<p>Good Morning all. Dropping in to wish everyone well.
Our K2 has the last high school exam today and walks on Saturday.
Time has flown.
K2 is so ready to be “out of here” and is doing all of the online req’s for pre registration, major, language test, etc. Needed reminding about choosing a date for orientation so we can book a flight. </p>
<p>For grad festivities we are a small group of 3 of us since K1 has a team commitment for a post season event with the U…and wont be here. And all of the grandparents are now deceased. So instead of re-tredding" a similar grad celebration like K1s, we are doing it all differently–from meals this weekend at fav restaurants to a cruise celebration later this summer.</p>
<p>Time has slipped through my fingers and I have moments of tearfulness realizing my kiddos are generally launched…Our K1 is a rising sr at the U and our K2 leaves for freshman year. </p>
<p>Best wishes to all during the summer of prep and packing.</p>
<p>Last night we attended a 2+ hour senior awards assembly. Very nice- so proud of S- but H and I agree that we are getting saturated with award ceremonies. S has another community scholarship recognition on Sunday, graduation on Wednesday and another scholarship ceremony mid June. I have put on more dresses this spring than I have worn in the last 2 years! </p>
<p>@Minnymom, we’re saturated with award ceremonies, too! Had one Sunday night, one Monday night, and one last night. Our S17 did not attend the one Monday night, which was almost 2.5 hours long. At the two hour mark, I texted him and said, “Will it never end?” S14 has worn his cap and gown multiple times already. Hope it isn’t anticlimactic when he actually wears them to graduate Saturday.</p>
<p>Good morning, all. It’s a gorgeous day and that means painting can commence. Yay! Naturally the painter has found far more dry rot than originally thought, but hey it’s a 100 + farmhouse so it’s not really a huge surprise. We’ve settled on food for the party, now if I could just get people to RSVP. </p>
<p>Even family members haven’t bothered to call. Grrrr. While I’m on a roll complaining about family, can I just vent a bit? Our kids and two of their cousins are the youngest in Max’s large family. We have attended all the gatherings, birthday parties, and important events for the older cousins even though we live 45 minutes away. I made the drive often, even picking up sick kids from school since spy work gives me a flexible schedule. And I was happy to do it. But now that our kids have important events his family can’t be bothered. Their kids are grown and they’re just done. This attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed by the spy kids. It’s both infuriating and sad. </p>
<p>@momreads - Why does the coach have so much power over your son? What are the consequences if he chooses only two events? Have you considered speaking to the principal and or athletic director about a compromise? We’ve had similar struggles with coaches.</p>
<p>@eyemamom - Can you afford to reimburse the BF’s family for the plane ticket? I agree with others who’ve said prolonging this relationship, especially after a trip (to Hawaii?) would be far worse.</p>
<p>@eyemamom if he bought the ticket with miles, they might just return the miles to his account if he cancels. There may be a fee for this (likely!) and you can offer to reimburse that. As a mom of a S, I would prefer you cancel and we can support our son on the trip, than continue in a strained trip just to breakup later.</p>
<p>@eyemamom, add me to the chorus who thinks it’s better for your daughter to gently break up before the trip. She could explain that it feels like the trip would ratchet the relationship up a notch, when she thinks its best to let each other go so they can be free to explore other relationships in college. </p>
<p>I agree with the others to offer to pick up the tab for the cancellation fee. </p>
<p>@SoWest, interesting that your S wears cap and gown to the awards ceremony. My S will wear a suit. I’m curious what others wear?</p>
<p>Agentninetynine: We really tried to work with this coach, but to no avail. I do believe that, to a certain extent, my son does have some fear of getting booted from the team if he continued to push the issue. He watched one kid get kicked off last week for his attitude. He saw another kid suspended for a week because of his attitude at a meet. So that starts to play with one’s brain. We’re big on communication. When I saw the situation developing, I went to the college counselor, who organizes senior awards night, and explained what was happening. She e-mailed the coach and the athletic director. She got a vague response, but no definite word that my son could miss part or all of the meet. He said he would see what he could do. That was 10 days ago. She never heard again from anyone. My son asked the coach again last week about the meet and attending the awards. He got yelled at and was ordered out of the training room. My husband even contacted an assistant principal for advice. No response. </p>
<p>So my son decided that he would go to the meet. I hate that this whole mess happened with just a couple of weeks left in school. He does not deserve this. Neither do his parents! </p>
<p>@momreads - What a way for the coaches to treat one of their athletes who’s been a stronghold for the team, always there for his teammates, giving his all. You would think they’d be happy and proud of him, wanting him to go to the awards ceremony, and using him as an example to his fellow teammates that it is possible to excel both athletically and academically. It seems like it’s time for the principal to inform all the staff and faculty that the awards ceremony takes precedence and supercedes all other activities for those kids involved, that it is the students’ time to be recognized, and nothing is to get in the way of that. Sure sounds like the principal needs to revisit priorities with the coach. That is no way to treat an outgoing senior who has given his all.</p>
<p>@calla1 - D’s school awards ceremony was during school hours Wednesday. Majority of girls wore dresses and guys wore nice shirt and slacks (and some nice shorts). D won two leadership awards. Like everyone else, we were hoping for a scholarship, but reminding myself that D was very fortunate to win a large scholarship from her university and majority of those winning locally probably were not as fortunate. </p>
<p>I’m so sorry your son is having to deal with this @momreads. I guess the real question is what does your son want to do? If he wants to attend the awards ceremony then I’d call the principal. How many weeks of school are left? If the coach - who sounds like a peach - kicks him off the team, what are the consequences of this? Will this have any impact on next year? </p>
