<p>They honored the graduates at church today and presented them with an inscribed Bible. I told my daughter I wanted her to take the Bible to school with her, not that she had to read it or even put it on her bookshelf, but I just wanted her to have it somewhere in her dorm room. Plus I told her she had to keep it forever. She rolled her eyes at me and I told her to trust me, that her 18 year old self doesn’t understand but her older self will understand some day. </p>
<p>And I teared up when the pastor told my daughter to remember that the whole congregation, including her parents, would always be there if she needed anything.</p>
<p>Minnymom - so sorry to hear about your MIL.</p>
<p>D’s grad party was last night and everything went like clockwork including the weather. We couldn’t have asked for a better day/evening and it was wonderful to see old neighbors and friends as well as many of her classmates. Finished the cleanup this afternoon after a morning of rain and we are still tired out from all the running around to get everything prepared for yesterday. Eight days of work and then a welcomed break for 10 days of vacation / graduation trip. Once we get through the July 4th holiday and the grandparents head for home we will shift to college move-in planning mode. D received her NSO and move-in schedule yesterday. 73 days until move-in day! I’m sure it will go too fast.</p>
<p>It was downright humid, but we made it through graduation. Son '14 received one more honor. His school does not rank, but it gives the top graduates red, white and blue honor cords. He received one and wore it for the ceremony. A true student-athlete. Several teachers came over to congratulate him on his performance at the state track meet. They had read about it in various newspapers across the area and state. Wish we could take a break, but we have underclassmen exams today and tomorrow at school. Son '14 will get some rest, but he’s running later in the week in a national event.</p>
<p>@overtheedge After I took BarnardGirl to the airport yesterday I got very weepy and then spent the rest of the day napping on and off. I definitely crashed from the hustle and bustle of graduation followed by a very busy week at work and then shopping all day Saturday. I felt like I hadn’t really had a day off in several weeks because everything has been so busy. Things should settle down a bit now. Phew. </p>
<p>@Minnymom Sorry to hear about your family’s loss. Must make this an especially emotional time. </p>
<p>We had a church “bridging” ceremony yesterday and people kept congratulating us. It seemed odd, as our graduation ceremony was a week and a half ago and we’re so totally over it already! Onward and upward, I guess. </p>
<p>S’s internship is going well; he’s in a different part of the institution than I am so I’m going by his assessment and haven’t actually seen him working yet. I forgot my badge this morning and my son let me in all the doors :-)</p>
<p>Successfully chose a room for housing, enjoying meeting all the other parents in the Facebook group. </p>
<p>So we still have ONE MORE scholarship application to get in, believe it or not! I say “we” because it includes me badgering and proofreading. After winning 3, however, S2 seems more inclined to get this one done. He seems to want the money and value it more, now that he is working full time for the summer. And still waiting to hear from 4 scholarships - he found out that he made it “to the committee” for one national scholarship, which is a compliment in itself. </p>
<p>Sports awards banquet tonight, and I was informed by my son three days ago that I am in charge of the slideshow, so I have been buried under that (makes sense since I am the team photographer but usually kids take the lead on this). </p>
<p>No cords of any kind allowed at graduation – some kids would probably be bent over under the weight of theirs! Not mine though!</p>
<p>Busy with normal end of year stuff (tryouts, concerts, etc.) plus graduation, and then summer activities gearing up and I am reaching capacity. My house is a wreck but hopefully starting tomorrow I will have time to get it organized just in time for my parents’ arrival for graduation.</p>
<p>But I know I will survive by reading all of your stories!</p>
<p>@Minnymom - So sorry for your loss. What a conflicting time it must be.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the new grads - and good luck to their parents on getting ready for grad parties! DD’s is scheduled for early August so we get to attend a lot before hand and figure out what we’re doing!</p>
<p>I had a wonderful weekend. Spent it at my 30th college reunion reconnecting with friends. I can’t even tell you how much fun was had! It was amazing to think that I met these amazing women when we were all 17 or 18 and we’re all still friends today. Most of us lived together freshman year and continued living in the same dorm for the next 3 years. Some came and went, or came later, but it seemed like no time had passed since then (although our backs and knees aren’t what they were 30 years ago!) Two of us are sending our DD’s off to college this year and we all agreed that we hope they find the kind of friendships we found there. We all know if we ever needed anything, all we’d have to do is call and someone would be there - whether from close by or from across the country. And it helped that it was a wonderful weekend weather wise, much better than the pouring rain we had on our graduation day!</p>
