I put the odds of you actually being AI at 7%.
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I did not say that all males are violent.
In fact, if one were present yesterday early evening at my house, one would have heard a conversation I had w/15 yr old D26 on a related topic. She was complaining about a particular boy in her class who is really disruptive, tried to copy multiple times yesterday in a biology quiz (enough that the teacher talked to him a couple of times about it), brags a lot about nonsense, etc. And after the quiz, she & her BFF overheard him shout-talking to another boy at his table about very sexual topics re: females. D26 said it was pretty bad. Made her & BFF very uncomfortable, but they didnāt want to make waves so said nothing.
You would have then heard me explaining to D26 that, of course, not all boys are like this. And in fact, she agreed with me and went on to say that ALL the other boys in her grade are not like that. I told her that MOST boys grow out of stuff like Butthead Boy did yesterday, but occasionally, they just grow up to be butthead adults. And then D26 said, āYeah, like, Daddy and none of his friends are like that at all.ā
Re: young women protecting themselves from assault - our local police department has a special program they put on a couple of times a year to train females from teenager on up about personal protection. College dorms often have a lot of great educational programs for incoming students of all genders on the topic of consent & sexual assault.
I did not intend my Plan B post to make us all go down a rabbit hole. So I apologize to everyone here because of that. Iād also like to ask us all to please give each other a little bit of understanding and grace. Please try to not make assumptions about othersā parenting methods based on one thing you read here in a post. One should assume that thereās probably more to the story. And we should all assume that maybe there are multiple other points of view in addition to our ownā¦everyoneās experience is valid.
Just like the college choices that all of our kids are making right now. Because 1 personās kid goes to College A and another personās kid goes to College B doesnāt mean that parent of College A Kid is looking down on College B kid or vice versa. 
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My gut says do it before, then your kid can have a positive remark or two to share on admitted day. As in, oh yes i completed my interview w Ms such and such and really enjoyed learning more about blank.
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Wait now I may need to amend: if the interview is just a recording then do it after, as sarahbrown said, to incorporate the admitted day conversation into the video.
Now I am overthinking!
I really think either way is fine.
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Yes, and I like the focus on being part of a community where we support each other. Itās not just about oneās self. And boys/men should be aware of and concerned with the needs of girls/women.
I sent my son to college with 2 packs of Plan B, condoms, and narcan. He 1) is not interested in being āactiveā at this point in his life, 2) canāt get pregnant, 3) loathes opioids (has been on them for surgeries). So he needs none of these himself, but he lives in a community, and weāre trying to raise a citizen who cares for other people, too. When they banned abortion in our state, I told him that we will help any of his friends to obtain care, should they need it. We are all here to support each other. Thatās what makes a good society.
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Haha, I so relate to you and appreciate the care put in to thinking about it! The REA kids are in already in I think and would have done without a visit. His is just coincidentally timed with admit days.
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Iāve been gone for several days, and reading through it is actually making me feel like other people look at my family in a negative light because we are one of the poor families who gets the luxury of attending college with significant aid when the āmiddle classā - $300-500k are you kidding me? - has to pay more.
I know itās not that serious and I will get over it in a few minutes, but sheesh.
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Good enough. Beta test completed, the takeover will now commence.
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This is the message we have had for our S24. Donāt just take of yourself. Look out for your friends, of any gender. Try to intervene (safely) both if they are in trouble, but also if they ARE the trouble. And try to watch out for others too. Timely help from a stranger can make a lot of difference in a building crisis, and you canāt assume someone else is going to act. That sort of thing.
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I know I already said it but I feel like saying it againāalthough we are a full pay family, the more need aid any college my kid attends can fund, the better as far as I am concerned. Better for the college, better for society, and better for him.
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And now on to a lighter conversation ā¦
D24 and I visited Mount Holyoke and Hamilton this week. Both visits were great (Iāll post in the Colleges Crossed Off the List thread), but Mount Holyoke came out the clear winner for both of us. It is a true fit for her, and she will have the benefit of the consortium. On the car ride home she asked me if we could appeal their FA award. Itās affordable as is, but sheās mindful of cost and would like it to get closer to Hamiltonās number. That email was sent this morning, so weāll see what they come back with.
Regardless of outcome, Iām pretty sure sheās headed to Massachusetts in the fall. Bonus: itās an hour and a half away from her brother at Williams (although next year will be his last year).
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This is wonderful, and Mount Holyoke is fantastic! My D24 will be at Smith next year and has several close friends who are currently attending MOHO and another friend who will be a freshman there next year! The Pioneer Valley and the consortium are really special. I am sure your D24 will be very happy!
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Congrats, @M_Fun and @southernfemmom! MHC seems like a great school with happy, whip-smart kids. We didnāt have time to visit MHC last summer, but I thought Smith and Northampton were fabulous. I have to imagine there are advantages to having siblings relatively close. And good luck with your FA appeal, @M_Fun!
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Good luck to your child!
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In case MA residents donāt know, all MA residents can get FREE Narcan from your local town health department.
After a brief 1-on-1 training (no one else attended the weekly training), she gave me as many Narcan kits as I wanted. I got 6: 2 for son, 2 for dd for college, and 2 to keep at home. Our health department also gives out free fentanyl test strips.
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MH was one of d22ās top choices, and Iām honestly still wistful about it. I think I would have loved it there when I was a college student.
D22 ended up where she belongs, but MH is the one that got away.
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Hello hive mind, I need ideas for graduation celebration. Simple gathering, family only, at home. What are your plans?
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Our graduation ceremony is at a stupid time - 6 pm! We are doing stuff at home. Salads, simple buffet foods, and DH is going to grill/BBQ some meat.
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Ooh, thatās late! Ours is 1:30 pm.
If you qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, you canāt count expenses paid with a 529 for it. You can claim up to $4000 in qualified expenses (tuition, books, fees) and get a $2500 credit.
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