<p>Ama - SUCH great advice! I won’t reiterate because your post was perfect! I’m so glad that your D’s friend had a meltdown, or no one would have known how she was really doing.</p>
<p>My H and I decided the day after our girls are out of school (both on 5/25) we are driving to Kansas City for the day and hanging out at The Plaza, perhaps for some retail therapy? Is that what I’ve heard it called? We are lucky both our girls do very well in school, so we (okay, at least I) consider it their “job” to do their best. Therefore, we plan to give them a bit of spending money for the day. Instead of spending money on a hotel we will drive back whenever, and let them have some mad money :)</p>
<p>One thing that the college counselors told us at our junior meeting is that merit scholarships are sometimes difficult to get, depending on the school and more. Her suggestion - edict, really - was that if your child receives a scholarship, in any amount, CELEBRATE it!! If it’s $1,000, CELEBRATE! That’s books for the year! If it’s $3,000 - that’s a portion of R/B! I believe our kids know we are so proud of them, but I would LOVE for everyone’s child to get something from the schools where they apply that shows them their hard work was so worth the effort. I understand it may not cover the necessary amount needed for them to attend, but remember to celebrate all of them. I am SO glad she gave that advice, as until then I don’t think I looked at it that way.</p>
<p>Hug your kids, and help them all you can, especially since they are still just kids.</p>
<p>Ama, great post. I think I mentioned upthread that ds has been working out a lot, either lifting weights or running. That helps him stay balanced. And then last night, he announces that a friend has an extra ticket to the NBA playoff game tonight and that he’ll be going! He seems to be looking out for himself very well!</p>
<p>I am glad that he’s not that stressed out about classes, but I do hope he manages to put forth SOME effort for these last two weeks. I’m not even sure what finals he has, because he’s exempt from some. He did spend a couple of hours last night working on a project for one class.</p>
<p>Oh, and he is positive he made a 5 on AP English. He felt like both of his essays were really good and that the other sections weren’t that difficult. He predicts 5s in BC Cal, APUSH and English and 3s in Physics and Latin (though I’m hoping for a 4 in Latin).</p>
<p>I haven’t heard anything about the awards ceremony. I guess that means that he didn’t get any. :(</p>
<p>Thank you for all the helpful suggestions! I will call her pediatrician today and push for blood work and sleep testing. Thanks to your suggestions, I feel more confident about discussing this with her doctor. It also really helps to hear from parents of other teenagers that this doesn’t sound like normal teenage behavior, since she isn’t pulling all-nighters or even staying up all that late on a regular basis. Also talked to her more about it last night and other details came out that indicate it is happening a lot more than I realized.</p>
<p>^^^Aw, I’m sorry that your D isn’t sleeping well STEM. I react very strongly if I get less than 6 hours sleep, so I feel her “pain.” I’m glad you’re going to call the doctor’s office. Is she overweight or does she have tonsil issues? D1 had tonsils that “kissed” before they were removed & that caused her to have sleep issues. </p>
<p>Just wanted to give you a heads up about the Melatonin. We get ours at Costco & it’s very inexpensive (about $6 for a big bottle.) D1 started taking it after having some sleeping problems from her ADHD meds, but D2 takes it occasionally too. It’s an amino acid, so it’s non-addictive. The only caveat is that it can cause vivid dreams.</p>
<p>We had the college cost conversation with S when he was a freshman, telling him how much we planned to have in his college account by the time he was a senior and pointed out that we were saving for his 4 younger siblings to go to college too, and saving so that someday dh could possibly retire! He actually gets it and wants to go to the best school for the least amount of cost. If he gets NMS, it may be possible, but he doesn’t have his heart set on any school ~ because he is waiting to find out the $$.</p>
<p>S is done May 31, siblings in parochial school done June 1!</p>
<p>Happy news ~ S’s track team is League Champions!</p>
<p>It is official. There is no learning going on at S’s HS. Classes are over next Friday and this week has been “movie” week - Forest Gump in APUSH and Of Mice and Men in English. Today, physics class is going to Six Flags all day. Theatre class has been spending their time making lip synch videos to post to youtube. S has been going out with friends every night since there is no homework. Can’t believe he’ll be a “senior” in less than 2 weeks!</p>
<p>Ama, such a great post. D is like your friend’s child- “perfect” almost everything, and so stressed by the pressure she self-inflicts. My H worries about a meltdown all the time. I may be wearing blinders to the potential too. she was so happy when AP Lang was done yesterday; hoping that being through with them will relieve pressure. She played with a score calculator the kids have posted in the AP exam section (I can find the link if any of you want it) and seems to be shocked by the potential to really do well on them all. S14 just took AP World and declared it was not too bad. He is not as devoted to school as his sister, so I’m curious to see how he will do. He hides it but does not have the confidence in himself- and the straight A sister a year ahead of him is largely why, I think- so a great score would really boost his confidence. Fingers crossed that all of our kids did well, find some “fun” activities and time to enjoy them, and survive these last days and weeks. No matter what their summer plans, they are bound to be able to relax and sleep a little more than they are able to now, don’t you think?</p>
<p>Busy AM!! Trying to comment via duel-screens so I apologize in advance if I leave anything out ;)</p>
