<p>drmom, I got a teary phone call yesterday too. After one week of classes, they are very hard (well she wanted a challenge). So we discussed options (did she want to drop back a level in Math or French?) and I suggested she talk with the professors, after all that is one of the reasons she went with a small LAC, accessible professors. So she e-mailed one prof and he reassured her that she was fine, it was always extra hard at first. I haven’t heard back from her today, but they have already started once a week evening math help sessions and I think she will be fine. I did remind her once again that she did not have to get all A’s. It is hard getting those calls though and giving advice from a distance.</p>
<p>No dating in HS here either, I don’t expect any instant romances to strike up in college.</p>
<p>D’s majors are biology - cell bio and genetics concentration - and cello performance. She’s really strongly attached to each, though she expects her day job to be in research. The cello, for her, is a lifelong friend, and the thought of not taking lessons and playing in an orchestra was, well, unthinkable.</p>
<p>Oracoj, these trips to campus take me about an hour and a half each way, as I have to fight through traffic around 2 major cities to get there. I bet you’re glad you’re only 25 minutes away!</p>
<p>Still, our D is close enough that we’ll be able to see her perform a couple of times a year. That is a major plus to our in-state school.</p>
<p>mamabear1234: I agree with you. The LAC is just right for her…she just doesnt know how to “use it” yet… I know this is really still just the first two weeks…and she still has to adjust…but, I am really finding this difficult to “watch/hear” from afar…—not that I’d be enjoying it if she were living at home…come to think of it…! :)</p>
<p>You want dating stories?
My D never dated in high school, until this spring, when a classmate finally got up the courage to ask her out, after 3 years of liking her. She agreed to go out with him, stipulating that it wouldn’t get serious, since they were going to different schools in different directions.
Last weekend they celebrated 6 months, and went FaceBook official. He drove 10 hours to spend Labor Day weekend visiting her, and is going back later this month. He has already applied to 3 schools to transfer as early as January, though that is at least partly because he developed a strong interest this summer in a field his original school doesn’t have a strong program in. But two of the schools he is looking at transferring to are much closer to D’s school - 1 hr and 4 hrs.
I’m unsettled by this. They are both so young. It is a first relationship for both of them. Transferring may be the best thing for his studies, but it feels to me like it is putting lots of pressure on the relationship. My mom says just to be non-committal - not negative about the relationship and their decisions, but not too positive, either. That sounds like good advice, so I’ll give it a try.</p>
<p>Lizzie-DD sat in 9 classes that she didn’t end up taking (hence the panicked texts in the middle of the night). There doesn’t seem to be enough support for scheduling - at least for the first semester. I’m hoping that there is some learning that’s going on here, so that we don’t repeat this every semester. The good news is that she finally settled on four classes that she is happy about taking (for now). She is making her final trip to the bookstore to return some books that she had purchased for clases she is no longer taking.</p>
<p>Mamabear-good advice about talking to the teachers and not putting too much pressure on yourself. Its hard to give that virtual “hug” over the telephone.</p>
<p>The biggest adjustment for DD seems to be going into the Div. 1 athletics program. Socially, it has been great since the team has done a lot to welcome the first years. They’ve had parties, and a fundraiser, and other activities. The freshman swimmers have all really bonded quickly. They do a lot more weights and dryland exercises than most of them are used to though. She said she is limping around campus, and that she wants to cry when she looks at a flight of stairs. In addition to regular swim afternoon practices (and three mandatory morning swims per week) she has 3 weight room and 2 dryland sessions per week. And its not even officially “in season” yet. I can’t imagine how bad its going to be.</p>
<p>We have been contacted by parents on the team about different meets and dinners afterwards. There seems to be an expectation that most parents attend the meets. I thought that we had left parent involvement behind with high school (that was supposed to be the consolation prize for her graduating and leaving home). And at a school that is a 9hour drive away, I don’t know how we will do this.</p>
<p>Oooh good story MZBkiya. I agree with everything you said, and even more with your mother’s advice. You don’t want staying together or breaking up to be “your fault.” Relationships have this way of working themselves out, even if there are some tears involved. At least he is not transferring to the same school that your daughter is at.</p>
<p>I am so happy that i purchase the CSI Insurance - D just emailed me to say her brand new computer slid off her bed and the mousepad and camera are damaged. The good news is that it is all covered by CSI except the $25 deductible. Happy Dance!</p>
<p>Overall D is transitioning well. She had to add/drop many courses but she learned how to work the system. Her biggest adjustment is living in an older dorm with older bathroom - especially the bathrooms. The bathrooms are relatively clean but they are old. She is already jockeying for position for next semester with housing…other than that she feels she made the right decision and likes it!</p>
<p>My D dropped two classes that were assigned to her arbitrarily over the summer. I agree that they were not worth her time (Intro to Dance for visual art requirement but she’s a film major and she doesn’t need anymore visual art electives).</p>
<p>But now she only has 12 credits and cannot seem to find anything else open. Is it the end of the world to only have 12 credits and graduate in 4 yrs??</p>