<p>After reunion, I made it home in time to watch all of DD’s classmates graduate from our town high school. Her BFF gave the Sal speech which was so great! And her BFF’s mother had brought extra grad robes for DD and another friend who graduated from different schools. The pictures of the 6 girls who are closest including the 2 in fake robes are priceless! The girls had been talking about having DD “graduate” as a senior prank so it was just perfect. I am so going to miss those girls when they leave at the end of the summer! Luckily the mom’s are a great support group for each other and will continue to get together even without our daughters!</p>
<p>@Minnymom - I am so sorry for your loss. My Dad passed 4 years ago and I really was missing him at my S’s graduation. I was also thinking of my Mom ( passed away many years ago ). I know they would have been proud! </p>
<p>I had a world wind last few days. S graduated on Sunday and we had a nice family and friends party. It was a lovely day! Monday morning, I applied for a position on LinkedIn ( also have a friend from grad school who works for the company). After cleaning up from the party and dragging S out of bed - we headed to Boston for my nephews graduation from the oldest High School in the country. Two very different experiences - small town graduation with 125 students to inner city class of 400. After my nephews’ graduation we had dinner at a 5 star restaurant with family. A totally different experience from my backyard party - both were nice - just very different! Ok I will admit it the restaurant was fabulous! We had an awesome time. H couldn’t make to my nephews graduation - had to work…S and I drove to my Providence apartment, (home during the week) after the dinner party and didn’t get there until after mid night! S had plans with former GF ( now just friends) on Tuesday and wanted to get home!
He woke me up at 6:30 wanting to take the train home( Maine) …long story… he did make it home around noon time. It was the first time he had taken train/bus alone but all was fine…I was a little sad he had to leave but he is a " love sick" pup and I was glad he was able to manage public transportation on his own. Growing up! </p>
<p>I was feeling sad …drinking my coffee and reading email and trying to get reading for the day…my phone rings it was HR from the job I applied to on Monday, wanting to know if it was a good time to talk about my experience! I had to snap out of it! I pretended I was busy ( well I was busy feeling sad and a little disoriented!). I asked to call her back…jumped in the shower, got my act together and called her back! It went well…I have a phone interview today with the hiring manager! Happy Day ! …I am just full of emotion…happy, sad, anxious …
Plus today I have to meet with an employee who is been really off because of personal problems…not just just poor performance but bizarre behavior…I will be glad when Friday rolls around…next week is college orientation and my S starts work on the 23rd, his first job! </p>
<p>@calla1 - too funny! My husband did that once - one black one brown - no one noticed ! </p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone! It so nice hear great news and learn about everyone’s successes! Wish me luck today ! </p>
<p>We are finished. Graduation was Sunday. D received an unexpected scholarship that is going to be a huge help for us next year She had elected not to go on the lock-in Project Grad because she said she preferred a family and family-friends party here, so that is what we did. The weather was fabulous so we had a backyard party. When we moved into this fixer-upper 6 years ago we said we would one day have a party like this, and it has taken us THIS LONG before we were ready to do it. It was great!</p>
<p>Now I feel like I can finally -after over 2 years- start to relax and get my life in order. It is a good feeling.</p>
<p>@onlyonemom - Good luck with the job interview! </p>
<p>@calla1 - Lol! I once did the same thing. I was speaking at a seminar when I looked down and noticed that I was wearing one navy and one black pump with a black suit! </p>
<p>D started working yesterday. She has declared she never wants a cubicle job as an adult if she can help it. Meanwhile she sits in an office with another college kid while she learns medical billing. She’ll do other things but she needs to learn that first. You would have thought she was breaking rocks for a living to hear her talk last night.</p>
<p>@calla1 I haven’t worn two different shoes, but I have looked down and realized I was wearing my garage clogs at work (and believe me, they look like something that should never be worn outside a garage!). Have also forgotten my shoes and had to wear snowboots all day (stripped down to socks when my feet got too hot). A wedge and a heel? Oh, man, that,s a classic.</p>
