<p>snowflake - I agree! I have to really let my son live his own life and make his own choices. We were talking about how many kids seemed to really want to stay up at college and he couldn’t wait to come home for a break, home cooking, see friends and most importantly the girlfriend. </p>
<p>I even decided to stop looking at the online grading website for my younger d. It’s never up to date and caused nothing but stress for all of us. </p>
<p>In fact my son is so happy to just be home and so easy to have around, I get nervous that he gets “too” comfortable here. But after not talking about college at all for about a month, he started commented on moving back into the dorm, a few friends he’s starting to miss (yet not calling or texting), and his classes in the fall. I’m hoping he gets so bored by August he can’t wait to go back, though classes don’t start until September.</p>
<p>Amtc - thanks! I’ve heard nice things about Knox… and always like to have schools in mind to recommend to students when they are looking. Most stay within 4 hours of home (so W. IL wouldn’t work), but some do like to spread their wings.</p>
<p>D2 found out her grades for the second semester and ended the year with a 3.8 GPA so she is very happy.</p>
<p>She is working this summer at Nordstrom in Brass Plum (junior clothes). This has been an eye opening experience for her. Since her ultimate goal is working somewhere in the fashion industry in marketing/PR and eventually as a stylist this is not a bad place for her to be right now. She is getting about 35 hours a week so is learning about being a full time employee!</p>
<p>Creekland - don’t know where you currently live but we’re from NY and it’s a bit of a pain to get to Galesburg but Knox is on a trimester so they come home at Thanksgiving and don’t return until January 2, then home again (if they want to) for a week and a half in late March, then again in June for the summer so there’s not much commuting, which is helpful. The majority of their students come from Illinois/Wisconsin area, Colorado, and California but almost every US state is represented and they have a good sized International population as well. For our daughter and many others it’s the exact right school, commute be damned!</p>
<p>We’re in south central PA… closer than you are, but it still takes the student/parents willing to go outside a 4 hour window. I love that my guys go farther away, but many around here consider us unusual. We’re not the only ones though.</p>
<p>CPU good to hear from you. Hang in there and do not put so much pressure on yourself to read the tea leaves for the future. Study what you love, and remember honors or not Harvard is a great door opener.</p>
<p>amtc, please still check in with us, it has been great to share the journey.</p>
<p>D2 is home and scooping ice cream for dollars. She is a shift supervisor this year and rolls her eyes at the promotion, but from my perspective showing progress in increasing responsibility is a good thing - even if it is scooping ice cream. She had a fantastic year. Lots of performance opportunities in theatre and a capella, many good friends, loved her dorm and her classes, holding a 3.7 GPA and the opportunity to politically active in causes she is passionate about. Happy to be home for the summer (me too) but looking forward to next year.</p>
<p>We went to see D1 in Argentina a few weeks ago. As a note for the future the study abroad thing is a fabulous experience. D1 has not always been happy but has grown so much more independent and able to manage in a very big city, very far from home and in a different language. The Argentinian system is somewhat chaotic, and the academics have been frustrating for my compulsive and highly organized first-born, but learning to deal with chaos is another important life lesson. So has the process of setting up to live off campus next year, and organizing to write a thesis. She is beginning to look at grad schools and it is interesting to see the difference in her approach from the application to undergrad. Emotionally she is much more able to take things in stride.</p>
<p>I am looking forward to August when both girls will be home for a few weeks, maybe for the last time ever. Now that is a strange thought. Wishing everyone a great summer.</p>
<p>D2 is working part time as a babysitter for an adorable 4 year old. She is only working few hours a day, but her pay is more than what she would have been paid if she was a camp counselor working 8-10 hours a day. The sad/funny thing is D2 enjoys everything this 4 year old likes to do - coloring, reading, playing house. She is also teaching the kid how to read for free.</p>
<p>My D has also been taking full advantage of her chance to rest up. She has spent the last few weeks sleeping, veg’ing, and reading, and hanging out w/friends. She starts a 10-week tech internship next Monday, which will run until just before the beginning of fall semester.</p>
<p>It’s been a challenging to juggle one kid (D2012) in R&R mode, and the other kid (D2015) studying for APs, SATIIs, end-of-year school projects, and finals.</p>
<p>I am going to brag here. D2 just found she has been selected as a college scholar at her school. She will be able to design her own program with no particular major. They only select a handful of students each year for the program. She is very excited and we are proud.</p>
<p>Sounds like everyone has been really busy (kids and adults)! </p>
<p>Just to catch up-S has been home since the end of April. He has learned for next year to start the job hunt much sooner. He does have an interview Tuesday but he will only be able to work for 8 1/2 weeks so I am not sure if they will go for that. I definitely want him to mention he can come home and work one weekend a month and during breaks. Hopefully that will do the trick. He desparately wants to get a job where as in the past he did not work. This is all new ground for him.</p>
<p>I have also been looking to change jobs. I will be on a months break starting Wednesday and really do not want to go back in the middle of July. I am getting the interviews but not sticking the landing. Maybe because they have all been after work and I look pretty haggered after working in a HS all day. I also have an interview on Tuesday (first thing in the morning). Hoping this is the one for me and I am the one for them!! It would be so cool if we both interviewed the same day and both got the jobs!</p>
<p>We have been going to yard sales to look for a bike for S to take back to campus. I am not totally thrilled with the idea but what are you supposed to say to an almost 20 year old? I guess just “Please be safe”!? We did find one today (yay!). He did not want to spend big bucks since it will be for campus. It is a lovely yellow/neon orange with a brown seat. Does not scream “steal me” and he was happy. $25!</p>
<p>We are doing good with sharing the one car. If you will remember, he just got his license right before he went to school last year. He has been doing well. So far it has not been a problem since he does not have a job to go to. At my current job I get off at 3:30 so evening hours are fine when he gets a job. However-the job I am interviewing for probably gets done at 5 and will take 30 minutes (?) to get home. But we can work all that out if we both get the jobs.</p>
<p>Hope everyone is enjoying the start of summer and all of the kids get to experience what they set out to do on their time off.</p>