<p>pounce - Sending some good vibes your DD’s way. Here is a little story for you. I suffered from tonsillitis throughout my childhood and into college years - until a very scary doctor told me that the next time I presented with the symptoms I would have to have my tonsils removed. Never had tonsillitis again - seriously. Probably just a coincidence - but makes for a nice story. All the best…</p>
<p>^same thing happened to me, but I was in high school. The power of the mind! :D</p>
<p>Cari: I’m whipping up a huge batch of comfort Arroz con Leche for you; I’ve swirled a little something special 
into the milk to take the stress down a level. Relax on the lounge chair, and I’ll roller skate it over to you as soon as it is cooked.</p>
<p>The essays are only for kids who want to join a special interest living group within a dormitory. It is optional, but it is a way to get on a floor of kids who have a similar interest and want to do activities related to it over the next year. Many of them are competitive to get into, so you have to write an essay about why you want to be in the group and how you will contribute… IMHO the essays are solely a means to get those of us on roller skates to want to plop back down into a lounge chair and throw a towel over our heads.</p>
<p>DDHM - well that sounds like a really fun reason to have to write an essay.</p>
<p>momofmusician - OK - good to know I am not alone. And yes, the power of the mind…</p>
<p>a couple of pages back someone mentioned “swizzle level executive skills” - swizzle, if you’re giving lessons, I’m signing up. </p>
<p>that will save me from repeating the latest bad mommy trick - forgetting to mail the bag of dresses (and shoes) for Sadie Hawkins day, senior dinner, final ball, and probably something else that just isn’t registering right now, to D13 at boarding school until it’s almost too late, meaning 2nd day air instead of surface. Ouch.</p>
<p>DD13 is sure to recover quickly because: She’s been on antibiotics since Friday, she had a nice dose of sunny vitamin D yesterday, you’re sending kind healing vibes… and last but not least she now wants to go to Disneyland on Wednesday! (It’s a no school day.) Oh to be young! I’m now expecting a miracle recovery and all school work caught up by Tuesday. :D</p>
<p>YDS - glad prom was good by you Congrats on the nomination!</p>
<p>DDHM - more essays :mad:. We’ve still got some outside scholarships on the list but S13 is not terribly invested. On the other hand, AP tests are coming and it’s concert season for everyone, so I find it hard to push. Fortunately, it sounds like ND has some excellent direction coming our way shortly about when to do what.</p>
<p>I was quiet today because I had <strong><em>nothing to do</em></strong> other than sign S13 up for summer baseball, which took 15 minutes. So I sat on the couch all morning catching up on DVR’d TV and then took a nap after lunch. Heaven :D</p>
<p>My only regret is missing Kennedy’s breakfast!</p>
<p>Kennedy - I’m glad your D made the decision about what to do and is comfortable with the choice. That’s most important.</p>
<p>Haystack - what fun! Like the county fair on steriods! </p>
<p>EastGrad, glad your S is having a great time - definitely a different look at the school than anyone else had.</p>
<p>Pouncecat - hope she feels better soon! What bad timing…</p>
<p>{{{Hugs}}} Cari! Hang in there.</p>
<p>Oddly, doc told me to take S13’s tonsils out, and he never had tonsillitis again. He must have been 12… I wonder if he heard me ranting against the doc to DH?</p>
<p>LOL DDHM - go ahead and take a seat, I’m ready to serve - Arroz con Leche and a tray of drinks coming right up.</p>
<p>ssacdfamily - will it make you feel any better to know that I spent a panicked 45 minutes today trying to figure out how to get D15’s prescription paid for because I forgot to put money in her bank account? :o Boarding school is not for the weak of heart, or the weak of organization!</p>
<p>Also, for those paying close attention - I actually wrote yesterday’s line of the song based on the sound of the “four” line so I moved it. There’s still a new line. Call it poetic license…</p>
<p>Twelve Days of Decisions:</p>
<p>On the fourth day of decisions, S13 said to me:
“Do they have my major?”
“Silly mascot”
“Too many loans!”
