@Fishnlines29 true, but he better accept fast or he might have to get shipped off to Shanghai, then I might start worrying a little bit!
@NolaCAR Parenting differences, different kids, and different life experiences.
Access to good health care is a definite concern with this dd. So is making sure she has what she needs on hand. Our kids spending $$ while at college is pretty much nil.
@Fishnlines29 Thanks! Fortunately Richmond’s aid package was too low for it to be a viable option, so it wouldn’t have worked for his sister either. She handled it fine.
@RightCoaster my kids were in Shanghai this summer and both of them would jump at the chance to go to school there! Although London would be a fine choice.
Can I brag for just a moment? My daughter had a presentation due today that she wan’t completely prepared for. I encouraged her to go to school since they were presenting in alphabetical order and we are a R family. Wouldn’t you know it most of the class skipped and she had to go. I’m glad she didn’t skip and hope the teacher will keep that in mind. Tough to skip when your twin is in the class too. I am truly shocked at how many kids skip days when work is due. Last week 13 kids did not turn a paper in? Senioritis gone wild.
PSA–be careful of many of the OTC cold remedies (including liquids)–many already have fairly high doses of Tylenol (acetaminophen) in them and shouldn’t be combined with other drugs. It’s one reason I like the Motrin and pseudoephedrine separately.
And yes, your kid could go and buy something when and if they get sick or hurt rather than sending stuff.
But when was the last time you felt like running out to the drug store when you felt bad? Usually it’s the roommate who gets to do the running. And it’s often inconvenient (no car etc) And then they still don’t know what to buy.
It was easier for me when I’d get a “I’m sick!” call to say “go to that little bag and look for the…”.
@gouf78 --"It was easier for me when I’d get a “I’m sick!” call to say “go to that little bag and look for the…”.
Exactly! Even though I showed him the box as I was packing it at home, soliciting his input, and I showed him where it was in the giant under-the-bed storage box…I think he was distracted by the thought of heading off to college for the first time, so OTC meds were not high on his priority list. He never really used cough syrup or cough drops at home, but has used both at school. I don’t know if these lingering coughs are a result of living with others, late hours…whatever.
Great suggestion here. I just wanted to pop in ans say that my version of @MotherOfDragons Binder of Adulting lives in a shared google drive folder that the kids and my husband can access from their phones/computers. Includes health and car insurance docs along with vaccine and prescription records and doc info. I find it is much easier to keep this one place up to date and the kids really don’t want the physical papers.
Meds and Health: I want to add I think that legally an RA can’t dispense meds to the students. All they can do is suggest or get them to the health center. Also, as mentioned above, do be prepared for your student to be sick more than you expect. D15, who was super healthy in HS and barely missed a day to illness, seems to have a running cold, which she’s had for the past year and a half. I equate it to when the kids first start day care or kindergarten and they catch everything. New environment and close conditions = pass around illnesses. We sent her with a small med kit that was the size of (actually was) a grade school pencil box. She still called me to ask if she had (insert med here). I finally trained her to check the box first.
@NolaCAR The parents group at U Texas did Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years last year and it was well received. I am famous for buying these types of books, but not actually reading…
@twoforone99 My daughter was accepted to Richmond yesterday too. She is still waiting to hear from 5 schools, so I feel like its going to go on forever…
So easy to fall behind on the thread these days. I’m loving all the packing list items, most of which I would have forgotten.
Re: “If I Didn’t Have You”
I don’t remember when I first discovered this song, but I knew exactly what to do. Played it for H on our next anniversary and he thought it was hilarious. Of course the song he most often dedicates to me is Tom Petty’s “You Got Lucky,” so we’re not exactly a pair of romantic lovebirds. Oldest D and her fiance are going to play his other love song “You Grew On Me” at their wedding (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frNpdG4F9mw). It is kinda romantic in its own odd way.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek, thanks so much for your candid description of the challenges your S, and your whole family, have faced. It brings up many fears, but I have them for a reason. We have been incredibly fortunate to live when and where we do. Alaina was diagnosed very early (age 2 with PDD and 5 with autism). Our county, school, and private specialists have provided the services she needs and H makes enough that I was able to quit work and attend fully to her needs. I have great confidence she will succeed, but it may not be along an expected path and I think we are ready as we can be for whatever comes. You have made me completely solid in thinking that RIT will be best for her with their ASD program. I hope your S is happy where he is – he certainly is lucky to have his family.
@socalmom007, @5redheads, @smcirish, @sdl0625 (and anyone else facing autism issues), I already say too durn much private stuff on here, but please feel free to pm me now or in the future if you have any questions or want to rant or chat or whatever!
With my older D12 I forgot to send her with these medications. But I did remember as we were buying last minute things at Target. My D was reasonably healthy over her 4 years, but that means at least one cold a year, at least one stomach bug, and only one trip to the health center to check if she had strep throat. She defiantly used those medications and did replace them over the years. Some band-aids. Some of the basic that like others have said, when you are feeling sick you don’t want to be going out to the store.
My 18yo D is physically unable to swallow pills, so I’ll be sending her with a supply of liquid medicines to cover as many ailments as I can. I love the idea of cans of soup, tea, pedialite, etc. D18 is at boarding school and the first time she got sick, all she wanted was soup, and there was none to be found I seriously thought abound driving the 2.5 hours each way to get some to her.
Sorry to stir up all the emotions with my med-kit QOTD.
But, as always, I’ve learned so much from all of your experience, wisdom, expertise, and opinions. Thank you.
Parents of HS Class of 2017: It’s a family affair.
@letsshare I don’t know much about Mudd itself, but our son has a teacher who went there and is excellent - teaches college classes at the HS. I was very impressed with her at the back to school night. If she’s an indication of the typical person that comes from there - bright, passionate, and caring - that’s a good sign in my book. Just my $0.02 and one small data point.
Tim Minchin love songs: Thanks for “You Grew on Me”. @snoozn. Considering that my wife and I had the exact same nonplussed reaction to each other when we first met each other (specifically: “Meh.”), and now we’ve been together for approaching 25 years, yeah, this is another good song for us.
Pseudoephedrine vs. phenylephrine: Neither of them works for me, so I go straight for the guaifenesin, myself.
RAs and medicine: Rules on dispensing medicine vary by state. Things like ibuprofen may be legal for them to hand over, or might not. (Of course, things like—pick the next random prescription med that floats through my head—statins wouldn’t be, anywhere.)
Needs a separate post:
I’ve mentioned before that my D17’s top choice is Muhlenberg, and she’d been accepted but we hadn’t heard back about merit aid.
We’ve heard—and she got big MAC, indeed, to the point that Muhlenberg’s now less expensive for us than Alabama with a Presidential Scholarship. (Part of her package, BTW, is the Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Scholarship, which seriously has to be among the best. named. scholarships. ever.)
We’re still processing the fact that we may have a decision.
Congratualations on the Mega-MAC, @dfbdfb!! Sounds like you have a winner!! Hope your daughter is over the moon.
Wooohooooo @dfbdfb!!! It’s been fun following your journey this whole time with your daughter. I’m so happy for you all!!!
Congratulations @dfbdfb!!! That is fantastic news after such a long application cycle! You must all be so relieved, and Muhlenberg is a fantastic school!
Sound like your daughter has upgraded from Big MAC to Whopper MAC!
Congrats @dfbdfb!!!
Wow!!! How exciting!! @dfbdfb!! Congratulations on the great merit award, and so nice that it’s her top school! I have heard good things about it & loved the visit at our school by a Muhl. rep.