<p>amtc - so happy to hear how many options she has, and what a great way for her to learn to address issues and get a good solution. My son would snag a single in a heartbeat and he likes his roomie!</p>
<p>I also got a little sad over how happy S is at school - isn’t that weird? Do I just have to worry about something? There’s a few little things bothering me but I have to accept that if he’s happy does it matter if he makes the same choices I would? Isn’t that part of growing up? We assumed there would be a learning curve on how to be a college student and I’m glad it’s not taking forever to get the hang of it.</p>
<p>I’ve got to start figuring out what to do with myself post kids. I still have one at home and I do understand now why people have only kids. It sure is a lot easier on the schedule, cleaning up, etc. And I’ve been a little prickly with hubby, poor guy.</p>
<p>D2 is in a single and loving it. She has her circle of friends, so she is never lonely. But she has a place to go back to to have some “me time” whenever it gets to be too much. She told me that she wouldn’t answer her door if she wanted some peace and quiet. In the last week she has been sick with a bad cold, so she has been going to bed early and taking naps in the afternoon. I don’t think it is a bad idea to have single if it is an option.</p>
<p>amtc - really glad there are options and things will work out.</p>
<p>Our house feels weird. In the past 3 years we’ve gone from 3 boys to just the 1 left here now. I guess to sum it up, it makes me feel old. I try not to dwell on it, and instead, remember my college days and how happy I was to leave the nest. Then hubby and I plan for our future in just two short years. What we plan may never happen or not quite the way we planned it, but the planning and thinking itself is liberating.</p>
<p>amtc-- so glad everything worked out for your daughter!</p>
<p>I’m strongly considering requesting a room change. When proctors and deans and professors can visibly notice that “something” is negatively affecting me when I don’t even realize it, I think it’s time for me to leave. I talked to some people and they said it would have to be basically a volatile situation ie constant yelling or threatening (or actual physical harm) for room changes to happen. I’m not that kind of person to ever let it escalate to that point but that doesn’t mean I should stay here when my overall experience here is being colored. </p>
<p>I will talk to someone Friday about actually moving forward with a room change. Anywhere I move to with aesthetically be a downgrade but I’d rather live in a cubby hole by myself than live in a huge suite where I don’t feel comfortable or respected.</p>
<p>CPU- glad you are checking in, how is your head/concussion after effects? Sorry about your housing issues, I hope you can get something worked out.</p>
<p>Glad for the kids who are doing well, and sorry for the parents who are missing them. We miss D also, we won’t see her until Christmas which will be over four months after dropping her off in mid Aug. It is a long time, but I think we are getting through it better than when we dropped D1 off with the same period length. I think we know how to handle it better this time.</p>
<p>Absolutely, CPU. Your dorm life can have a direct correlation with your academic performance. I am betting people will help you make that change ASAP.</p>
<p>atmc - Glad to hear the dorm situation is working well. When our kids are happy, it does make it easier to be happy as well. </p>
<p>I am definitely feeling better today about my S being gone. I think I was truly surprised at my feelings. Up to this visit, I had been pretty happy, staying busy and thinking that I had somehow escaped the “empty nest blues”. Apparently, I was just delusional I guess no matter how many children you have or how far away they go, there is still a time for grieving for what was. </p>
<p>Now on to the future… It’s great hearing about everyones new interests!</p>
<p>My D also having roomie issues - the initial honeymoon is more than over and not sure where it will end up. Roomie is aggressive and they both annoy the hell out of each other. Roomie is supposedly actively seeking to move (if that can even happen) and my D thinks it is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Oh, the work load is kicking her butt (two labs and varsity sport not helping). Hoping for the joy of week 1&2 to return!!!</p>
<p>I have an empty nest but am okay - just enjoy much more beer/margarita time with friends. Gaining weight so that has to stop. Elliptical machine in the house now - more time needs to be spent on that torture device.</p>
<p>My son flew back to school yesterday without incident. The house is quiet again. He spent his break playing his Xbox and finishing a paper. He will not be home again until after finals, December 19 so he really enjoyed this home time. Thanksgiving we are all meeting up north to share the holiday with the extended family. </p>
