<p>Gosh - a few very busy days and I’m even further behind…so, congrats to all the kids’ awards and congrats to the parents for talking with their kids about finances. It’s unbelievable how much debt some students have at graduation.</p>
<p>Our D’s last day of school is 5/25; last classes are that Tuesday, with three days of finals. She is happy not to be taking the June ACT and will take a 5 week (4 hour classes) prep class, one class per week, for the September ACT, counting back 5 or 6 weeks for the start of the class. Very hopeful it will help her increase her score. That WILL be the last ACT she takes, for sure.</p>
<p>MDMom, lol, isn’t it funny how they can remember something said in passing years ago but not that you reminded them to put the dishes in the dishwasher (for the 3rd time) just minutes ago! (at least mine are that way)</p>
<p>Walker, CONGRATS to your D on the calc grade! She should feel very proud of that accomplishment.</p>
<p>D isn’t finished until May 25th but the seniors graduated Monday, so her class wore their new “senior” t-shirts today with “We run this place” on the front. That must have been news to the teachers and administrators…</p>
<p>D took the AP Lang test today too and said she thought she did okay but she fell asleep three times during the MC part. She did have zero hour this week, but this has been an on-going problem all through high school (although not usually on tests). And she is always in bed by 10 to 11 and says she can’t get to sleep earlier than that even if she goes to bed earlier. Morning lecture classes are particularly bad and the block schedule with 1 1/2 hour classes doesn’t help. I’ve gotten her to drink a protein shake in the morning and to eat a snack between classes and that seems to have helped some. We tend to joke about how she would do if she could stay awake (she gets A’s anyway) but sometimes I wonder if we are missing something more serious. Anyone else have similar experience or advice?</p>
<p>My D is not sure she wants to take the ACT…she’s never tried it…she takes the SAT II math level 2 in June. She plans to take the SAT a second time in October and if needed, other SAT II’s (or repeats of ones she’s already taken) in November. I hope she does decide to apply early decision somewhere…because I don’t think I can take much more stress! (dont know what she thinks! )</p>
<p>Yikes STEM! Is she waking up during the night? Or having trouble falling asleep? I think you’re doing the right thing by making sure she’s getting protein (D’s choice lately has been the Special K Protein bars: 10 grams; they’re not in the cereal bar aisle, they’re usually in the nutrition supplement area.) </p>
<p>My kids swear by melatonin when they don’t feel like they’re getting good sleep, so that’s worth a try. I would probably call the doctor just to run it past the triage nurses, just to soothe my worries.</p>
<p>Hey everyone! I finished my AP testing today-APUSH was on Friday and AP English Language today. I think I did well on AP Lang! The multiple choice was a lot easier than I thought it would be (not too many rhetorical devices were on the test, it was more context and meaning) and I think i did very well on the essays! As for APUSH, I’m not too sure. I tried my hardest to study for it and do practice tests, but it was very difficult to get enthused about the class. While I learned a lot, I think if I had a teacher and classmates who were more into the material I would have done better. I think I received a 3 on APUSH and at least a 4 on Lang. I got a 4 on the mock exam that was given and scored by professors in December, and I know that I did a lot better today. It was very surprising for me to see how much my writing has improved. I felt different writing my essays today-as if it sounded more intellectual than before.</p>
<p>Tomorrow I get to represent the girls on my golf team at one of the matches! There are five girls on the golf team and twenty boys. There aren’t enough of us to make our own team, so we play with the boys. My score is currently at an average of 51, so if I could bring that down a little bit I have a good chance at beating a lot of the girls in my conference and possibly winning a scholarship next year!</p>
<p>As for school, I have until June 19, and then I’m out of there! My finals start the fourteenth of June. I have AP English (I have to hand in my video project by 7:30 that morning) then pre calc on the 14th. Then APUSH (take home test, so I don’t have to go in) on the 15th. Spanish and Communications (which I don’t have to go in for because I have an A in the class) on the 18th, and Advanced Information Technology (a class I have before school, the exam is opinion based questions) followed by chemistry-the hardest final I will take. Then I’m done with Junior year and after the seniors graduate on the 20th I’ll officially be a Senior! I’m so excited! This year has been very rough, in both social and educational aspects. There has been a lot of drama at my school this year and my schedule was very demanding. It burnt me out. I’m so glad to see this year coming to a close. I have the SAT on June 2 and then I’m going to my town’s Relay for Life event, which I am a team captain for. Then I’m taking my ACT on June 9th. Exciting things right there! I’m glad testing is almost over with, too. Hopefully I score well enough on the SAT and ACT this time around so I won’t have to take them again in the fall.</p>
