<p>Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, CA which is inland in the hills, between LA and Santa Barbara. Sounds idyllic, kind of looks idyllic but was h%%&all on Friday.</p>
<p>Dropped to 94 today, still too hot.</p>
<p>Sent from my Nexus S 4G using CC</p>
<p>Drmom123 - Walk away from the phone:). Seriously, it sounds like your d is making the effort to get the answers. We have to let them do it!!!</p>
<p>My dd is also taking two lab classes. I guess I never thought it would be too much. I think our kids on CC are the type of kids who will step up or they will learn :)</p>
<p>Sent D13 off on a plane to Florida herself last Sunday a.m. After much shifting, weighing and re-packing of items, we got her worldly possessions down to 2 50 lb bags. I teared up at the security check point but all in all not too emotional. We have heard from her several times this week, mostly at dinnertime when she is eating alone in her hotel room (her current roommate had extra rehearsal). Rehearsals seem to be going well although her body is aching. Sounds like D has made a few friends (although there is a wide range in age in the cast and some stand offishness) and is managing to feed herself. On her day off today she woke up to do laundry. Ah, the glamorous life of an entertainer!</p>
<p>When does the tour start, momofzag?</p>
<p>Talked to D after her orientation trip. She has the results of her placement tests and she tested out of a lot of math and French. A few days ago I wasn’t worried, but now I worry that she will find it tough going in the higher level classes! It is difficult to be an onlooker as they try to make their way through scheduling, etc. I’m glad to read that some of you are in similar situations, it definitely makes me feel better that I’m not the only one.</p>
<p>today, she seems to be doing okay</p>
<p>Tour starts 9/13 I believe. So another week and a half of rehearsal and then on with the show…</p>
<p>I thought I was fine with her leaving and I am but I have been feeling like a bit at loose ends. Not sure what to do with myself (even though I still have S16 at home).</p>
<p>Momofzag: What talent does your progeny have? Voice or acting?</p>
<p>Dr & Bear, I cannot begin to tell you how hard it is to sit on my textin’ fingers and just listen to the results of suboptimal freshman adviser advising, a registration system that appears to allow students to register for classes that are held at the same conflicting time (Argh! No one thought to check? Don’t we have technology to prevent this?), wait lists for popular classes, classes different from described in the registrar’s description, school officials who don’t return the kids’ emails inquiring for information… </p>
<p>Kids learn better from mistakes than success, I tell myself, and The Potholes of Life will lead to more thoughtful and less impulsive registration and other decisions and motivate them to improve their self advocacy skills as they have to fix their mistakes.</p>
<p>Excuse me now as I go bounce my head against a brick wall for a few more moments.</p>
<p>DDHM: I’m with you…!
and yes, I’ll tell myself the same thing…that they will all learn from these decisions…self-created or imposed…
but, boy, is this frustrating…!</p>
<p>DDHM: My D is an actor but her tour right now is with Disney on Ice for skating (she was also a competitive figure skater for about 10 years in elementary/MS/HS). She loves to sing and is a competent singer but not at a MT level (she had lead in musical in HS but was cast more for her acting than singing I believe). She is also a pretty good “mover/dancer” but has had limited training in technique - something she hopes to rectify in college.</p>
<p>Okay, here is the college list for whoever asked:
Screen Name:
Ahsmuoh’s DD: University of South Carolina
Amandakayak’s D: University of Pittsburgh
Amazhon’s D: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Apollo6’s DD: University of Mississippi
