@Mom24boys, it’s good to see you here. I’ve mostly been lurking too but I was wondering how things were going for you guys. Glad to hear DS is doing so well, and hoping the treatment does the trick for your DH.
In regard to getting DS back to school, could he leave before the snow and then stay at a hotel for the night and take the shuttle the next day? Just a thought.
My D is back to school. She also had a great first semester. Probably not loving the start of second semester because the temps are absolutely FRIGID.
Hope all the kids have a good second semester, including your D @LadyArwyn.
I hope it’s not to late to join the party. I have a D15, D16 and S19. I’m a lurker who recently joined CC to help me cope with my anxiety on going through this college app process again for the second year in a row.
I just dropped D15 off at school again yesterday. Does anyone else have any great stories of realizing their child was a college student?
My favorite was my daughter’s story about walking to a nearby shopping plaza to buy clean underwear in the middle of finals because she wasn’t willing to do laundry when she was going home in just a few days. She said she spent three times as long checking every possible store than it would have taken her to just do a load of laundry.
Welcome mom23! I had two in a row too, D14 and S15. Taking a year off before things get into full swing again for S17. I’m SO grateful for this year off, lol.
My favorite stories are from S15 (D14 hardly ever called home sniff). He kept calling because he was cooking. “Mom, how do you make pudding [from scratch]?” “How do you make frosting?” “Why does the cake have to cool before I frost it?”“How long can you keep [dry] rice before it goes bad?” Forever, son, forever. Got to finish that family cookbook SOON.
We have a week here before D14 and S15 go back to school. (Have I said how grateful I am that they’re at the same school? What a blessing.) D14 had a hard semester…roommate stress, the death of a beloved youth leader (and my best friend ), a roommate’s father’s suicide, tough course schedule…she pulled out a 3.1 but since she had an A in a nonmajor course, that means she is very disappointed in how at least one of her major courses went. She didn’t give more details than that, but I can tell she’s discouraged which sad to see. We’re looking ahead though to her semester in China in the fall and she seems happy for that.
DS '15 had an amazing semester. He announced early on that he was going to keep his Sabbath — no studying on Sundays. This made me a little nervous because even though we’re a pastor family, I haven’t been asking my kids to take Sundays off from studying, ever. But he did great…spent Sundays at service and singing and playing soccer, and got a 4.1 at Cornell Engineering. OK, I guess he’s old enough to make good choices, and I don’t have enough faith, LOL.
Good luck to all the kiddos embarking on their second semesters. Extra special luck to @LadyArwyn’s D - it sounds like she is back on track.
@mdcmom excellent grades in Cornell engineering is laudable, especially with a Sunday Sabbath. Sounds like a tough semester for D’14. It can only get better.
My D’15 had a very good first semester, though parts were really challenging. She got through it, and is that much more confident that she is in the right place. She has made great friends, changed her major, surprisingly joined a sorority, signed an apartment lease for next year, and managed a difficult schedule. I could not be happier with the school and her overall experience. I do think some luck is involved.
Welcome mom23travelers, and hello to everyone else. I, too have not checked in for a very long time. I am glad to read all the updates - including the successes of mom24boys, suzy100, albert69, and mdcmom.
My son has also had a successful first semester. Learning to navigate through all the non-handholding of a GSU has been an unpleasant task, at times, to say the least. But I am very proud of the “hustle” he demonstrated in adjusting to school, earning a 4.0 GPA first semester, and securing a place in each of the 5 classes he wanted for next semester (2 of which were quite closed until he pleaded his case to be added). He is fine with his random roommate and is already working with career services for an internship or research opportunity for the summer. Although he would have been happier at a school 20% this size, there are many lessons to be learned from the path he is on.
I join in wishing all of our students continued blossoming in the second semester, with special good thoughts for LadyArwyn and Jennie11.
Welcome and good story @mom23travelers! S15 headed back yesterday after 4 weeks off (his exams ended on the earlier side of the schedule). I would say the biggest change for S is becoming much more responsible for everyday habits such as being on schedule, laundry, homework etc.
Math continues to be his weak point and since he is pursuing a double major in CS and Economics - that’s a concern. I’m glad he feels he is learning and is not discouraged by a low mark (a C in Calc 2 - continues to be his nemesis). He does not have to ace his classes but he does need to get a 3.2 gpa to apply to the CS program (new rules this year - used to be auto admit in freshman year and now you need to qualify after taking some required coursework). he will have TWO math classes this semester - discrete math and statistics. Keeping fingers crossed.
He doesn’t seem to have a plan (or a plan for a plan) in place for summer. Is that the case in general for everybody’s students or do most have plans already?
DS is probably unusual as he already has his summer planned to perform with the same drum corps he was with last summer. Went to his first weekend rehearsal camp last weekend and the whole time was a “blast”. This from my very unexpressive and introverted child. He’s told me though that this will be the last summer because he wants to look for an internship after that.
Now if I could just convince him that he needs to get his ducks in a row and apply for next year’s housing…
@Mom24boys, I haven’t been around in many months but I saw your post and I am sending positive and healing vibes to you and your husband. I hope the new treatment helps. I’m glad the first semester was a good one for your son!
S15 is back at school. He is close so already came home for the MLK weekend since they had no class and he had an appointment with a doctor that is hard to get an appointment with. He seems to love being there and though his roommate seems to be struggling with classes he ended up with a 3.7 which I think is great though he was disappointed. I told him to move on and do better this semester!
My D had an eventful first semester, with 2 hospital trips (one time via ambulance) because she fainted. There’s nothing really wrong with her, though. The doctor said syncope is not uncommon in young adult women. She said she is not unhappy with her first semester grades, which were above a 3.0, so she still keeps her scholarship. She is auditioning for the Musical Theater program at the end of February - it was supposed to be Valentine’s Weekend, but she got cast in play, so she’s doing that on the 13th and 14th.
She participated in a study today where they put a scope down her throat and recorded her vocal chords while she was singing - she nearly fainted again at seeing her vocal chords on a screen. However her musical theater dreams work out, at least she knows a medical field would not be right for her! What I’m most pleased about is that she’s made some really lovely friends.
I agree @Irishmomof2, making really lovely friends is a big plus. It is a huge component of hearing them as happy where they are. Hopefully the syncope will resolve and the audition goes well.
), a roommate’s father’s suicide, tough course schedule…she pulled out a 3.1 but since she had an A in a nonmajor course, that means she is very disappointed in how at least one of her major courses went. She didn’t give more details than that, but I can tell she’s discouraged which sad to see. We’re looking ahead though to her semester in China in the fall and she seems happy for that.