<p>@Fogfog - I’ll be in your shoes in a few years. Doesn’t it seem that the high school years fly by? </p>
<p>@momreads - the coaches sound awful. My S2 also went through a difficult senior year with football coaches. His previous coach and position coaches left last May for a bigger district, and his senior year was disappointing to say the least, as it was for nearly all the senior football boys. These are boys who stood on the field in Dallas in their sophomore year getting medals for winning a State Championship under the previous coach, only to find themselves underplayed and put in entirely new positions for their senior year, which should be their best. Oh and the new coach decided that players didn’t need to have names on the jerseys this year. So frustrating. He became very disillusioned with the entire school as a result. He is a top student, but has put heart and soul into football for his entire 4 years, and 3 years before that. He can’t wait to start college.</p>
<p>@1dilecon: D14 had a similar reaction to her awards ceremony last night. Hoped for some local scholarships, but was glad that other students with greater need won them. In fact, she turned down a local scholarship interview after being awarded a generous merit scholarship from her university. (And she was pleased with the student who won that one!)</p>
<p>Our ceremony is in the evening, with most girls in dresses and most boys in dress shirt and tie. They all received their honor cords and NHS collars last night, and were draped in them for photos. Still haven’t worn the cap and gown…</p>
<p>The support from my CC friends is very humbling, and we do appreciate it. Son '14 did go to the conference track meet instead of the senior awards. He probably wishes he had been able to leave the meet, because one of his friends, whose mom is also a teacher, told him that his name was “called out a lot.” Apparently he has several items to pick up later today from guidance. He should have been there, and he should be the example of what a student-athlete is. He did win the conference title in the 1600 and placed third in the 800. His relay finished fifth, but already had qualified for states. Meanwhile, he also told me that two guys on the team are really giving him a hard time about other issues. He has chosen to take the crap from them, because he is graduating. He does not want the underclassmen to experience their wrath (one is an underclassmen, so he will be back next year). They won’t put a hand on him, but they will belittle him. He’s a tough kid, so he can take it. He only has two more meets with these two kids … and three more days at school. He can handle that, he said.</p>
<p>Shooting rampage at my alma mater, UCSB. Horrifying. I am speechless. Once again, how do we as a society let people this mentally unstable have access to guns?!?!?!?!?!</p>
<p>@staceyneil- Yes, tragic news. UCSB has been in the news slot this year due to problems in Isla Vista. This disturbing act could have taken place in any college town and is so sad.</p>
<p>I have not posted in the past week but have tried to read along - through the successes - congrats to everyone of there is just to many to list. I am sad about the shooting - it is so sad that this young man thought he had no other options and that his mental illness would go unnoticed! My heart goes out to the families of the victims…</p>
<p>On another note - at this moment just doesn’t seem important but here goes - I am late in planning my son’s grad party - It is two weeks away -only about 25 guest mostly family - I am not sure what to have for food - I thought pasta theme or taco theme but he said he wants finger sandwiches, sushi , not sure what else - seriously ! I didn’t want to make the food but now I don’t know what to do…any suggestions? </p>
<p>Prayers for the victims who should have been enjoying a fun spring weekend. </p>
<p>@onlyonemom our local groceries will make up platters of finger sandwiches, deli meats and cheese, fruits and veggies and the like. Anything like that in your area? </p>
<p>Has anyone ever ordered from Edible Arrangements? Instead of a cake I’m thinking of getting that for our D’s grad day. She loves fruit and I think she’d get a kick out of it. It’s just the 4 of us, so it could be a smaller arrangement. My husband’s birthday is 3 days after her grad, so it’s not like we’ll be deprived of cake that week. ;-)</p>
<p>The UCSB shooting has been the talk of our family this morning. So tragic. His videos are unnerving. </p>
<p>@onlyonemom - Is there a restaurant or a deli where you could buy the sandwiches or even the filling? That would save time. If that isn’t an option, I’d recruit friends to help. </p>
<p>@momreads - Sorry he wasn’t able to attend the awards night but it sounds as if he’s handling this well. Congrats on his track wins. All of this will be but a memory in the fall!</p>
<p>@12dandelion - thanks for the advice - I should just make it easy and order from the local store and keep it simple - I was hoping for lobster Mac and Cheese too but we’ll see. I ordered the Edible Arrangement it was fun but the fruit was not as ripe as I would have liked it but that was a couple of years ago… @Agentninetyine - thank you too for the advice - I am looking around - we will do the finger sandwiches just wanted to be more creative but it is his day! We will have suchi but not too much because I am not sure who likes it? I can order that the day before so once I know who is coming I can decide how much to get. My son likes Asian food, seafood and basic American food but he did not want a theme …It is about him and not me so no theme…</p>
<p>@12dandelion - I received a flyer from Edible Arrangements last week and they had a cute bouquet with “2014” in fruit that looked fun and was geared to grads - really cute!</p>
<p>@onlyonemom - We just did prom pictures at our house (in the rain but that’s another story!) and the local grocery store had platters to order - either finger sandwiches, cold cuts, or roller sandwiches. I chose the rollers cut up in pieces for appetizers and that worked well. They also had hot or cold buffet dishes and fruit or vege platters so you may be able to get everything you need there! They wanted a 48 hour notice but I wasn’t thinking that far ahead and they were able to do the vege platter and sandwiches with 24 hour notice. But it wasn’t a big night for parties. If I were you, I’d ask the store how much notice they need especially for graduations where many people may have parties the same day and it may be very busy.</p>