<p>Thanks everyone for the good wishes! D is OK. No internal bleeding:). She’s still experiencing some vision and coordination issues (although she’s not very coordinated without a concussion), and says she’s really tired. She seems in good spirits though. I’m hoping that she will be back to her old self in a few days. </p>
<p>@Overtheedge - what a scary call to get! So glad it sounds like your D is doing okay now, and that she has a wonderful roommate watching out for her.</p>
<p>@AvonHSDad - Happy Belated Birthday to you! Best wishes for a wonderful parents’ weekend!</p>
<p>Also on cleaning binge - will feel so good to clear out all the things that have accumulated over the years. Hoping too to reenter the job market in the next few months.</p>
<p>Really missing my D! She’s sounded like she’s having the time of her life up until a few days ago when she texted she’s super busy and really tired. I think tests are starting to kick in. They’ve got a 3-day weekend coming up in a couple weeks, so hopefully that will give her a little break to reenergize.</p>
<p>@overtheedge, very scary situation with your DD! So glad she is doing ok, hope she is taking it easy!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, for the input regarding my son’s weight loss and dietary issues. I emailed the contact person I was given for dining services, and received a very nice email in return. He wants S to meet with him in the next few days to go over suggestions and a food plan, and he also said that S can pre-order a lunch or dinner, such as baked chicken and rice or a chicken sandwich, for a certain time, and they will have it waiting for him when he arrives at the cafeteria. He also wants S to start eating breakfast, and if he can accomplish that my hat is off to him! It’s something I’ve been trying to encourage for years. S has 3 tests today and a project due tomorrow, then is leaving for the weekend, but I hope he can meet with the dietician the early part of next week to set things up. Meanwhile, he says he has been eating the brownies I sent back with him, and has eaten off campus several times, so maybe he will pick up a few pounds!</p>
<p>DS has two tests back to back on Friday, so we will see how he does with that. He’s always had a pretty even keeled personality and doesn’t stress too much, so he seems ok. He’s had back-to-back exams before (sometimes three in a row) and handled it ok, but of course college exams are new. We’ll see how he does.</p>
<p>He gets to travel with the team to an away game this week (not all players go since it’s a large roster) and it is within driving distance so I will get to see him for at least a few minutes at the end of the game. </p>
<p>@overthedge - I hope your DD feels better soon! Concussions can be so scary and the kids never want to rest as much as they should to heal - or never seem to be able to take the time. So glad you were able to talk with her!</p>
<p>@collegetime18 I have been volunteering for my sorority for 25+ years with positions of increasing responsibility every 5 years or so. I was in grad school part time while working full time with both kids here. Even though grad school is done and the kids are gone, I’m finding myself resentful of anything that could possibly be an “obligation”. I really just want to simplify everything. The desire to simplify is intense. I’m giving it time because I’m not sure what the source of this feeling is, but I think after a major life change (graduating from grad school and an empty nest), I should make any decisions yet. But part of me wants to dump just about all responsibilities except work. It’s an odd push I’m feeling internally and not like me. I’m wondering if it is a little bit of depression. </p>
<p>@Sweetbeet My son is very much the same way. He kept insisting he couldn’t read but then he’d read things to me. I said “You can read” and he insisted he couldn’t because he couldn’t read ALL the words. He also watched and watched people do things until he just did them himself. </p>
<p>@Overtheedge Hope she’s ok! I know it’s tough to be far away when they have a medical issue. Been there with BarnardGirl and it was really hard and I just kept telling myself that I’d know when it was time to go to be with her- and I knew. One suggestion is that she register with the campus’s disability services. They were extremely helpful when BarnardGirl had some brain swelling issues and they will help your D get extra time for projects/papers/homework, etc. as well as assist with other issues that may come up as a result. </p>
<p>My S sent an email a couple days about a reception for parents tomorrow afternoon at his residential college. He sent to his dad and I with a note “You can come to this if you want”. I let S know we would both attend and he texted back “Awesome!” It’s funny how the initial note made it seem like it was no big deal but he seemed very happy to hear we were coming 
Boys! My D would have just said “I want you to come, can you?” </p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom I think you are very smart for listening to your inner voice. I have at times felt a strong need to simplify and yes, it may have been a bit of depression, but cleaning the slate can help things become clearer. </p>
<p>Now I just took on too much for my temple and other orgs because I worried about the effect of an empty nest. Turns out that I did a but of overkill! Luckily, the Jewish high holidays will be over soon and much of my work with them!</p>
<p>My ex and I both went to my son’s parent’s weekend residential college reception last night and then took him out to dinner. S was excited for us to see his space and experience his new life! He took me up to his room while we waited for his dad to get there and he kept running into people and introducing them. Kids were stopping by the room specifically to introduce themselves and one girl came in and said “A mom! I love moms!” It was so cute. My son told me he and his roommate are still getting along great and their room is the “hangout” room. One of the girls said “Your son is really nice, you did a good job with him.” LOL </p>