Bappy1’s DD: Amherst College
brownpartyo5 DS: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
busymomma’s DS: University of Wisconsin-Madison
carimama’s D: MIT
College4K’s DD: University of Arizona
confetti247’s S13: University of Notre Dame
coralbrook’s d: California Lutheran
critter’s S: Stanford
cyclonehome’s DD: Tulane University
dadotwoboys’ DS: Duke
daisychain’s D: Hampshire
David1126’s S: Harvey Mudd
Descartesz’s D: Haverford
Donivrian’s DS: UC B
Dragonflygarden’s D: Princeton University
Drmom123’s DD: Bryn Mawr College
EastGrad’s DS: Harvard
ericd1112’s DS: Miami University
esteemom’s DS: USC
fidoprincess’s DS: Columbia University
fineartsmajormom’s D: University of Pennsylvania
FlyMeToTheMoon’s D: University of Pittsburgh (Honors)
Fredricksdottirs DD: University of Chicago
GreekMana’s: DSa Stanford; DSb Duke; DPc Trinity University
Geogirl1’s DD: University of Rochester
gojo56 D: Johns Hopkins University
gunnerz’s S: University of Denver
Haystack’s S: Iowa State University
Idahomom’s S: University of Redlands
intparent’s D: Harvey Mudd
Itsallgood1’s DS: Bowdoin
jennieling’s S: Amherst
Kat2013’s DS: Catholic University of America
Kelbee’s Niece: Clark University
Kelowna’s DS: Duke
Kennedy2010’s DD: Washington University in St. Louis
laurendog’s Step-D: University of Pittsburgh
LCSMOM’s S: Cornell University
Learninginprog DD: Cornell
lisa6191’s S: University of Alabama
LizzieT’s DD: University of Maryland-College Park
Longhaul’s S: University of Alabama
Luckylu’s S: Columbia University
lvvcsfs DD: Purdue University
mamabear1234’s D: Pomona College
MarthaW’s DD: Olin College of Engineering
Matmaven’s S: Lehigh University
megpmom’s DS: Westminster Choir College (Rider Univ)
Mom24boys DS: Northeastern University
Mom2kids2dogs’ DD: Northwestern University
Mommaof5’s DS: University of Chicago
Momofboston’s DD: Elon
MomofNEA’s DS: Cornell
MommyDearest13’s DS: Vanderbilt University
Momofzag’s D: Bucknell University
momtobgb’s DD: Emory University
Moonpie D2: Vanderbilt
MSNDIS’s D: George Washington University
MTnest’s DS: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
musicmerit’s D: Yale
MyLB’s DS: University of Montana
my3gr8boyz DS - Duke
MZBkiya’s D: Grinnell
nerdyDad’s D: MIT
our2girls’ DD: Belmont University
pkdof13’s D: Wellesley
pkdof13’s S: Wheaton (MA)
pouncecat2’s DD: University of California, Davis
privateschoolluv’s DS: Occidental College
psblstnr’s DD: Carleton College
Psychodad10’s DS : Washington University in St. Louis
sacchi’s D: Dickinson College
SomeOldGuy’s Devil Child: Duke
sophieandlola’s DS: University of Florida
ssacdfamily D: St. Olaf’s College
STAmum’s D: Sarah Lawrence
STEMFamily’s DD: Arizona State University
surfcity’s S: Bucknell U
Swizzle13: University of Connecticut
tootiredtocare: University of Illinois/Urbana
tougis’s D1: Northwestern
TVenee’s DD: Columbia University
Tx5athome’s DS: Cal
Viewer’s S: Harvard
Vitrac’s D: Tulane University (Honors)
wherenext DD: University of Southern California
wilma13 DS: Cal
Wintriest’s D: Mills College
W2BeHome’s DD: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Youdon’tsay’s ds: Georgetown
2kidzmom’s DS: University of Florida</p>
<p>School:
Amherst: jennieling’s S; 13thFloor’s S, Bappy1’s DD
Arizona State University: STEMFamily’s DD
Belmont University: our2girls DD
Bowdoin: itsallgood1’s DS
Bryn Mawr College: drmom123 DD
Bucknell University: Momofzag’s D, surfcity’s S
Cal: Tx5athome’s DS, Donivrian’s DS, wilma13 DS
California Lutheran: Coralbrook’s D
Catholic University of America: Kat2013’s S
Carleton College: psblstnr’s DD
Clark University: Kelbee’s Niece
Columbia University: TVenee’s DD, Luckylu’s S, fidoprincess’s DS
Cornell University: LCSMOM’s S, MomofNEA’s S, Learninginprog DD
Dickinson: sacchi’s D
Duke: dadotwoboys’ DS, Kelowna’s DS, GreekMana’s DSb, SomeOldGuy’s Devil Child, my3gr8boyz DS - so many that it wrapped to the next line!
