<p>I agree with glido- either Target gift cards or even Bed, Bath, & Beyond gift cards. Buying all the stuff for the dorm room was really expensive and having those gift cards helped a lot. </p>
<p>My S.O. is coming with me to pick my D up from Barnard. We’re driving most of the way Thursday but staying in the Poconos Thursday night. We’re hoping to leave really early Thursday so we can explore the area a little bit that evening. Early Friday morning we’ll get to NYC and get the girl all packed up. I truly hope she does some packing before we get there as we’ve discussed, but she does have a final late Thursday afternoon so we’ll see.</p>
<p>allboyz - I had to check the name because it sounds like I could have written your post! </p>
<p>Son is home and today was his first day of work. He and his girlfriend are being trained to be part time medical billers. Not a job I’ve ever allowed someone to do with 0 work or life experience but they both did fine their first day. In fact they’re crashing for a few minutes - exhausted from their whopping 5 hours of work. I figure it’s good for him to see that there is actually a company where people work who aren’t related to us. He knows that of course, but it’s different to be in the middle of it. </p>
<p>He’s also doing Atkins now to lose some of the weight he gained the second semester. </p>
<p>My S has been home 2 days and spent his time totally renovating his bedroom from the high school one he left to the cool studio apartment look of a college student. It is a pretty big room so he has both a twin bed and futon couch. Set up his mini-fridge to have snacks close at hand while sitting on the couch watching/playing video games. Built a TV table and working on a desk table to go between dressers. All old traces of HS school work either gone to the trash or stacked neatly in the bottom of the book shelf. Neat to see the transformation the reflects his transformation. Same kid really but older.</p>
<p>When he was little, I used to call it turning a page. When it felt like one day he was doing one thing then the next day he had moved on to be the next boy.</p>
<p>WOW Lakemom - what I would give for my girls to do that! I have a graduating senior and she’s moving out and she still hasn’t removed high school stuff from anywhere. I’m not even hoping for my freshman to do that.</p>
<p>I have told them that they have until August 1 to clean out their shoe closets (came with the house) or it’s mine and any pair I notice hasn’t been worn in two years is being given away. If they would just clean ANYTHING out - desk, room, closet, anything, I’d be doing my happy dance!</p>
<p>that is very clever mihcal1!
yes, i have decided that gift cards or cash with a small gift is the way to go - that is what my kids appreciated the most (next to his Keurig!!) this way they could get what they need. i may do travel umbrellas with the money - it seems almost all the kids forgot umbrellas. That or door stops -</p>
<p>Just moved son out of the dorm today. He was excited to find out he got an A in the one class he thought he might not get an A in - he maintained his 4.0 in mostly 2nd and 3rd year computer science, math & honors college classes. Still no job or internship for the summer though. Hopefully there is still time to dig up some part time or temp work.</p>
<p>Son home. Loves College of Charleston. Honors college has great classes. Has interview tomorrow for camp counselor at Y day camp. Bought him 2 tixs to Jay-Z and JT at Fenway for first year done, and done well! Phew… </p>
<p>Now in process of looking with my junior daughter, who is so much more complicated. After visiting Northeastern today with her, I can say I am done. Any other colleges she likes will have to be evaluated on line, and then in person, if she gets in.</p>
<p>ELKyes: mirror image of mine - DD’12 was the more complicated applicant, our DS’14 will fit in anywhere. He is more chill than she, but they both stressed some. They each find their place. We’ve just got to keep breathing. Glad to hear your son is home.</p>
<p>Sending good vibes to those that need them. So happy for all kids that are home and have finished their freshman year. It really went by fast. D2 has her last final next Thursday. </p>
<p>D2 has a second interview this weekend for Nordstrom (fingers crossed!). With her love of fashion and her style she is an excellent candidate. We have a family friend who works at Nordstrom that put in a good word for her. D2 also has a second interview next week for a summer camp position. This is with a private club near our house that D1 worked at last summer. Pay is $11.50 an hour and D2 can make additional money babysitting for people that are staying at the resort this summer. So right now it looks like she may have two great choices, but not counting on either yet!</p>
<p>H and I leave in 6 days for D1’s college graduation in NYC. I can’t believe how fast these 3 years have gone by. D2 will not be going because of finals, but she is looking forward to having the house to herself. Should I be worried :)</p>
<p>For those of you with kids returning for all or part of the summer: do you think of it as “coming home” or “visiting”? How do they think of it? I’m wondering whether our kids have made the transition to college being “home” yet.</p>
<p>My son definitely feels “home”. Loving his own bed, own room, home cooked meals. Most happy to see our pup. Who can blame him? Things he can do without: us telling him to be quiet at 11 pm, me nagging him to get a job, having to walk said pup.</p>
<p>I think son feels he’s home. He spent time putting his desk in order so he can work there on his computer - something he never bothered with before. It’s nice to see them maturing in so many little ways.</p>
<p>DS was home for 2.5 days and will return for 3 days in June. He will join us on our family vacation for a week. Then he will then be home for less than a week before heading out for his 2nd summer job. He is glad to be home, but to me it feels like a visit. Sad for me, but DS is doing so well, is so happy and is really making things happen for himself that is really a pleasure to see and be part of. Facebook is a wonderful way for us to communicate as he checks in with us often. We do get calls as well, but the pictures and the daily FB messages are awesome!</p>
<p>Found us! It’s been a crazy week, so I’m sorry I missed the detour signs…</p>
<p>Middle son isn’t likely to come home at all this summer, so it won’t be a visit or a homecoming. On the plus side, he’s loving researching and has quickly moved up to “higher” things in the lab (not expecting that - he was told that would come in the fall).</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if my “want to be a doctor since 3rd grade” guy ends up being a researcher - by choice. Time will tell. He’s “wired” to do well with either. Heck, he’s wired to do well at whatever he wants (aside from NFL or NBA, etc). I get jealous…</p>
<p>Mine is visiting in every sense. She is returning for summer school and two different internships in NYC. She asked about it and although I would like her home, I think she’s grown more this year and possibly grew out of some of her friends, not the good ones though. She will be home for ten days either side of the summer which may be just enough for all of us.</p>