We’re 14 days from having an 18 year old! This is what I am struggling with more than anything right now. How did we get here this fast?
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Mine turned 18 last week! Honestly, I’ve been kind of looking forward to being an empty nester and he’s been a difficult kid in the last 6 months. Nothing terrible, just grumpy and uncommunicative. And then yesterday he was talking about working as a camp counselor this summer and I kind of panicked! No! You can’t leave that soon!
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I feel this. Mine turned 18 in September and he’s really ready for the next chapter. I think he will be happier with more freedom and independence but I know I will miss him and even his moodiness.
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I am of the belief that fraternities and sororities should be done away with, and yes, I was in a sorority. So we all have our controversial opinions.
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I’ve said this in another thread, I keep thinking my daughter should hurry up and apply to a couple more schools.
All importand and 1) those lessons can be learned in other ways AND 2) may or may not need to be part of SCHOOL curriculum/activities
That said, my take is WAY off mainstream and will never happen in US in my lifetime
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My son has never done HS sports but learned all of those things in other avenues, especially the theater where your entire production relies on teamwork and trusting others.
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So grades for fall are all in, and the 4.0 continues!! (Exhalation of relief—physics was going okay, but the final was nearly half of the overall grade, so nothing was guaranteed til it was all over—followed by 
.) This is particularly good given that the RD colleges on the list (Syracuse and Rochester) are also the most selective, and require fall grades.
And the schedule for spring is finalized. It will be, all DE:
- 4th-semester German
- Physics lab (the 1-credit lab counterpart to last semester’s physics class, scheduling didn’t work to take them at the same time)
- Intro to anthropology (the more or less “for fun” class)
- Ordinary differential equations
- A class called, and I am not making this up, “Fundamentals of Mathematics” that has as its prerequisite Calc II (it’s essentially a course in understanding and writing mathematical proofs)
And so, onward!
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I may end up with a puppy when he’s gone. I don’t think reality has hit me yet. Much easier with my daughter b/c I still had my son home.
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I got a new puppy this past summer. Best replacement child ever 
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Mr Groundhog said absolutely no to 3rd dog 
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This dog (“Onions”) went kinda viral today and I definitely didn’t spend any time googling dachshunds.
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Absolutely. That’s where I spent all my extracurricular time in high school. Many, many great memories and lessons. Unfortunately, S25’s school did not have a theater program and had no band or music instruction for two years either.
No doubt - many ways to gain that knowledge of self as a teenager. The catch I think still comes down to funding decisions and access to more options in school communities, which is just a symptom of our national fixation on sports, as well as an inherently competitive rather than cooperative culture. My perspective on that is very much shaped by being a first gen American with continuing strong family connections to Europe. Anyway, my initial comments on all this were spawned because of a perception in an earlier post that recruited athletes weren’t attending college to learn. I got a bit defensive - and with that I’ll let it go.
Yes, I too would like another puppy. Or some sheep. I think a horse might be a bridge too far for my husband though, even if I’d be fulfilling a childhood dream with that one. Plus I know nothing about taking care of them other than that they are very, very expensive.
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My spouse and kids are allergic to pretty much all animals, so no puppy or kitten or other for me.
So I need to find a hobby. I have no hobbies and I don’t love that. But I’m not sure what I want that to be. I’m supposed to be spending this year thinking about that, and so far, nothing.
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Ah so cute!
I ended up with two new ones this year after my last senior dog just passed. It was a rough go because I jumped right in while grieving, admittedly it helped alot in the process. Anyway - I forgot how much work puppies are but also fun! Although the first few months were exhausting, we are getting in our groove and routine.
My last was one of my two soulmate dogs that I’ve had two over my lifetime of animals that were like that just always by my side, fully trusted, and we just synched. I felt like she was just an old soul along with me. I miss those soul dogs in particular so much although I’ve loved all the ones I’ve cared. Even the cranky and feisty first dog my partner and I had, he came around eventually after a few years 
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Also a bit odd to me as an immigrant coming from places where academics are most important (but not the crazy extent as some parts of the world with cutthroat cutoff exams). Our (public) high school does pretty well with top schools but it still looks weird to me to see “X is going to Harvard to do crew” and “Y is going to Stanford for water polo” amid the ones who actually state what they want to study. (These are actual examples)
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If that was my post, I realize how that tone may have come across. I highlighted one circumstance that gave the impression that recruited athletes aren’t attending college to learn and I definitely don’t believe that to be the rule, but rather the exception. I studied engineering with two football players and they had to work so hard to make up classes and labs! I think most collegiate athletes are excited to study and play their sport. I’m not sure how supportive schools, esp D1, are of studies coming first, but that is another discussion 
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I actually appreciate when recruits say this – at least you know how they “jumped the line”.
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I find that so weird too. The emphasis on sports seems out of whack. I was not born or raised here so it feels odd to me. I wonder what, if any, academic minimums colleges hold to for athletic recruits. I would hope there are some, but when it comes down to recruiting the best athletes my guess is those minimums go out the window.
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