<p>We do need to start looking into the summer abroad programs soon. DS said that he missed the first open house since he had class but it is something he would like to do. He has always wanted to do a Spanish immersion program. He is almost fluent now, after 5 years of HS Spanish and half a semester of college FL. I don’t have any idea how to get this ball rolling and DS is not very proactive. He will go to the head of the CIPA programs at his school and inquire though. He would like to do a six week summer session.</p>
<p>DS is working hard and seems happy. A’s or A-'s in 4 classes, and a B in one. He also got 100% on his last Anthropology test! The class average was a B -, so he must be doing something right! He seems to have found the balance between “fun” and study. He says that he takes it week by week. We are just so happy that he is working hard. He didn’t always work hard in HS, just did the absoulute minimum to get the “A”, barely. He loves his school, is happy with his RM, and seems to be participating in a variety of activities. Last night he was at a discussion of the Israeli-Palastinian conflict. Something he should know a lot about, but doesn’t. He went with an Israeli friend, so that should have been interesting! However, his latest facebook picture (of the ones I am allowed to see) shows his bare chested self, decked out in school colors at a home football game. Balance, it is all about balance. I miss him, but it is easier to deal with the change in the house when I know he is so happy and successful.</p>
<p>A summer is Spain sounds great seiclan! When is the best time to do a semester abroad. Back in the day, most went abroad junior year, but I hear many schools prefer to have kids abroad sophomore year, so they are on the home campus for upper level courses in their major. Anybody know?</p>
<p>My D is also looking at study abroad, and is currently leaning towards spring semester of sophomore year. Rumor has it that starting junior year she will be very busy with her Honors/Capstone project.</p>
<p>I think study abroad timing is dependent on the school and the major. In the Business School, DD’s chosen study abroad semester program is all 300 level courses and above, and one of the schools minimum eligibility requirements is “a Junior or Senior standing.” So, no haggling there :)</p>
<p>He would love to spend the summer in Spain. It would be preferable to do it this summer so that it fulfills his language requirement and doesn’t conflict with the business school curriculum. He may also do a semester abroad with the business school but that is not a Spanish immersion program. I don’t know any real info though and will help him do some research into his options.</p>
<p>My DD’s have friends who have done the Middlebury programs. Great for fluency, although not so great for culture and for losing that American accent. My guess is that the school will have a long list of summer abroad programs, particularly if he is looking for an academic program. Keep in mind S America too. D1 has a friend who spent last summer - as winter - in Chile.</p>
<p>D1 is heading to Buenos Aires for her spring semester this (junior) year. Junior year is the year abroad choice at her school and almost all of her friends are gone for one or two semesters this year. However, she has HS friends at Kenyon, and UT Austin who did semesters abroad as sophomores. She will not likely take any classes for her major next year - but started taking upper level electives last spring and should be right on track for her requirements.</p>
<p>D2 is thinking about summer plans as well. At the moment that consists of trying to get summer stock auditions. If that does not work out I expect summer abroad programs will be the next choice with scooping ice cream at home for the summer as the fall back and distant third.</p>
<p>I may be a lurker but page 2 will not do :)</p>
<p>I’m glad to read that most kids are adjusting well, and that those who’ve had speed bumps are at least learning and growing from their experiences.</p>
<p>S is coming to end of just the third week of classes so he seems to be in the honeymoon period academically. He’s in a calculus class that seems to still be reviewing his 12th grade work, plus two heavy reading-and-writing humanities courses. He’s always been a quick and comprehensive reader so that doesn’t seem to be a problem and is only now being assigned his first papers. He’s on a quarter system and so must take 3-4 classes. Of course, helicopter mom suggested he enrol in 4 and drop one if needed. Despite (or because :eyeroll:) of this, he enrolled in 3 when he would have been able to handle 4. Oh well, certainly not a fatal mistake.</p>
<p>The RM seems lovely, S is hot and heavy already with the club team in his fave sport, and he seems excited to see us one week from tomorrow when we join him for Family Weekend. Oh, and for those of you with sons, count us among those whose boys do not initiate much if any contact. On the plus side though, he does seem to always be happy to hear from us. We are seriously loving FaceTime…</p>
I guess no matter how many children you have or how far away they go, there is still a time for grieving for what was. </p>