<p>We’re just chugging along here. D is working. The college sent her a summer workout program for her fall activity, so she’s been doing that. Next week is orientation/registration. Should be fun. My employer had it’s first orientation last weekend. Less than two hours after I registered kids, I had a call from a parent. D overheard that conversation. Told me she couldn’t think of anything more embarrassing to her than if I called the school on an academic matter. </p>
<p>@calla1 - that’s pretty funny! I too have been feeling the stress. We are having such an intense deadline-driven month at work, and all kinds of things are supposed to happen at work tomorrow - graduation day - which I have taken off due to two graduations (middle school / high school) & a ton of family in town. Sigh. I’ll get through it, but it will be a stressful day rather than a fun light-hearted one like I’d hoped.</p>
<p>I’ve been off the boards since graduation–work has kicked up a knotch and little time to relax.</p>
<p>I’m reeling after yesterday’s shooting in Troutdale which is about a half hour from home. One of my best friends is a teacher at Reynolds High School. It was midday until I found out that she was all right. It breaks my heart that our teachers have to endure this type of trauma. She is one in a million. I don’t know how she will be able to go back. Ironically, her own daughter was graduating from our neighborhood high school last night. </p>
<p>Today I flipped on the news and saw the face of the little fourteen year old who won’t be having a summer vacation or be able to finish out college or plan for college. I have my own little 14 year old upstairs, sleeping soundly.</p>
<p>Are our children safe any more? Now I’ll be sending my daughter across the country in August–I won’t be able to get in my car and drive quickly to her school if something happens again. I just don’t understand how this continues to happen. </p>
<p>Well, I’ve been AWOL for awhile. S had baccalaureate last Sunday night. I like that his high school has one, but it was also a bit frustrating. I’d expect an interfaith type service but the minister who gave the sermon (he was both an alumnus and the father of a graduate was very sectarian. It was uncomfortable for me being a different flavor of Christian and would have been cringe worthy for a Jewish student. So in the long run I wish we’d have skipped it.<br>
Graduation was Tuesday. The rain held off so it was held outside. It was nice enough but the faculty should have “rode herd” a bit more over the graduates. (beach balls and party crackers and such). DS won the award for top science student. Speeches were uninspired. Val is certainly bright but had a parent that was largely responsible for his success. It will be interesting to see how he handles college without her help.</p>
<p>Finished grades for my students (at a different school which accounts for my incommunicado status). Many students don’t try too hard on them since they only count for 5% of their final grade. I tell them what they need to earn a certain grade, and a common scenario was, “You need an 18% to maintain your B and a 146% to earn an A.” Not a lot of motivation for them and a bit of annual humble pie for me.</p>
<p>DS goes to orientation on Monday through Wednesday next week. Looking forward to seeing him get in the college groove and get his schedule for the fall. Oh also I was surprised to learn at graduation that DS was the only AP scholar in his class (and no higher AP honors).</p>
<p>@go2mom … I was thinking of you & your family when I heard about the shooting there. </p>
<p>DD graduated this past Friday … couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day - high 70s, beautifully brilliant blue sky and they were able to graduate on the football field. Quite a day. </p>
<p>No open house/grad party here though - since we don’t have any family, and the kids mainly party hop, having one is a bit pointless. </p>
<p>DD got a job cashiering at Kmart for the summer … she’ll also be able to pick up hours when she comes home for break so she’s pretty happy about that. And she has a phone interview w/ Vandy’s dining services in the next day or two … she figured out that if she can work 9 hours a week, her meal plan will be 1/2 off. Um, yes please!! Nail that interview girl! ;)</p>
<p>DD15 is having a TOUGH time finding a summer job - everyone wants 18+. But she was just cast in a community theater musical (with her best friend who’s home from college for the summer) … so she’s having a great summer. She’ll be off to Berklee in a couple of weeks for Musical Theater camp … and then I get right back on the USS College Application, 2015 Edition. Whew!</p>
<p>Hope everyone is having a great summer! I really try and keep up with all the posts here … I really do! But sometimes life (and these boards!) move so quickly!</p>
- both were nice - just very different! Ok I will admit it the restaurant was fabulous! We had an awesome time. H couldn’t make to my nephews graduation - had to work…S and I drove to my Providence apartment, (home during the week) after the dinner party and didn’t get there until after mid night! S had plans with former GF ( now just friends) on Tuesday and wanted to get home!
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