<p>My son talked A LOT. He said one of the coolest things was how he was learning so much from peers with different cultures. Our area is pretty racially diverse but he’s met a lot of international students and is enjoying learning about their lifestyles. He has deemed that laundry day is Tuesday (he is a very “routine oriented” kind of kid) and was telling us about a student from China who washes his clothes in the sink because that’s how they did it at home. He said their living spaces are too small to fit a washer and dryer. There is a student from Ecuador in his Latin class. His roommate is Jewish and that is very new to him so he is learning about the high holidays and other things about Judaism. Although are area is diverse racially, most are Christian or Muslim. </p>
<p>He seems very settled in and is enjoying it. He said he really misses having dogs. I told him I missed that when I went to college too and I ended up getting hamsters when I moved to an off campus apartment but then quickly realized it was NOT the same. He likes his classes, loves that kids participate in classes, that his biggest class is 20 people, and he sounds excited about his research project which is also his work study. </p>
<p>He said he hasn’t figured out which student organizations he’d like to become part of yet. He wants to find one thing that he’ll really excel with for all four years so it will be his “thing”. He is leaning toward a Random Acts of Kindness group. </p>
<p>It was great to get a sense of his new surroundings and lifestyle. </p>
<p>That does my heart good to hear that barnardmom. I know it wasn’t his dream and look at well it all turned out for him! It’s so hard to believe that during senior year.</p>
<p>What happened with the assignment @mdcmom? Listing friends hardly seems essay worthy and as others have mentioned, a recipe for disaster. </p>
<p>How’s your D @overtheedge? Has she talked with her advisor? Concussion symptoms can linger for weeks, and teenagers aren’t the best about resting and overdoing. Hope she recovers quickly!</p>
<p>The cleaning and organizing continues. We are getting a new pantry from Ikea next week so I can finally have my pantry items stored in a logical fashion. We have a 100+ year old home that was restored about 30 years ago. For some reason they never put in a pantry so I’ve been using an old Kitchen Queen. It’s not really practical and after getting a bid to have one built to match the cabinets, I’m settling with Ikea. Max isn’t happy as he could build one, but I’d like to get it finished before I’m 70. 
</p>
<p>DD is loving college and is busy with a full load of classes, a part time on campus job and a radio show! Sent off the first care package to Spygirl, who was thrilled with it’s contents. The box arrived in a day and a half and the chocolate bars were not melted even though it’s in the high 90’s there. Apparently care packages are well coveted.</p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom – I may have mentioned this on the thread previously, but:</p>
<p>My wife is involved with our high school’s ‘back from college’ night that is held every December. She’s listened to a lot of the student panels, and spoken to a lot of the kids. Her take is that happiness at college has little to do with whether a kid is at his/her dream school, their fourth choice, state school, private LAC, etc. With a few exceptions, it has everything to do with the kid. There are kids who will find the cloud in every silver lining, and there are kids who will make the most out of any situation and put a positive spin on many pieces that could viewed as problems.</p>
<p>Michigan is a school that a lot of kids (justifiably) would die to be at, so I’m sure there is a real lot to like there. But more than anything your son’s happiness is a testimony to what a great kid he is, and how he can see the ‘good’ in everyone around him.</p>
<p>Thank you for that, @AsleepAtTheWheel ! </p>
<p>Well folks, I went out and purchased enough fabric for four quilting projects. Here comes my empty nest project! </p>
<p>2016BarnardMom : That is nice that a young lady recognized that you did a good job raising your son. Although that may make parents laugh, it also makes them smile when other realize we did do a nice job with our kids. So you have reason to be proud.</p>
<p>Heard from my son Friday night, which has become our regular time to chat, because he does not have a class or lab. Things are going well with classes. Managing time remains his strength, as he takes advantage of study halls with his teammates or fraternity. He sounded excited that I’m heading down for Family Weekend, but has decided that I should not register. That way, we have lots of flexibility. He discussed going on for dinners and lunches, wants to go shopping for some groceries and other things and looks forward to introducing me to his friends.</p>
<p>I must admit that I am excited about seeing him, too. It’s been six weeks since he arrived on campus.</p>
<p>He does communicate regularly with his older brother, which is a good thing. The two hope to see each other for Thanksgiving. If not, definitely for Christmas. </p>
<p>Hi everyone - just checking in! We are currently in Philly visiting D on what is now her turf. We hauled her down to DC for a day at the Smithsonian, now we’ll spend the rest of the week here in Philly. Mondays are a packed day for her, but tomorrow we’ll go to campus & let her show us around. The relationship dynamics have definitely changed a bit…as they should, I guess!</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz – An apocryphal story states that W.C. Fields’ tombstone reads, “Better here than Philadelphia”. In fact, it does not.</p>
<p>I got an email from my usually uncommunicative daughter, just to chat, apparently. She told me that 1) she’s enjoying college “a ton”, and 2) she is thinking about getting her nose pierced.</p>
<p>LOL, @oldmom4896! You should reply that you have not only pierced your nose in her absence, but have gotten a tattoo as well!</p>
<p>She already has the tattoo–10 days after her 18th birthday. Oy! I told her that I really hope she doesn’t get one that makes her look like a farm animal. Hoping for one of those little diamonds on the side of her nostril.</p>
<p>Anyone have an idea of something I could send to cheer up a HS senior broken hearted by not making the dance troupe she worked so terribly hard at?? Was the last cut and only senior not to make it…I have no words. Thanks!</p>
<p>tpcrd66, that is a hard task. Good luck. Notsooldmom: yikes a nose piecing. Let’s hope for very small diamond.
I am so happy today, got to visit D yesterday, and I feel so much better. I will visit D2 on Friday. What a great week for me. Most roommate issues have subsided, and both girls are so very happy! Yeah me. </p>