<p>Coralbrook – Mom of a sophomore here, with my 2 cents! If your D wants to add an additional class, she should be aware that students get into “closed” classes all the time. If she finds something she really wants to take, she should try emailing the professor (or stopping by his/her office) to ask if she can be added to the class. Very often all the prof has to do is hit an “override” button, and it’s done. </p>
<p>Some schools have a minimum number of hours required to be considered a full-time student (usually 15, I think?) This might be important if your daughter is on a scholarship/financial aid.</p>
<p>You also want to make sure they sat at or above the minimum to stay on your health insurance and for any good student discount on your car insurance.</p>
<p>Still haven’t talked to DS much, but I know he’s good from all the texts. He has kind of an odd schedule, on some days his first class is not until 11, so I know he is staying up late the nights before. </p>
<p>He is getting hungry during those late nights - he has already gone thru the easy mac n cheese for the microwave that we brought up. I am not sure what else to send him - anything that is shelf stable and/or microwavable is pretty processed, so I guess I need to abandon the thought of sending him healthy stuff.</p>
<p>I looked in the grocery store aisle today and there are all sorts of “meals” on the shelf that you zap. Chicken and noodles, chili, etc etc. I can’t imagine they are very tasty and I am sure they are loaded with sodium and other things. </p>
<p>Anyone have any suggestions for snacks i can send? He’s already gotten oatmeal and popcorn.</p>
<p>Surf- I have a big box filled with those easy Mac , beefaroni, ramen, dinty Moore…all the stuff that I never keep at home. Not healthy but perfect late night snack dorm food. He generally eats very well so I’m not worried about a little junk food. </p>
<p>Canned nuts, beef jerky ( that was a huge hit last time), instant Asian noodle dishes, granola bars. </p>
<p>I actually got two phone calls from DSb today. He received his care package and he was over the top excited and happy! The first good news is that it made to him even though I forgot an entire line on the address. I guess they just looked him up by name and they sent an email that he had a package. He called me when he first got it to say that it arrived and thank you. He quickly opened it but had to run to class. After class as he was going through everything piece by piece, he called again to thank me for every single piece in there. He said " you even knew of things that I needed, that I didn’t know that I needed!" It was such a joy to hear the enthusiasm in his voice! I guess I’ll have to send these frequently in order to get such an uplifting phone call! He was super happy about the two new ties that I sent and a preppy pair of shorts. After I saw the men’s fashion on campus, I knew he was lacking a bit even if he hadn’t figured it out yet. He loved the pink shorts. Both my DH and DSa thought I was nuts to send them, but as always, mom was right! It was really nice to feel needed and appreciated even if it was from thousands of miles away. </p>
<p>So I was sorta kinda kidding with my daughter about moving to her college town and she said “really, cause I was starting to fill a little homesick.” </p>
<p>Now a little voice in my head is saying do it before she changes her mind. Her only concern was if I’d try to see her everyday… Which I wouldn’t. I might do it. What’s holding me back.?</p>
<p>Amazhon- I’d like to move to DD’s college town too. It would be so nice to be close by. Of course, then what happens when she gets a summer job somewhere else, or the after graduation job in another city. Are we going to move again? For good or bad, time flies and they’ll be home for vacations and then done with college before we even knew it began. </p>
<p>Right now, its so hard to be far away. But even if I lived 10 minutes away, I know that what I am most sad about is the change in our relationship. She’ll always be my little girl, but not in the same way again.</p>
<p>@Carla-I know. I know. She always said she wanted to start a family before 30 and if I’m close by I could help out. Plus she chose this college because she likes their grad program, so I might be able to get 10 years out of it if she stays. And what if I did move again? I always imagined my working on a cruise ship somewhere when she went to college. I had her at 26 and didn’t get a chance to travel much. I like traveling. Plus I have a brother and sister who live in near by towns, so my life wouldn’t completely revolve around her.</p>
<p>I’m living with my 7 year old niece in a 2 story, 3 bedroom house too big for us and it’s not the same place. .</p>
<p>Hi all! I have yet to mail my first care package. She has a list of things she forgot, but assures me that I should wait to mail everything for a little while yet. No idea why, but I am doing what she said to do! </p>
<p>DD(now UR class 2017) is doing well. Start off was bumpy. She kind of freaked with everything being new and different. Nothing was familiar to her, even her bedding wasn’t familar! She is in a triple this year, and it really is a double room that they crammed 3 girls into because they over booked this year. The two other roomates clicked, and one of them is, well, kinda dominant and well, not as nice as she could be. DD had a tough time, but then she found all the rest of the folks on her floor were just like her and she is now having a great time. Her roomates may be the “cool” kids, but she is a UR geek and fits in better at the school. So, now she is figuring out classes (easy and repeats to a certain extent, except for Intro to debate, which is not what she thought it was). She is going to work on a habitat for humanity house this weekend, she found some workout buddies, and is finding her way. It is good.</p>
<p>The only issue is that my DH is having a hard time letting go! He wants to facetime her a few times a week. Thankfully, she only answers when she has time and then chats with us openly. It is kind of cute to see DH miss his little girl so much! He did not behave this way when DS left the nest!</p>