<p>Hopefully if he’s feeling well enough to joke about it, then he’s not too sick.</p>
<p>I think the worst part is when you’re spaced out on meds and just can’t concentrate like you normally can. So, you’re not ill enough to skip exams and take incompletes, but you can’t really do your best, either.</p>
<p>Powering through everyday stuff when you’re sick is one thing. Powering through finals is another.</p>
<p>dwhite, major props to you for having a son who talks and listens about feelings! It seems so hard for so many men-- it will give him so much over the course of his life. These first breakups are murder–I still remember my own all these years later. But I hope you can take a little comfort that he knows how to turn to family and friends for talk and love.</p>
<p>SteveC–awww, sorry to hear Barney doesn’t work for male bonding!! </p>
<p>But seriously, I think those of you with kids dealing with heartbreak have an extra layer of stress that makes the early college days so much more tumultuous and difficult.</p>
<p>Also, all those sickies out there–oh my!! Just got a flu shot for my youngest and am hoping S got his at school. If not, he will get one when he gets home for winter break.</p>
<p>My big conversation with S this week…(text) Me: “Hi”, S: “yo”.</p>
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<p>I find myself looking at D2 (HS2015) and thinking “isn’t it about time for you to go away to college?” And then I feel horribly guilty!</p>
<p>Got a late night text from my kid saying her roommate is transferring to a different small college a couple of states away. She’ll start the next semester there. </p>
<p>I’m assuming one big reason is because the roomie’s boyfriend attends that other college otherwise the girl could’ve gone anywhere that would accept her since she’s a full-pay student. (with some merit aid from the current college) I think the mom had told us the girl has dated that guy over a year. I think they’re currently a 5 or 6 hour drive apart. I hope this works out well for the roomie, she’s a really nice girl.</p>
<p>Oh no, garmy D leaving? too bad.</p>
<p>I hear mihcal is famous now.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15125250-post20.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15125250-post20.html</a></p>
<p>texaspg - the girl is transferring to Rhodes. No word yet on visitation rights with Garmy.</p>
<p>Hi SteveC! hahahah on class reunion! I was thinking of you when the boy’s band covered a Chili Peppers song to wrap up their last show! :D</p>
<p>I must be more careful what I post in future. :o</p>
<p>dwhite, I can really sympathize with the break up blues. My D’s bf broke up with her before Thanksgiving. She saw him a little when she came home - just for resolution - but the last week or so has been really hard for her since in her mind there might never be anyone else she thinks is so perfect for her. Now she’s suffering through anniversaries of their first meeting, first date, first kiss, etc. She’s apparently very sentimental that way and kept track of all the dates. She’s worried about winter break since her favorite activities are things he does too, and she will invariably see him. She tried to get a counseling appt at school, but they were all booked - no doubt because a lot of other kids are going through stressful things. I know that only time and other experiences will really heal this - and from my own memory I know it can take quite a lot of time. Hope your S feels better soon… All we can do is sympathize.</p>
<p>Nice to see everyone and hear updates … especially on that crazy RM mom. Looking forward to winter break.</p>
<p>Two weeks from today and we get to pick middle son up from the airport rather than my heading off to school… not that I’m counting or anything. ;)</p>
<p>I really feel for youngest. In what is probably his favorite class (high school) he got a 60% and 69% on two labs posted yesterday. He got paired with low students in the class and is figuring they didn’t do that well on their part (will find out for sure today). When we asked him why he didn’t do it all (to ensure a good grade) he told us they were told they would all get zeros if one person did the whole thing. He had a high B in the class. Now he has a low C. I really, really detest group projects like this, but our school is insisting on teachers including more and more of them. And there’s nothing I can do by talking with the teacher… Poor guy.</p>
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<p>It would be unfair to your S if they were not allowed to help each other in the process.</p>
<p>I guess we are all having end-of semester issues! Hugs to all the sick and heart-broken kids, may they recover quickly, get through finals and come home so we can see their faces and feel better ourselves. After all, isn’t this about us too???</p>
<p>Kathieh1 - Sorry for your D - sounds like the identical situation. That Thanksgiving “resolution” get-together wasn’t the best idea for either of our kids. I think that is what made things worse for my S. All we can do is listen, offer advice, and promise them it will get better. I hope your D feels better soon - she sounds like such a sweet girl keeping track of all that stuff. A good ole hopeless romantic, perhaps? Hopefully, she is able to focus on her school work - feeling so distracted can make it more difficult for them. Hugs to her and you. </p>