“But Mom, I still love my safety…”</p>
<p>Silly mascot! ;)</p>
<p>Confetti-- we are so sloshed that we had no idea which day you were on anyway. We just try to remember the tune as we sing it to ourselves.</p>
<p>Strategy? I’m supposed to have a strategy? Uff-da! I just asked him whether he thinks of himself primarily as a HS student or a college student. He answered HS. I pointed out that it is time to shift his mindset – and it is actually more important to his college career to get into the seminar program than to study a few more hours for APs he can’t use for credt. He’s working on the essays now. ;)</p>
<p>Re the song, I think one of Unicameral’s schools actually did offer her four golden rings.</p>
<p>^ No doubt! SomeOldGuy, I like your style. </p>
<p>Anyone have thoughts on declining scholarships at schools that won’t be attended? I’m thinking it doesn’t hurt to send a professional “thanks for the excellent offer” email since you never know who might read it. Am I overthinking?</p>
<p>Yes, DS sent personal emails to schools that gave him scholarships/ courted him. </p>
<p>Sent from my SGH-T999 using CC</p>
<p>Some Old Guy, sounds like a strategy, even if it is a reverse strategy, to me. Very clever. </p>
<p>Tougis, is Uni a girl? My goodness, been thinking “him” this entire time.</p>
<p>Carimama, sending iHugs and this mantra for you to repeat “happy independent life…happy independent life.” You might have missed it the first time around.</p>
<p>Confetti, I am now humming the 12 Days intermittently with “happy independent life.” Family continues to think I’m crazy. </p>
<p>Son also sent personal emails and/or personal notes when he turned down a few scholarships.</p>
<p>AND, speaking of DS13, he is home safely from Boston. Wanted to hold his hand through the airport, but restrained myself. Thanks again, Support Team a.k.a. Parents of the HS Class of 2013/College Class of 2017!</p>
<p>hehehe yes, I am a girl!</p>
<p>I just have to vent for a second. MY FATHER IS BEING A MORON. So I’ve been researching literally everything I can find, trying to make this college decision, right? And first off, he has been totally removed from my entire college search process (though we are very close and normally I love him <3 ). So today, I tell him that I’m basically ready to make a decision, because one school is a better fit for XYZ reasons. So NOW he decides to tell me that he thinks I should pick the school that would be a WORSE fit for me, because don’t I want to learn to handle difficult situations? Aren’t I up to the challenge? I can’t even. So I got really ****ed off and sad, because here I had basically made a decision, and he pooped all over it. And then he goes and says he just didn’t want me to make a decision too hastily. Helllllllloooooooooo. I’VE BEEN FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS FOR 6 MONTHS. And now I finally have a good idea of what I want in a college, and he tells me that crap?!?!?! What sort of logic is that? Figure out what your top choice is, get accepted to it, and then pick a DIFFERENT school to show that you can handle less-than-ideal circumstances. Sounds like a GENIUS plan. UGH.</p>
<p>Sorry. Just wanted to get that off my chest. Back to your regularly scheduled programming…</p>
<p>Uni - I’ll tell you what I tell my own DD13 … just breathe. It’s good to vent for a minute - feel free to vent here - then deep breath… go to your happy place. I hope you have one - that’s just a place you go in your mind. Close your eyes, lay down if you can and imagine that place. That place may be a warm beach or a high mountain pass - any where you have a happy memory. Stay there for a couple of minutes then address the problem again.</p>
<p>As a parent I can tell you we can be oblivious. Surprise! As calmly as you can tell him of your six months of research and planning…then tell him exactly what you just said because you do make sense… why would you go to a place just to struggle. Perhaps he didn’t mean it that way? It will work out. He’ll be proud of you.</p>
<p>Good morning all! I’m back from my week in Prague! I won’t be able to get caught up on all your posts, but let’s just say “Congratulations” on all the decisions made, scholarships received, etc! One talented bunch!</p>
<p>Here’s what I missed at home while I was gone: National Merit breakfast (in which S was honored and had to sing, so he said “I was entertained myself”, piano recital (Dad said he performed “admirably”) and the Annual Police Awards Banquet (S sang National Anthem and got to sit with the Police Chief for the dinner). He’s still in the running for Prom King - voting end this week, but it won’t be announced until Prom. Choir trip to the beach starts Friday morning - yay!</p>
<p>D1 was doing well in Prague, but she’s really ready to come home. I think the strain of not really speaking the language well is wearing on her. She said that everything is a struggle. Oh well, it was still a good experience. She still has 2 short trips planned (Slovenia and Hungary) before she flies back to DC in 3 weeks to start her National Park internship. </p>
<p>Oh, and I certainly lifted many glasses of pilsner in your honor while in Prague.</p>
<p>Just checking in to catch up on everyone’s progress. Drinks all around on the Lido Deck–mimosas of celebration for those who have the decision behind you and something stronger to those who are still waiting.</p>
<p>OldGuy–your Norwegian background is showing. ;)</p>
<p>You betcha! </p>
<p>Back to the point, I’m trying very hard not to impose my “strategy” for getting him to write these things. I think my role here is to help him distill his core interests and priorities – while hopefully making those HIS idea. After all, I’m not going to be at school next year reminding him when deadlines come up. </p>
<p>Where I think a lot of HS kids need help, though, is in sifting through everything they are told is “important” and deciding which things are MOST important to them. If they try to do everything without keeping some priorities in mind, they get overwhelmed. </p>
<p>Similarly, his college list was HIS list, and when he came to me with his ED choice, we talked for about half an hour. I didn’t tell him he was wrong, but I did tell him I had guessed he was going to come back to me with [LAC REDACTED] rather than a mid-sized university based on all that he had said was important to him and our visits. But he had good answers for all my questions about his choice and how he had determined that it met his needs. And, underneath all the Socratic exterior, I was thrilled (since I like where he’s going a wee bit better than [LAC REDACTED]).</p>
<p>Oh, and your Monday morning music selection has sometimes been called “the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ of alternative rock” and contains the best guitar riff of the entire second British invasion. How soon is “now” for the USS Indecision? For prom? For all that pre-collegiate stuff that is getting started? Stay tuned this week to see. </p>