<p>No dumping phone calls here, but i didn’t expect any as S never complains. He dutifully calls every Sunday and he sometimes replies to my FB messages. He’s 3.5 weeks into classes and it sounds like they’re starting to heat up. He seems to be working hard, but also playing hard. I bought airline tickets in the summer for Family Weekend because I was afraid he’d be homesick. It’s the weekend after next…I no longer think it will be a problem. Oh well…D and I will take a minivacation to Nashville and MAYBE S will grace us with his presence for part of it. </p>
<p>I see some of the colleges posting their 2017 Class Profiles. 2013 had it bad, but it’s still getting worse. I’m feeling really bad for 2014ers…the odds are no longer in anyone’s favor. Good luck, 2014!</p>
<p>Megmom, I used to use Viber to text with people overseas, but then I discovered WhatsApp. You can also send photos and videos with it. You should check it out.</p>
<p>Mirabile, you’re not missing a mom gene (as opposed to mom jeans!). A huge part of me is happier and more relaxed with an empty nest. I guess it’s kind of out of sight, out of mind. I am sleeping so much better with ds2 gone. I don’t have to worry about when he’s coming home, was he in a car accident (no car at college), did he get in a car with someone who’s been drinking (although I don’t think he’s dumb enough to do that, you never know), what are he and his gf up to … and on and on and on. It’s pretty freeing.</p>
<p>And tonight I’m going to cook a family favorite sized for two instead of four. We’ll see how it goes.</p>
<p>Another advantage: for those of us cleaning our newly empty nests, we get to find all kinds of things we have been looking for. I found a pair of favorite scissors missing two years and a restaurant gift certificate I’ve been hunting for for three years! Yeah!</p>
<p>DS broke radio silence. As I suspected, happy but extremely busy with problem sets. He is actually good with time management, but even the best are time challenged at M I T.</p>
<p>Just FaceTimed with DS! First time I’ve heard his voice or seen him in a month! He looked great, sounded great. He showed me his stash of snacks and I got some more ideas of things to get him. I think his favorite part was seeing the dog. </p>
<p>Waking up to reports of all the racial comments directed towards the new Miss America. Very frustrating as a mom to see a young woman ridiculed for having brown skin. Not wanting her to be Miss America ridiculous. Not wanting someone to have a job, go to a good school, walk through certain neighborhoods, shop at that store, ridiculous. Daily struggle for so many young people.</p>
<p>@Someoldguy-if I remember correctly, you & I both have kids who chose schools in the south and to be honest I was a little nervous for my “northern” brown skinned child, but she’s been shown nothing but love so far and gives love back to her campus. There are just these pockets everywhere that come along the way that you have to shake your head at and ask why?</p>
<p>Yesterday was the boy’s birthday. First one without Mom and Dad. He certainly did not seem to mind.</p>
<p>His picture was on the front page of a newspaper from the big football game, arms crossed and depressed in the stands as his team lost. He had a great time at the game, got there at 2pm for a 5pm start with tailgates before. We saw lots of great photos of him with friends at the game. So far, he has had an amazing experience but he seems to be studying a fair amount also. His res hall floor has been fantastic, they do lots of things together…movie nights, swing dancing, football games, running, kayaking, bingo, etc.</p>
<p>We spent Friday, Sat, and Sunday nights doing things with the our regular group of friends…Buddy Guy concert, football game watch, and apple picking. By last night at 8pm, we were all exhausted.</p>
<p>That’s a very different state, but there are still pockets even down there once you get outside of the university regions. And your D is at a fantastic school with a wonderfully inclusive sense of community. It’s a shame about the basketball team, though. ;)</p>
<p>Saw DS last night. He’s doing fine. His roommate is antisocial doesn’t leave his room except for classes. DS has asked him a number of times if he wants join him and his friends. RM is not interested. No major problems just they don’t click at all and the guy doesn’t talk so it’s kind of awkward for DS since he’s always in the room… DS has made friends with a guy down the hall they are trying to do a roommate switch. All four guys are ok with the switch they just need approval from higher ups. Hopefully they will be able to do it.</p>
<p>Her beauty and more importantly, her intelligence and good character will lead to her success. </p>
<p>I believe that the last of the truly racist people are now in the minority in America, and few of them are in our children’s generation, who are much more likely to judge a person by his/her behavior and character rather than by skin color (Yeah MLK!). It just seems like there are more racists around because they tend to squawk a lot, or people are complaining because of perceived inequities in their own lives. I live in an area of historical prejudice, and there are very few people in this area who are prejudiced against a person because of dark skin; those racists who remain are disrespected and even shunned by the rest of us. You WILL be judged on criminal or miscreant behavior here, however, regardless of your ethnicity.</p>
<p>Speaking of criminal behavior, prayers to those affected in the Naval Yard this morning.</p>
<p>@Someoldguy-you HAD to bring up basketball. We shall see, whether you know who plays or not. We’ll see you February 12th.</p>
<p>@DDHM-I too grew up in a small rural town where racism was open and just something one had to deal with. My father still deals with the emotional and physical scars of his generation. It’s completely different for my D. I’m not even sure she’d recognize it unless it was blunt. What I appreciate about twitter is it shines a light on the day to day comments, looks, reactions that are still very much alive and well. Its a reminder we have to continue to evolve and teach each other to be a loving society.</p>
<p>I didn’t know about the shooting at the Naval Yard, but I just saw it on CNN.com. We have a friend of the family, who works there, but in a different part of the complex. Very scary. </p>
<p>S2 did not call this weekend, but I won’t bug him today as I know that he has classes all day long on Mondays and Wednesdays. But tomorrow…that boy will call me! Or else (jk). But I did talk to his sister, who hears from him or about him from mutual friends pretty regularly. We’re trying to coordinate their flights to London for Christmas. They would like to fly together out of Dulles, but I need their finals schedules, which, of course, I haven’t gotten from S2. </p>
<p>We have used both Whatsapp and Viber for texting overseas, but Viber allows phone calls (cell to cell over wifi or 3G/4G) which are crystal clear. So, we’ve started using Viber exclusively. Haven’t noticed any difference in sending texts or pictures between it and Whatsapp. Just personal preference.</p>
<p>Damn it. They’re reporting deaths at the Navy Yard. I’m going to say it, sorry, but the gun laws and the mental health system in our country sucks. These things are becoming commonplace.</p>
<p>DS has been at UF for exactly one month today! He has gotten a job on campus, joined a few clubs and intermural sports:) All is well! He texts me everyday and calls or Facetimes at least once a week! His birthday is this weekend so I just sent a care package for him to open before he enjoys his birthday in the “Swamp” when UF plays Tenn on Saturday!</p>
I bought airline tickets in the summer for Family Weekend because I was afraid he’d be homesick. It’s the weekend after next…I no longer think it will be a problem. Oh well…D and I will take a minivacation to Nashville and MAYBE S will grace us with his presence for part of it. </p>