No news from D about the sorority stuff. I am almost afraid to ask. I wish she had elected to skip the whole thing; she has lovely friends and is busy already. At least it is now and was not in the fall.</p>
<p>Hugs to fog. It is awful to see your parent with a terminal illness.</p>
<p>I’ll have a glass (or 2) of chardonnay, thank you.</p>
<p>I am thinking of sending D1 chocolate care package, even though I will see her Saturday at the sorority initiation luncheon.</p>
<p>I do know what you all mean about making friends, and then having to meet new friends. Rush happened at D’s school after the first term in November. She was hoping to join the same sorority as her best friend, but as things go in recruitment, they are in different sororities. Now that D is most likely not going to live in the house, I am not sure how close the new friendships really will be. She texted me today that one of the girls who did not get a spot burst into tears, and one of the girls who got a spot gave it up. She said that one of the other girls is ‘iffy’, so she has a small chance that she could live in the house.</p>
<p>D1 went to Res. Living and asked about the alternates. They wouldn’t give her any solid information. I am not sure if she asked the right type of question, and if she followed up with more questions, or did she only ask “Is there a list of alternates?”. She claims they said “No”. I think that they thought she was asking to see the list, but what she really meant “Do I have a snowball’s chance of ever being an RA?” (Can you tell that I just attend a class in how to ask the right questions to get the information you need?)</p>
<p>Fog - Thinking of you tonight as you are dealing with your mom’s cancer. Raising a glass in her honor. Hugs to your family. It is never, ever easy.</p>
<p>gsmomma - So sorry your DD is having trouble with housing. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that a space will open up at the sorority house or that an RA position will become available. Being totally qualified for both, and space being the issue, is just so frustrating.</p>
<p>Classof2015 - I hope the sting of the recruitment woes eases for your DD very quickly. Sending hugs and chardonnay (for her and you, in that order 
). Sorority recruitment has just ended at bluejr’s school and many of his friends went out. It was pretty tough evidentially and some friendships are strained due to results. He just smiles, nods, and gives hugs as needed.</p>
<p>Oh fogfog, I am so sorry to learn about your mom. Almost every family I know has been affected by this dreadful disease. I hope that you have a strong support system at home to offer <em>you</em> a shoulder, hugs and chocolate (and wine).</p>
<p>Fog- prayers for your mom</p>
<p>GSMom- Here is hoping your d gets a good residential place next year</p>
<p>Classof2015= It is great that if your d had to not get in that at least she is in the same boat as several of her friends. I think that will help a lot.</p>
<p>D went to student health today for another reason and left with a sinus infection diagnosis, antibiotics and other medications. Her main problem is that the pharmacy here mailed her ADHD medicines to a wrong PO Box= basically her school has PO BOX numbers with 7 digits and they used 6. It never arrived at her box. It is her secondary medication which she uses in the late afternoon. We don’t know what happened to it. Her mailroom says it would have been returned to the pharmacy if they used a return address. As of Saturday, they hadn’t got it. So now she is trying to get another prescription of it but student health needs her records from her doctor. Meantime, she is able to do work but it takes so much longer. A paper that would normally have taken an hour took her four hours. </p>
<p>Meantime, I am suffering through another bout of bronchitis. I never get just a cold because I am on immunesuppressants and also have a chronic condition that makes it so much more likely that a cold turns into a bacterial infection. So I had fun today getting a nebulizer treatment at the doctors, antibiotic and steroid prescriptions, and a chest x-ray for good measure since the last time I had bronchitis, I developed a partially collapsed lung. Of course, my dh is traveling since he always manages to travel when either I am sick or we are having horrid weather. No, it isn’t planned like that but it certainly does happen. At least it happened this last weekend and into this week because next Friday, I have to drive my youngest about four hours to her robotics tournament in Georgia. Just to cap off the day’s miseries, I had my first hot flash today too. Fun, fun, fun.</p>