<p>Good morning! Happy launching to all those launching and hugs to everyone who might need one.</p>
<p>S3 has always been my easiest, most independent kid. So on the one hand launching was easy because I don’t really worry to much about him making friends, etc… But the hard part is that he is SO independent he doesn’t communicate with me nearly as much as the other two. I have to PRY things out of him. Most of his communication with his siblings is through “snapchat” (a phone ap). So I joined so that I might get a little more communication. The problem is the pictures only stay up for like 3 seconds and then they disappear and my mind doesn’t work that fast! So far he has sent me pictures of the view from his bed in the dorm, a treadmill and the french fries he had for lunch. I guess it is better than nothing.</p>
<p>Tx5-
You can take a screenshot of any snap chat photos you receive. At least on an iPhone you can. The sender of the pic receives notice that you took a screenshot. </p>
<p>Well, y’all - I finally get on the plane to head to London for good this afternoon. I won’t have reliable Internet for a week or two (6-8 week wait for Internet hookups) so I wish all of you and your kids well. </p>
<p>I just finished making a semesters worth of care packages for both kids. My mom is going to send them at regular intervals. s2’s birthday is tomorrow and, while we celebrated last weekend, I’m still a little sad not to be there. He has plenty of friends at school (kids he met over the years at various camps and competitions) so I know he’ll have a great birthday. </p>
<p>This is all so new, but exciting!! Cheers to a great year for everyone!!</p>
<p>drmom, I don’t think there is much you can do except express your concern. Maybe check into how many weeks she has to drop a class?</p>
<p>My D will meet with her advisor and sign up for classes this weekend, but she has a good idea of what she wants to take and everyone only takes 4 classes, so I think she’ll be OK.</p>
<p>Megpmom, wish you the best of luck on your adventure in London. Let us know how it is.</p>
<p>It was 100 degrees at move in today. Yes!!! That’s One Hundred Fahrenheit. I have no idea how anyone functioned. Hottest day of my life, have never been in that kind of heat personally.</p>
<p>We showed up with a large truck filled with dorm stuff pulling a U Haul 9 foot trailer of living room stuff with 2 heavy sectional couch pieces. I had heard from all of you that something close to the entire football team would be waiting to help unload.</p>
<p>I couldn’t even get into the parking lot with the rig so I had to park down the street. I quickly realized that parents were carting the stuff across the parking lots. But wait!! where’s all those eager upper class men that were supposed to be helping??? Did I mention that these parents had T Shirts that were already soaked through??</p>
<p>I quickly told D that I would “guard the car”, with AC on of course, while she waited in the long line in the sun for sign in. I could only make 3 round trips with stuff before I suddenly told D I would make her bed, I was an old lady, and she needed to unload everything herself. Bless her heart she schlepped it out. She finally found two strapping boys to carry the big couches in and then the other Dads man handled them around in the small living area. </p>
<p>I will say that their living area is the envy of the dorm with the big sectional, gorgeous new area rug, silk pillows and a large wall tapestry. They are girls and there doesn’t seem to be any video games in the decor, not even a TV. They have a fancy room, but I guess all the guys will be flocking to Megpmom’s son’s room for the gaming.</p>
<p>By 5pm I was dripping wet and had to forgo Parent Meeting to go back to hotel with shower and AC.</p>
<p>Tomorrow is full day of parent orientation. I’m sure I need to go to every important session that is in an air conditioned room and will avoid anything involving walking across the campus to sit in the “park” for a speech.</p>
<p>I know I stressed to my D that this first semester was all about finding a balance between academics, making friends, and discovering activities she’s passionate about. To not make the mistake of spending too much time on one at the sacrifice of the other. When she found her niche & pace she’d feel balanced not overwhelmed. </p>
<p>She’s taking a full load with room to drop if needed. She originally considered taking 3 math/science classes. I suggested she take 2 and pick up a subject that’s always interested her and it’s turned out to be her favorite class.</p>