<p>I hope everything is going well for everyone else!</p>
<p>STEM- I think you should absolutely get that checked out. There was someone on another thread, maybe a 2012 thread or something, whose son was doing something similar to that. And I also have a friend who takes medication for the same thing. Especially if she’s not staying up til all hours, that isn’t normal. Does she snore? Any chance she has sleep apnea?</p>
<p>Thank you, MOMofNEA for your comments about guilt. Misery loves company! Just kidding but I can assure you I have thanked my parents many times for their sacrifice. It does make it much harder to make a different decision for our own kids though. My parents have been pretty good about it overall but Dh’s family has been much more judgy. They are more prestige conscious than my side.</p>
<p>Swizzle- sounds like things are winding down and you will soon be a SENIOR! Yay!</p>
<p>Hope everyone had a good Hump Day because we are on the downward slide to another weekend. After this week comes to an end, only three weeks left for D. I checked her grades on Edline this afternoon (I’ve made a real effort to do this rarely and let her take the lead) and overall she’s doing well. A’s with 2 B’s… I hope she can get the momentum going for a final push on those B’s. Even if not, she has had a truly amazing Jr year. I am so proud of her.</p>
<p>RobD and VandyGrad, She did get blood tests near end of freshman year, thinking maybe mono, but tests didn’t show anything and I have mentioned it to pediatrician with little response. I think it was better there for a while. She doesn’t snore but I don’t know for sure about sleep apnea. She seems to be fine in classes where she is moving around or that are more discussion-based but the testing surprised me. I think I will call the doctor again and will look up melatonin.</p>
<p>Stem: What about Narcolepsy? Seems weird to fall asleep during a test. I was tested for narcolepsy once (it involved spending the night at a sleep center, they tested for sleep apnea and then narcolepsy. Both were negative.)</p>
<p>STEM How is her weight, cholesterol, BP, blood sugar etc? Does she take any allergy medications? By the way, my son also thought the Lang test was boring. </p>
<p>Vandy, You might be right about the stress thing. Now that AP tests are over, his cough seems be better too. Congratulations on your daughter’s acheivement. </p>
<p>Son’s guess is, 5s in Biology and US History, 4s in English Lang and Chemistry.</p>
<p>I am not even thinking about how many tickets at graduation next year. I can barely plan a party for two weeks out. I am assuming we will be fine since we are a small school with a large venue. </p>
<p>I stand corrected on the waived application. D told me she has one. One! A school she deemed “too Northface and Ugg”. </p>
<p>Socialdrama- your D must be quite talented. </p>
<p>STEM- I once fell asleep during a Intro to Philosophy final Teacher had to wake me. In all fairness it was boring as heck, and I was out the night before. I think making sure they get a high protein breakfast is really important for exams. We do the old fashioned egg thing here. My S15 is not the best breakfast eater/sleeper and has fallen asleep in class as well. I would pursue a physical just to put your mind at ease. It could be sleep apnea. I don’t think you always snore with Apnea. </p>
<p>Swizzle- so glad you did well on exams. D also thinks she only got a 3 on APUSH. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. The junior year drama is fairly common. It will just make it easier for all of you to say good bye next year. I think there are days that my D would like to fly the nest early.</p>
<p>STEM, push for some bloodwork. Thyroid testing would be in order, along with the others suggested - this happened to my niece until she was diagnosed with a thyroid problem. I hope you get to the bottom of it.</p>
<p>DD took her 4th AP test yesterday and we celebrated with dinner at her favorite restaurant. She has a test in her pre-cal class today which is stupid IMO since her final in that class is Tuesday. School is over next Thursday and junior year is complete. She will take her final June ACT and then veg out for a month until her business camp starts on 7/8.</p>
<p>Just dawned on me last night that we need to start thinking about senior pictures. With DS last year it wasn’t a big deal. Now with a daughter, want to find a great photographer.</p>
<p>laurendog–that was more of a reality check for DD. To put it into concrete numbers for her, to earn the same money she is looking at in her athletic scholarships each year, she would have to earn $11/hour working 40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year, so yes, if she doesn’t want to play in college, she would not have time to play in high school because the time she is using now to practice would need to be used for work–in other words, there is no way a 17 year old kid can earn the kind of money working that she will get in an athletic scholarship so suck it up butttercup :D. I know we are not the norm on CC but our kids are expected to contribute as much as they can to their college educations and since she wants to go to medical school, the goal there is to get through UG with little to no loans. It’s just reality here. She was better yesterday once the math part of it sunk in and once we figured out for the time she does spend practicing, she is “earning” about $50/hour.</p>
