NFN, I’m happy to hear that people have not heard about exact dorm rooms yet. My son is dragging his feet, but I’m not sure what the deadline is and he knows he is “guaranteed housing”.
I often wonder if my DH got the crappiest housing on campus freshman year because he was almost full grant due to how poor his family was…
Got back last night from moving D into the dorm. We ate breakfast together and then it was time for the long drive home. She had her 1st day of summer school yesterday. It was pretty tough today with an empty nest.
@DiffMom - wow, I am ready for D to start but not ready enough to send her off right now, I feel for you!
D goes sailing this weekend with 20 other HC students and some professors. 13yr old son has last exams today! Should be relaxing weekend before party and grad activities next weekend.
@DiffMom ((((gentle hugs)))). That empty nest is something we are fast approaching as well. To not have the summer to adjust more slowly, even though we knew it was coming, is kinda sad. Countdown clock is at 26 days here. Wishing I could slow down time…
We are enrolled in a 3 week Empty Nest Training Program. S3 will be overseas on a summer program with his university. In years past, we had 1 week each summer when all the kids were at scout camp. That was a fun little vacation. But this is real!
@Wrestlersmom, my S1 never heard back from his freshman year potluck roommate until about a week before the semester started. S1 emailed and texted, waited a few weeks, then tried again. Crickets! Finally, right before school started, S1 tried for a 3rd time and got a short little reply. That seemed very odd… But the kid was a great roommate! They roomed together all 4 years. Never best friends due to totally different interests and cultures, but PERFECT roommates! Good luck!
It is exciting to learn how everyone is busy with end of school year activities. I am amazed at the differences of when our kids end the school year. S graduates on June 18th and we are having a celebration dinner before then. I am looking for ideas for guests’ goodie bags. What to put in them? A phone charger, $10.00 restaurant gift cards, things like that. I would appreciate any ideas. Thank you!
I’ve never received a goodie bag for a graduation party, and I’ve been to a LOT because the pastor’s family gets invited to every graduation of every senior in the church 
. Is this a thing in other parts of the country? (We’re in rural New York.) I have seen people order up a set of refrigerator magnets with the senior’s graduation picture on them and their new address, but that’s about it.
I have been to only a few graduation parties and never heard of goodie bag. It may be regional… but restaurant card seems nice or local icecream shop’s gift card - if they have any! Support local business and it is summer - people will actually use that too
Hmmm… thanks mdcmom… it is not a thing here in New Jersey as far as I know. I just thought it would be fun. Depending what other parents tell me here, I may be dissuaded!
DS is on a week vacation with his two closest HS buddies. He’s been gone 5 days and I asked DH last night if he had actually noticed that he’s gone. We agreed that we see so little of him any more that it’s not a big transition. The only difference when he’s in college will be that the 3rd car will be parked out front all the time instead of cruising around.
My little Cookiemonster graduated yesterday. It was a beautiful and touching graduation. They presented an honorary diploma to the family of her classmate that died in a freak accident two years ago. He now has a scholarship in his name and the senior gift was a garden in his name. Made it without crying until this moment.
D is making the post graduation party cookouts. I’m happy because I would not allow her to go to beach week that starts next week.
@Barfly - that makes me feel a little better. Wrestler is an only child so I tend to go a bit overboard making sure everything is in order with planning. I wanted to help coordinate the who is bringing what stuff and was hoping they might meet each other at orientation. But maybe guys are different.
The empty nest thing is freaking me out. I am contemplating taking on an exchange student. Lol
I’d do some fun “everybody wins” games and have $10 gift cards as a prize. No one would need a phone charger as they aren’t universal and people usually have them.
Never heard of a goody bag at a grad party. Not planning a grad party, there will be enough of them.
Planning to take my son for a steak dinner after he graduates.
Around here, grad parties/open houses are the norm. And kids make quite a haul that’s better than a job for many. S’15 should net about $3,000 from his.
Do a candy buffet, and put out cute little bags (or small Chinese take out containers). Everyone gets a little sweet treat to take home. Or how about some cute personalized luggage tags for the grads? Should be easy, and useful for those traveling to school.
@giterdone 3k that is amazing! I didn’t even do announcements because I said I knew I wouldn’t recoup the cost of them. We have no extended family and the friends that D exchanges with will be a wash b/c they are all graduating too. We are doing a party, just to celebrate, but I don’t expect much in the way of gifts.
Today was the second of five year-end recognition ceremonies, and today was also cap and gown distribution and yearbook distribution. It’s getting exhausting, and there are still two weeks left. Monday is senior skip day, and darling daughter will be spending the entire day catching up on history assignments her teacher is graciously letting her turn in late. Then comes finals and graduation two weeks from today. And then it’s still not over. The senior party starts right after graduation, lasts till 5 a.m. Saturday, and we are having a grad BBQ Saturday afternoon.
I’ve got an S14 who just finished his freshman year at Emory, and I just wanted to leave a note (about a topic that may have already been discussed on this thread).
Emory offers a pre-orientation program where groups of 12 to 15 incoming freshman do an outdoorsy type of trip for three or four days and nights. My son is not a particularly outdoorsy type, but he went last year and had a blast, and also felt that it eased his way into the rest of orientation. On move-in day he was already saying ‘hi’ to passing kids that he met on his lakeside camping trip. Every parent on the Class of 2014 thread whose kid did something similar at their school found it to be a very worthwhile experience.
So, just wanted to leave a ‘heads up’ about this sort of thing, in case your child’s school offers something similar.
D’s graduation was last night - what a great ceremony! Almost exactly one hour, start to finish, thank goodness - they have it in the gym and it was very warm! Finish up the weekend with her sister’s 8th grade honors night and graduation and then it’s off to orientation next week. Summer will be busy so D’s remaining time here will go by quick - as much as I’m looking forward to her starting the next chapter in her life, the reality of her missing from the dinner table every night is slowly sinking in…