<p>drmom, this was something that D and I talked about before she went. Thankfully, D knew that she would be very busy with another fall activity and recognized the need for this term to be a “transitional” one. She didn’t take all of my advice about what to take (which, I think is a good thing, since I want her to spread her wings and make choices for herself) but she did plan a “lighter” schedule. I talked with a few advisors/ deans etc. about this and they all stressed that the first semester should not be the time to take on an extra hard schedule because first year’s are often not prepared for the workload and have a difficult time balancing everything. I assume that your D has an advisor? Does the advisor review the final schedule? I also find that sometimes my D will take advice from her older sibling on such things when words from mom can cause her to do the opposite… Perhaps that would help in your situation if you are truly concerned.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Just returned from two weeks on the road launching the twins and helping family while up north. Successfully avoided a car crash that occurred with two tailgaters one car ahead of us. I was praying the automotive detritus didn’t rupture our tires, as the spare was utterly buried under the Dual Volcanoes and Pyroclastic Mound in back of the SUV. Had we been driving one second faster, one car would have T-boned into my right shoulder and hip.</p></li>
<li><p>Double Dorm mountain successfully stayed on the roof, as well made it past the 137 speed traps in Virginia (by virtue of obeying the speed limit). What is going on in VA?</p></li>
<li><p>I laughed at all of y’all with those trailers up and down the east coast. Heh, heh. (Pointing a rude finger at SOG…)</p></li>
<li><p>Interesting to compare the two universities. One was awesome at pre-orientation move-in logistics (the other, not so much). The other had a much better parent orientation, however.</p></li>
<li><p>DTwins were suspiciously happy to be left on campus. No tears. I choose to believe that is because I raised well adjusted young adults, not because they are pleased to shed the Old Nag. They have both made several friends immediately so I am thankful. Pre-orientation and orientation programs helped a lot to match kids together with similar interests.</p></li>
<li><p>DD13 so far has awoken with benefit of the “I can’t wake up!” app and gotten to class on time. Hooray! She claims she cannot find anything good to eat, however.</p></li>
<li><p>This same DD13, the one with 16 shoes packed, forgot to pack her running shoes. I learned this on Thursday after 6 days of Radio Silence. I now understand how Houston felt during Apollo 13th’s descent through the 4+ minutes of Communications Blackout.</p></li>
<li><p>DS13 found a good living group which which to live, but I’m not convinced his freshman adviser gave him perfect advice on which classes to take. I am not liking this total lack of control (or even advice) stage of parenthood. As infants, I controlled their hours, as children I controlled their days. Now I won’t even influence important decisions over the next many years. (One moment…breathing a bit into paper bag…)</p></li>
<li><p>Extra thick mattress pads are insufficient for dorm beds. Should have bought the expensive toppers. The silver lining is that it is easier to get out of bed when it is lumpy and uncomfortable, especially when your wake up app makes you do math problems.</p></li>
<li><p>DS13 was assigned a triple on Thursday, but I am still awaiting a description of his new roommates…(fingers drumming impatiently…). All I’ve heard is a one line text requesting more memory foam padding.</p></li>
<li><p>The home looks like a tornado swept through it from the last minute room sorting, possessions purging, and packing. I’ve got a month of cleaning now.</p></li>
<li><p>My first Care Package is going to contain the Note of Pride that I had meant to leave under their dorm pillows, but forgot to do in the crush of move-in. I am imperfect.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>DDHM congratulations in the dual launch. It’s nice to see you posting again.</p>
<p>Can someone repost the school list? I’m only on my phone and don’t have such skills. I’m trying to figure out where coral’s kid is that it is so hot!</p>
<p>Hang in there everyone. We have amazing well adjusted kids. This is harder on us than it is them!</p>
<p>DD has chosen two science with labs, Math(whatever after AB Calc) and the 1st year writing seminar…can you believe she’s waitlisted for one of the science classes? it’s an intro class…shouldnt that be able to hold more kids…I know the school is small…but, I’m surprised…I’m hoping this will work out…I did think her advisor looked over everything…but, now…I’m wondering…but, maybe they did not expect something to be overenrolled?? okay…I know I need to back off…but, I am worried…I also am not so sure she should take two lab science classes the first semester, freshman year anyway…but, shouldnt someone on campus discuss that??? I’m not supposed to call the school…am I…</p>