Elon: momofboston’s DD
Emory: momtobgb’s DD
George Washington University: MSNDIS’s D
Georgetown: Youdon’tsay’s ds
Grinnell: MZBkiya’s D
Hampshire: daisychain’s D
Harvard: Eastgrad’s DS, Viewer’s S
Harvey Mudd: David1126’s S, intparent’s D
Haverford: Descartesz’s D
Iowa State University: Haystack’s S
Johns Hopkins University: gojo56
Lehigh University: Matmaven’s S
Miami University: ericd1112’s S
Mills College: Wintriest’s D
MIT: nerdyDad’s D, carimama’s D
Northeastern: Mom24boys S
Northwestern: tougis’s D1, Mom2kids2dogs’ DD
Occidental College: privateschoolluv’s DS
Olin College of Engineering: MarthaW’s DD
Pomona College: mamabear1234’s D
Princeton University: Dragonflygarden’s D
Purdue University: lvvcsfs DD
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): W2BeHome’s DD
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: brownpartyo5’s DS
St. Olaf’s College: ssacdfamily D
Sarah Lawrence: STAmum’s D
Stanford: GreekMana’s DSa, critter’s S
Trinity University: GreekMana’s DPc
Tulane University: cyclonehome’s DD, Vitrac’s D
University of Alabama: lisa6191’s S; Longhaul’s S
University of Arizona: College4K’s DD
University of California, Davis: pouncecat2’s DD
University of Chicago: Mommaof5’s DS, Fredricksdottirs DD
University of Connecticut: Swizzle13
University of Denver: gunnerz’s S
University of Florida: sophieandlola’s DS, 2kidzmom’s DS
University of Illinois/Urbana: tootiredtocare
University of Maryland-College Park: LizzieT’s DD
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: MTnest’s DS
University of Mississippi: Apollo6’s DD
University of Montana: MyLB’s DS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-Amazhon’s D
University of Notre Dame: confetti247’s DS
University of Pennsylvania: fineartsmajormom’s D
University of Pittsburgh: laurendog’s Step-D, FlyMeToTheMoon’s D, Amandakayak’s D
University of Redlands: Idahomom’s S
University of Rochester: Geogirl1’s DD
University of Southern California (USC): wherenext’s DD, esteemom’s DS
University of South Carolina (USC ): ahsmuoh’s DD
University of Wisconsin-Madison: busymomma’s DS
Vanderbilt University: MommyDearest13’s DS, Moonpie D2
Washington University in St. Louis: Kennedy2010’s DD, Psychodad10’s son
Wellesley College: pkdof13’s D
Westminster Choir College (Rider Univ): megpmom’s DS
Wheaton College (MA): pkdof13’s S
Yale: musicmerit’s D</p>
<p>I feel like a bad mom. I have not cried once. I am so happy to see S so happy. And it’s not like he was a fount of chatty conversation when he was home. He texts periodically, mostly to ask questions about laundry or ordering books or something. </p>
<p>At his school, every one takes 4 courses a semester (except some sohp engineering majors). There are no “half credit” or lesser credit courses, so it’s not as much of a concern about whether he is taking on too much. Of course, you don’t want your four courses to be all lab sciences for example.</p>
<p>He texted me and said he though Calc 3 and Physics 2 were too easy and can he add a course?!?!? I told him to wait a week and see what the work is like! I think he is so happy to have “only” 4 subjects as opposed to HS where he had 7 full periods. TIme management will be key this semester, no?</p>
<p>It’s odd not having him home for Labor Day weekend and BBqs though.</p>
<p>MOZ: Ah, you are the one with the skater. Very cool! I competed in ice hockey in college, and tried a few spins cause it looked so fun to do. However, I discovered it is hard to spin on blades with no teeth. My rotations were rather anemic.</p>
<p>SC: I stand by you as a Bad Mom Who Has Yet to Cry. Perhaps it is because I am so preoccupied bouncing my skull off the brick wall as I helplessly watch them make various little avoidable mistakes. I am really not liking these multiple day blackouts with no information. No news is good news…no news is good news…no news is good news.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine what our parents must have gone through with only a phone call once every three weeks, back when long distance phone calls were too expensive to do often. </p>
<p>Anyone else with good care package ideas?</p>
<p>Care Package: I am baking one of the favorite breads and sending it out with Honey and Tea she likes. I might throw in the door stopper she forgot, and the folding step stool! :)</p>
<p>Greetings all! I’m stopping in to say we successfully launched my DD! We even ran into a fellow CCer while waiting for the elevator! (My 8 month old was my give away. ) Lol. DD loves the school and so did I. The baby did well considering the circumstances. We rode practically every mode of transportation in NYC, before we found our favorite, the subway. I got choked up during convocation, but by the time it came to say goodbye, I was too exhausted to cry. Dropping off your kid at college in NYC, with your 8 month old in tow, is not for the faint of heart.