<p>Kids took AP Lang yesterday, said the test was easy for the most part but one essay was hard.</p>
<p>STEM–I agree with the thyroid testing. Does she have dry skin, is her hair thin, does she STAY asleep or is she waking up during the night? What time does she get up in the morning?</p>
<p>Good morning all. S has IB Spanish this morning. As he walked out of the door he told me they have awards ceremony tonight and he is getting 3 awards. Has no idea what awards he will receive. Then he informed me he wouldn’t make the ceremony because he planned to usher for the Young Orchestra recitals. I don’t think he realizes awards are meant for the parents and I would love to go.</p>
<p>“I don’t think he realizes awards are meant for the parents and I would love to go.”</p>
<p>Sorry. My son '14 is the same way. He was amused at how aggravated I was by what I perceived as his lack of recognition during his awards program. Of course we all feel that our kids are extraordinary and we would like that to be acknowledged in public. One thing he could do is let the principal know that he regrets that he is unable to attend because he has already committed to ushering for the Young Orchestra. At my son’s program, the principal made a big deal out of the kids who were not present because they were representing the school at other positions of responsibility.</p>
<p>Apollo6 - yes the school knows he won’t be able to attend. About 15 of the top 20 students won’t be there. Not sure how many of them are receiving awards but the principal and awards coordinator were both disappointed. It’s just as a parent I am the last to know everything.</p>
<p>Wow I was away yesterday and so much going on… :)</p>
<p>STEM…Yes blood work with T3 and T4 thats for Thyroid and a CBC…it will show if there is anything…</p>
<p>But…I think…Our Kids are Burnt OUT…I think everyone should take their kids on a Fun Stress Free day/weekend…Not involving school or work or there’s that word…College…</p>
<p>We all have kids who have been burning the candle at both ends…and some are going off to summer programs for…more work…yea I know we do it everyday…but they are kids…</p>
<p>Go do…maybe something you did with them when they were little (a trip to the playground and push them on a swing)…ReSet the balance…</p>
<p>They are growing up Fast and I bet most of them deep down are scared…just to proud to talk about it and wanting to please Us…</p>
<p>This whole process is very scary…for us…and for them…
They know they are setting the path for them Leaving Home and being on their own…and while they act all grownup and “know it all”…let’s not forget deep down inside they are kids asked to be thinking about adult decisions…like how much money for school (huge amounts, more than any of us ever thought of)…a different state?(who is going to do their laundry?)…all new kids at school(that they haven’t know for years…)…being the new kid on the block…and on and on and on…
Scary stuff…
So if your kid is acting out of sorts or doesn’t want to think about the College list…or brushes off questions about all those tests…
Don’t think they aren’t thinking about all this stuff…
They are…</p>
<p>I brought this up because a friend of my daughters…had a major meltdown…the kind she had to be medicated for…Seriously Medicated…
No One thought there was an issue…she is Smart ,Well Adjusted, making her College list, AP Exams, SAT and ACT etc etc etc…<br>
Turns out she was …as she said…just putting on a good show…but deep inside…Scared…so scared she had thoughts of the S word…</p>
<p>So MY Motto today is…Hug your Kid…For no reason…just cause they All Need It…</p>
<p>I hope I wasn’t to depressing this morning…but I had to share my thoughts…the situation with D’s friend came so out of left field that I had to step back and look at the whole process…on both sides…especially since this is my first time going through this process…
Whew…What a Journey…</p>
<p>STEM - just want to echo what others have said, and suggest your D does a sleep study, including sleep apnea. We have a family in our parish whose two year old son (much younger, I know!) was having trouble at night, with a lot of coughing and such, and they did a sleep study. Results indicated he “woke up” about 173 times during the night, and had 16 incidents of his breathing stopping…I believe that’s when his parents would hear him coughing at night. Not sure what they will do for him, but I know there are breathing apparatus (plural?) that are pressurized such that it will push air into their mouth/nose, or something like that. The issue with sleep apnea is one doesn’t really ever get into heavy, deep sleep, so their night of “full sleep” is not restful at all.</p>
<p>You probably already know the particulars, so I apologize if I’m posting unnecessarily, but it’s totally worth testing, if she’s falling asleep in class. Good luck - hope you can figure it out soon :)</p>
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