<p>Maybe we should have them text each other - they can be the first members of the “CC Virtual Offspring Support Group” :)</p>
<p>So good to see some of the old timers checking in after long absences. Please stay! Sorry to hear about the illnesses and turkey drops. We know it makes them stronger to live through these things - but that does not make it easier to watch.</p>
<p>D2 does not come home until the 21st. She has only one final - but it is at the very end of finals week. She also has a lot of performances this month - including caroling at the airport. She will only be home for a short time for winter break and then heads out “on tour” with her a cappella group until school starts. Luckily D1 has a very long break since she heads to S. America for a semester abroad and they do not start until late February.</p>
<p>My son doesn’t come home until the night of the 19th since his last final ends at 3. I haven’t spoken to him since last Friday and it’s nerve wracking. I did get a 1:45AM text on Tuesday so there is proof of life but no real information. I wonder if he will ever be more communicative. IOW, I am not really sure if this is still an adolescent breaking away thing or the new(since about 12-13) him.</p>
<p>seiclan…my oldest son went to the same school your son attends. My guess is that your son is in the around-the-clock pressure that goes with finals. It’s an intense school sometimes and kids feed off one another. Actually, this is common to a lot of schools.</p>
<p>So even if you just finished a four hour study session, and you consider leaving the library…you see other kids sitting there studying and you feel like you shouldn’t leave because they are still studying (and you don’t know if they just started, or have been there 2 hours or 4 hours or 6 hours).</p>
<p>My kid used to describe the feeling of living in a different continuum where all external considerations just fall away…you study, you study, you study, eat and sleep and that’s it.</p>
<p>Finals don’t start until next Thursday but I do think he is in some sort of end of semester hell week! I just hope he is handling it okay. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think the week before finals is the most stressful–all of those final projects and papers due. It is huge. My guess is that is that they are at their busiest now. Yay, S gets home on the 15th.</p>
<p>texaspg–HI!</p>
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<p>I don’t particularly see where it’s any more “unfair” than his having to share a bad grade with them when he would have done much better on his own. I can even see everyone working together to do the lab, then each individual composing their own report based upon it, but in this case, one person was responsible for designing, one for running, and one for typing the final report. My guy designed and they all really had input on the running even though one “technically” ran it. He is guessing the person who typed it all up left a lot to be desired (not unusual), but again, will know more when they go over it today. Neither of the others had any brainstorms as to the design, so, his position had to be there.</p>
<p>When he has done his own labs they have been As or Bs (need a 93 in this school for an A). For these they got a 60 and 69 respectively on two they handed in yesterday. They only do these in class - no chance to work on them outside of school aside from the typing and, sometimes, inspiration.</p>
<p>But I digress… and I think I’ll love the “year after apps” when I’m finally there with all three of mine (one to go). I’m sort of wistful that some of you are already there. ;)</p>
<p>Seiclan - I hope your guy is doing ok. To be honest, when oldest left the communication dropped off a bit, but it’s dropped off a ton now (junior in college). It’s like he really wants to fly away from the nest. I’ve only talked with him twice since August and no e-mails after he got all his books. Middle son is completely different. Youngest will be like oldest. I really don’t know that we (parents) can change anything. They are who they are. No matter what I love them all, but I certainly appreciate how middle son stays in touch weekly.</p>
<p>Got a long text yesterday from DS saying he is sorry that he has not called, but it is crazy, crazy, crazy with finals and studying. He finished a paper on Sunday, had his chem lab final and calc final this week and has his chem final next week. Seems to be doing well, except for Chem with the professor who curves down. Has an A in Chem lab, a C in Chem class. He is studying in the library for hours, so we really can’t ask for more than that. His text ended with, “College is hard.” </p>
<p>On a positive note and not so positive note, DH has arranged an Lab internship over the break. Good news is DS gets paid for the 15 full time days he will be in the lab and will get some great experience! I, however, am no so happy with DH who booked him EVERYDAY he is home except weekends to work. Well, and the week off between xmas and New Years when we will be traveling to DHs family. So, no hanging out with DS for me. He will be working or hanging with friends. Not happy about that. 
At least he gets some lab experience.</p>