<p>Hang in there drmom. DON’T CALL THE SCHOOL! Try to talk it over with your D. Two sciences & a math is a heavy load based on every advisor I spoke to. Some kids can handle it though. I advised my D not to try. Have a little fun and adjust first. </p>
<p>She has one science with lab and Calc. Philosophy, English, and a hip hop class that falls under Folk. She said the math is kicking her butt in week two not b/c it’s hard but because of the work load. Hours of practice equations and homework. I think she’s glad she took philosophy instead of another science.</p>
<p>These kids are so used to taking the highest courses available, that it’s hard to reel them in.</p>
<p>Happy Weekend! I texted back and forth with S3 today and he seems to have college life under control so far. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the launch re-caps!!</p>
<p>After a very mild summer here in Southern California the last 2 or 3 have been stifling hot and miserable so if Coralbrooks D is going to Cal Lutheran that makes sense. If I knew how to repost the list I would.</p>
<p>DrMom, is DD in an engineering program? A math, two sciences, a humanities or writing class, and a seminar or lab is a completely normal semester load in engineering or some science/pre-med programs. Good luck with the waitlist.</p>
<p>One would think with the tuition we are paying that schools would increase their ability to accommodate students’ needs for the most desired courses (the ones oversubscribed year after year). DS has already had registration difficulties for what he wanted to take in the mandatory PE courses; he had to sign up for his eighth choice for PE. The most popular courses were filled in about 30 seconds flat. Of course, it was probably students who have figured out how to hack the registration system to get so many classes grabbed so quickly; entirely possible at this particular school. I worry that he won’t get the Writing about Technology course he wanted. I just cannot see him being happy with Writing about Poetry for his mandatory writing class. Of course, I may never know, cause the dude is in an Apollo 13 Descent Communications Blackout again. Sigh. Can’t do a thing about it. I’ll take it out on some more Bermuda grass tomorrow; I have a wicked fast and accurate aim with herbicides.</p>
<p>phew, I am glad I have you guys on here! I am sitting on my hands! She did text me to say she found another chem class that will fit her schedule…she just has to hope it doesnt fill…whatever that really means…I did encourage her to email her Dean/advisor to just have some guidance and imo"let a grown up know what is going on"…but, we’ll see…DDHM: she is thinking premed…so, you may be right, with the load…it just sounds like a lot</p>
<p>^^I just heard that our public CA high school has the same issue if not having classes available!!! There are not enough classes for seniors to get what they need in order to graduate. This is high school people!!! DS13a was back on campus before registration when he ran into a former science teacher. I was shocked when she told us, “your little brother was smart to get out of here last year.”</p>
<p>DrMom: Note that some schools have special premed (or prehealth) advisers in addition to freshman advisers to make sure those kids are taking the correct prerequisites. It was amazing how few parents raised their hands at our parents’ orientation when asked whether their freshmen were considering a medical career. Many seemed to be going to engineering instead.</p>
<p>Greek: We have significant public school issues here too. Students in our district have to take multiple classes online or self study when what they need isn’t available, especially in the upper ability ranges, which many schools don’t like to offer.</p>
<p>DDHM, I have suggested she email both her adviser and the pre-health adviser…she says she did…but, it is the weekend…so, who knows…that’s why I am feeling like I want to call up and ask the questions…but…I know I am not supposed to…I guess we’ll see…there is an “RA-type person” (they call them something different) who is pre-med that DD said she was going to ask…it is soooooo hard not to be "doing it’ for her…but, reallly, she has to do this…right!!!
High Schools dont have enough room in their classes??? YIKES! Are we expecting too much? Too many pre-requisites? what’s going on?</p>