<p>Walker: Congrats your D on the AP Calc grade!!!</p>
<p>Ree: I am loving your “Cake and Tequila”…LOL </p>
<p>STEMfam: PREACH!!! Dishwasher…HA! I am just happy if they remember to get up for school in the AM BTW…I like the shirts!! And I agree…get some blood work done.</p>
<p>Swizzle: Way to go!! And good luck on your SAT/ACT’s</p>
<p>Ama: LOVE your motto!!! Mind if I adopt it :)</p>
<p>Mommaof5: As a fellow Track Mom…CONGRATS!!!</p>
<p>Megpmom: With (2) Finals and (2) AP’s down, Jr is watching “Finding Nemo” in AP Bio and “Saving Private Ryan” in APUSH. So glad I pay tuition for this ;)</p>
<p>As far as VIP emails go, so far Jr has only rec’d one from St Johns. But then again, I haven’t hacked into his emails lately Only know about this one because a Admin Counselor sent me an email letting me know about it.</p>
<p>MDMom: I got the email from St John’s too! </p>
<p>So yesterday someone from one of the college advisor places called me. She was telling me about their $600 “essay package”. It includes a workshop, a one-on-one with their “essay specialist” and 3 edits. I am tempted. </p>
<p>Learning: I know they are watching a movie in APUSH, but it must be good because he went to class to watch it instead of coming home after the AP Lang test. I think it is something about the 60’s. Not sure about AP Bio and AP English. And we have a whole month left!</p>
<p>TX5: Was St. Johns on his list??? Too funny…</p>
<p>Essays: I must admit, this is where I am a bit nervous. I really want Jr to take his time and put actual effort into these as they could make or break a decision. If you can do it, I would TX5. It sounds like a very good deal for that kind of one-on-one work.</p>
<p>Heading to Minneapolis tomorrow. We will do an informal visit to U MN. One of the few OOS flagships that will fit within our budget. S has never been there but W and I have and rather like the campus.</p>
<p>Don’t think S is doing much in school either, gets out May 31. Have no clue about his grades this Tri, he always does ok so I don’t bother worrying or checking until he shows us his grade report. </p>
<p>I do already sense HS burnout, not because of the pressure, but because of the endless number of small assignments and what not. He is a bit frustrating sometimes because he doesn’t read instructions closely and never fails to forget doing part of the assignment leading to a grade a bit lower than it should be. It doesn’t seem to bother him. I can’t complain either, he is happy and does pretty well.</p>
<p>I think he wil appreciate college as he really prefers reading and writing papers. The small stuff just isn’t for him.</p>
<p>STEM, it’s very worrying about your D. I hope that you’ll be able to figure out what’s wrong. Everyone has made good suggestions so I’ll just say that my thoughts are with you.</p>
<p>With the teacher’s job action here the awards ceremony has been cancelled. Very disappointing for the parents. We like to see all the students’ hard work celebrated!</p>
<p>SteveMA, I don’t think that the kids realize sometimes how important their sport can be, first, as a hook, or way to distinguish themselves from their peers, and then to provide scholarships. Mine just take their accomplishments for granted and are surprised by the interest from coaches. </p>
<p>Congratulations, Swizzle!</p>
<p>D13 turned 16 a couple of days ago and now has her L! H plans to take her to the parking lots at the nearby university (classes are out and it’s quiet) to try out her driving skills!</p>
<p>TX5: Mine neither…which is why it is funny to me that they sent it. Oh well. Now if only we can get the same kind of "love’ from their top choices ;)</p>
<p>STEMFamily:Hope every thing goes well with your D and you will be able to figure out the reason. Sending my prayers your way.</p>
<p>tx5Home: I will be tempted too. I was thinking the other day, if I can have some one who can meet with DS(not me or H as don’t want to nag him too much) couple of times during the summer to give feed back on essays. First, it will help him organized, he will get a rough draft done before he goes for meeting. second: Essays out of the way, his fall semester would be much easier.</p>
<p>Ama: That is the best piece of advice. S is stressed out because in two classes his grades are not where he wants it to be. Knowingly or unknowingly, I must be adding on to it. He has couple of more weeks left before the school ends. Hope he will be able to pull it out. But today, your post reminded me of how important to prioritize things.</p>
<p>SteveMA: really liked how you dealt with your D on sports issue.
Megpmom: That is such a relief for you that your S is almost finished with his junior year. His AP history class is reading “ALL THE KINGS MEN” for the reminder of the year. They have usual quizzes and tests coming their way. He was up late yesterday night trying to finish his English and History reading assignments after reaching home at 7 from his game. Can’t wait for him finish this year.</p>
<p>D14 turns 16 next Thursday and I don’t have a CLUE what to get her
H says he would rather be drug through the streets by a wild horse than be a (4) car household. So Jr will have to stay used to sharing the car/driving her around.</p>
<p>For some bizarre reason, there is no school that day so her and a bunch of her friends are doing the whole Disneyland/California Adventure thing. (This is really all she wanted to do.) </p>
<p>But in the meant time, I can think of a good “Sweet 16” present…
I am thankful for any and all ideas :)</p>
<p>MDMom- Sweet 16 gift ideas… Money is always welcome. That way she can use it to buy something, or to do social stuff with her friends etc. </p>
<p>For my D’s 17th birthday, we opened her a checking account with a debit card and put $170 in it of “free money.” (10$ for each year.) Over the course of the year, we will slowly get her used to budgeting money etc so that she’s ready when she’s off on her own. She also has a savings account that she deposits babysitting money etc in.</p>
BTW…I like the shirts!! And I agree…get some blood work done.</p>