I’m in agreement with the description of the Apollo 13 blackouts. I’ve heard quite a bit from her considering, just not as much as I would like. I’ve snapchatted shots with her brothers, just so she’ll snap back, then I can peek at the background and see where shes at. I admit to being pitiful lol.
Her school is really spoiling them this week. I told her it’s the calm before the storm.
Our family dynamic has changed drastically. I’m settling in day to day life with 3 small boys, as opposed to managing a teenager and 3 small boys.
For those of you with kids that will be flying quite a bit , what have you found to be the best deals?</p>
<p>Found an internet hotspot in London and I’m having fun catching up with all of you. We also have not heard much from S2 (he’s just been gone since Wednesday). We tried calling him over skype but the line kept dropping. We did notice that he had already lost his voice (bad for a singer). I’m sure it’s late and loud nights!! He had an audition for a student-run musical but didn’t get a callback - first time ever for him. It’s a good lesson (#1: You’re running with the big boys now and #2: Don’t audition with laryngitis.) But other than that everything else seems good. Classes start Tuesday. </p>
<p>We’re having fun in London despite my jetlag. I have mostly been exploring our neighborhood and unpacking. Our apartment is plenty big for the two of us but i’m imagining that it will feel cramped at Christmas when both kids are here. Our first houseguest arrives on Saturday - my husband’s college roommate. We had dinner with him and his husband in DC last week and since he’ll be in London for work, we invited him to christen the guest bedroom. Keeping busy keeps me from missing my kids.</p>
<p>That was harder than I expected (and I have been dreading the drop off for a long time). The actual weekend went very smoothly. DD had a few unexpected tears before we left. At first it made me feel better, because she was going to miss us. But now I’m thinking that she was crying because she knows that she is not coming back. I think she was crying for the end of her childhood.<br>
She is right where she should be right now. Her roommate was normal, nice. Dorm room and walk-in closet were unexpectedly large. She even knew quite a few people between the few from our home town, her college teammates, and all those people she met on facebook this summer. She is excited to start her classes and activities.
I will miss having her at home so much though. 18 years of daily hugs and stories, abruptly ended. Whoever said that your children are not yours, but are on loan - got it right.
I was ok at drop off. I was ok on the car ride home. But I’m crying now. </p>
<p>Maybe someone who has done this before will please help me out and tell me something positive about college kids coming home? :)</p>
<p>Well I have to say D’s school timed it perfectly because it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve seen her and now I can consume myself with planning for parents weekend at the end of the month.</p>
<p>I was too tired to tear up when we said goodbye but husband got teary eyed. Even though we are lucky that she chose a college one hour away, he realized she’s not a little girl anymore. This is an official turning the page to a new chapter and we are so proud of her.</p>
<p>I’m really enjoying reading everyone’s experiences. </p>
<p>DS goes to school 25 minutes away from home. Last week, he asked me to drive up a piece of trumpet music he forgot cause he had an audition for the orchestra the next day. I hadn’t planned on seeing him that soon! His audition went well and the director recommended he audition for the concerto competition. </p>
<p>He is a physics major who now wants to double in math (easy to do) and minor in music. As of now he is in band, orch, and will most likely be in jazz too. With two music teachers as parents we are thrilled he wants to stay involved but relieved that he didn’t want I major in it. </p>
<p>Yesterday was my birthday and we were taking the kids to Panama Rocks (huge rock formations that you climb, crevices that you squeeze through…) very cool. We invited DS, thinking for sure he wouldn’t want to go but he did. </p>
<p>DH picked him up and the whole family went. We came home after and showered, then all went out to dinner. It was an amazing day. </p>
<p>He did tell us that someone pooped on the bathroom floor in his suite. Yuck!! They never found out who. He also said that the guy in his suite don’t hang out at all which I find to be weird. They barely n ow each other’s names except for their roommates. Oh we’ll. </p>
<p>I sent a care package that had candy, beef jerky, a squishy ball, chips…stuff like that. He said his favorite was the beef jerky. He also told me he would like any type of instant noodle type stuff-ramen, ravioli, Mac and cheese- so that will be the next care package. He said he’s eating well. </p>
<p>That’s it for now.</p>