<p>Merry Christmas! It is so nice to have all the kids under one roof!</p>
<p>I am really enjoying my young adult children. My son had asked for a record player for Christmas so I got him one that has a self enclosing case, like a briefcase, but that he can hook up to a PC to record the album, connect it to better speakers if he wants to, and connect other devices to the record player to use its speakers (like an ipod). After having great fun going through MY old vinyl albums in the basement (good thing I hadn’t gotten to that part yet with the Bag a Week club!) we spent the day today going to record stores. He has a decent beginning collection of albums now. Fun stuff :)</p>
<p>Seconding what 2016BarnardMom just said–this has been the first year I can really call my kids (17 and, come Thursday, 19) “young adults” and it’s been one of my favorite Christmases. I’m amazed at how much more mature, self-confident, and poised our son has become over the 4 months since we dropped him off for the start of freshman year. He’s always been the nicest kid we could have asked for but he’s just become so much more of an adult (although, as my wife likes to point out, he still looks like he could pass for 12!). Our daughter has also really come into her own this year without her brother in the house. I’ve had some of the best conversations I’ve ever had with both kids over the past week.</p>
<p>You always worry about your kids, but it’s an interesting experience not having to worry as much about their day to day lives, knowing that you can trust them to be self-sufficient. </p>
<p>The only stress we have right now is waiting on D’s EA app to UNC-Chapel Hill, which is where her brother goes. I can’t imagine she doesn’t get in since she’s a stronger applicant across the board than he was, but you never can tell with Carolina since they’ve become so selective (I remember the good old days of the 80’s when an honor student could be fairly assured of admission!). We’ll know in about a month!</p>
<p>We did some traveling during the holidays, visiting my folks who live in South Carolina. Youngest son has been working out and running plenty as he stays in shape for the upcoming track season. He seemed pleased with his first semester grades. On the way home from my folks’ place, we all chatted about what general education requirements he has left. Turns out he has a fine arts class to take. His older brother encouraged him to take it during the summer while home working and training. That way, he leaves a spot in his schedule for future classes that he may take with his majors. His older brother took two, online classes between his first and second years to finish out his gen ed requirements. Allowed him to double major and double minor. </p>
<p>We have greatly enjoyed having our son back home for the holidays. Overall experiences from his first semester at Tulane has been a success. He has bonded with his roommate and has made close connections with 3 or 4 friends, enjoyed his classes (got straight A’s!), and generally likes life on campus and in New Orleans. And the big surprise…he has a girlfriend (his first) whom we also liked very much (from encounters on Skype and over Parents Weekend). Second biggest surprise…his bathroom at home has remained remarkably clean after a semester of being responsible for maintaining the dorm bathroom at school. Truly remarkable!!</p>
<p>Our DS has a Fine Arts class he has to take also. He will take it next semester. All of his classes except 2 will be the same. He is working during the Xmas break at the same place he did last summer.</p>
<p>Sigh… DS is leaving tomorrow, and I’m so sad. He’s been here for 6 weeks (quarter system, they get a long break from before Thanksgiving until the beginning of January), and it was nice, but I have been so busy, it seems like the time just flew by, and there were so many things we didn’t get to do, or talk about. I’m kicking myself for working so hard and not making time to just hang out, or do things together. Saying goodbye wasn’t so hard in September, because I knew he’d be back in 11 weeks. But now, I don’t even know when he’ll be back. He’s not coming for spring break, and we don’t know about the summer yet. I know I’ll see him in August at the latest, since I have a family wedding to attend in Colorado, but it might be 8 months - wow. This time it feels so real.</p>
<p>All this just when the mid-life mood swings are hitting hard, is making me into a blubbering mess. Oy.</p>
<p>@sweetbeet – so sorry to hear, and I agree that eight months is a very long time. I felt terrible in August when I knew I wouldn’t see my son for seven or eight weeks. I am reluctant to have my younger son look at schools in California as I fear we would be in the same scenario as you. I feel for you……no comfort, I realize.</p>
<p>@Sweetbeet
I hear you. My DS14 will be going back to NYS in two weeks and just like you, we don’t know if she’s coming home this summer. She’s thinking of doing RA for the summer term. If she’s not coming home, maybe we’ll fly to the opposite coast to see her in August.</p>
<p>@2018dad Those sound like fantastic grades if it’s the school I’m thinking of. Any school, really! Congrats on a successful first semester. Is she majoring in CS? I’m rooting for her! </p>
<p>Hugs to everyone who won’t see their child for a long time after break. I feel like I’ve barely seen D since she’s been home. She sleeps half the day - lol. I suspect she’ll be home for Spring Break though. Her BF is coming this weekend to visit for a few days. I’m looking forward to getting to know him. </p>
<p>@crowlady
She might major in Information Science. She can still take all the required CS classes for a Computer Science major but by majoring in Information Science she has more freedom and have less science and math requirement and more Psychology/Cognitive Science classes. She’s also planning to minor in economics or business. We shall see.</p>
<p>I know the first semester is officially over because I just paid the tuition for second semester.</p>
<p>@twoinanddone
I’m doing that tomorrow.</p>
<p>Happy New Year everyone!!</p>
<p>I had to do it today for tax reasons (although it is due Monday anyway)</p>
Hahaha @twoinanddone I did that, too. Still have d’11’s to pay, but I can get one more year of deduction out of her (didn’t are one in 2011), so I’ll wait until Friday to pay that one. Then, six semesters left!
My son’s school needs to put the update on his spring semester chargers before we pay anything else. Sent in his meal money more than a week ago. It has not been credited to the account, as the bursar is on vacation just like the rest of the university is. Then, his scholarship money needs to be figured into the other charges. Once that happens (and I figure it will be early next week), we’ll pay the difference.
We no longer get to take the older son off the taxes. He’s on his own at law school.
Meanwhile, Happy New Year to all!!! May 2015 bring us health and happiness!!!
So glad I checked this thread last night. I had forgotten to transfer money into the tuition account from which payments are automatically withdrawn on the 1st of each month. Thanks for the reminder!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2015 will be a great year for everyone.
Happy new year!!! Nice to have kids home. Both pulled out great grades. And both are looking for jobs…oldest graduating this year and is being interviewed over break for lab positions for the next year or two before attending grad school. He’ll be studying for the GRE this summer. Freshman is looking for summer internship. Keeping fingers crossed that both will find success. Hoping the same for all our kids!