You’d at least expect an autographed photo of Cooper Flagg.
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That is sad, unfortunate, and totally understandable to me in such a school context. My D26 has made the decision that she does not want anyone to know her list of schools until she is done in April. No family. No friends. Nobody but our nuclear family. It may be that part of it is the same thing your son is facing, she hasn’t said. But, it is also clearly that she doesn’t want other people’s opinions (including family’s). She did have friends negging her interest in very small schools early on and shared with me her annoyance at them “yucking her yum.” So, that may have been an early warning sign.
I had a parent at her school comment on last year’s class’s schools where they matriculated and said to me, in a way that was meant to show how impressed they were with the admissions, that there were only a few results they saw as disappointing. I told them, more sternly than I would have liked, that they had no idea why those kids went to those schools or what other schools they got into but turned down. Said they may have gone for financial reasons. They may have been an athlete that really wanted to play D1 and that place is great for that (which I knew was true, for one kid), or they may have just liked that school better than some more prestigious options. I was really annoyed at the convo to say the least.
I hope that neither of our kids fears about this comes true and their friends end up more supportive and enthusiastic about their news than we expect when they eventually hear the news.
All that said, congratulations to your kid on admissions to his favorite schools and the personal fortitude to go against the tide! It takes a special person to buck that kind of cultural pressure as a teen.
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Been a busy few days here. D26 is in an organizing mood and she went through her closet and pulled out all the clothes she does not wear and decide to list them for sale- made a bunch of money. I told her I should get half 
She included all the college swag she “can’t” wear now. I was like dude we paid $80 for that sweatshirt less than a year ago…
Dropped S24 off at the airport this morning to attend a conference in DC for his fraternity. Then he heads straight back to school on Monday. I will miss him but I am happy to have my car back, a clean house and not have to grocery shop as much 
I return to work after being out for a really long time. Between my trip to see my mother in November and dealing with all of that, then D26 surgery, I have not been consistently at work in weeks. I am looking forward to getting back into a normal routine. I definitely thrive on routine. Hoping everyone has a smooth re-entry next week 
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We are back from our adventures. Now we need to deal with piles of laundry etc and back to school/work tomorrow.
Admission envelope from UIC arrived while we were away. Zero swag, not even stickers! Apparently they used to send out tshirts till a few years ago.
D19 may postpone the trip home she was planning with bf in Feb. if that ends up happening, we may do a couple of admitted student days on one of those weekends rather than trying to squeeze everything into spring break. But nothing will be finalized till end Jan when we see what those 2 decisions are. I guess it’s not that much longer to wait now but..I’m tired of waiting lol.
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Waving hello to everyone! I hope you had a wonderful break. I tried to read all the replies -but I was severely behind!
D26 finished her last application yesterday -but she still has to write scholarship applications for some of the schools - still it feels good to have the applications done! She applied to A LOT of places so it’s been a really long haul.
Congrats to everyone who is all settled with college selections! We now join the large group waiting for decisions over the next few months. A few expected in January and February but the majority of them will come in March.
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This health insurance thing is an inspired idea!! I’m still working full-time+ and so can’t do it, but my husband in late 2026 will shift to part time and this will mean us buying insurance privately. AND he keeps saying he might want to build a chicken coop, a greenhouse, a non-electric water pump (please god no to ALL of these things–I like the grid just fine! ). But he absolutely would be distracted by a money-saving idea like this one. The added benefit for me would be that classes take time, lots of time…away from chickens.
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HAAAA! My late father-in-law was like that – interested in living off the grid. As a result, my husband HATES chickens.
Feel free to msg me if you want details on the health insurance at some point. 
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We did it! Finished the Stranger Things finale with time to spare, lol.
Three out of five of us loved it. D22 liked it but is pointing out flaws with pacing, etc. And S25 thought it just didn’t hold up to what was promised over the last decade. He is forever a contrarian, though.
I’m feeling deeply satisfied. And I’m happy my kids are participating in a pop culture phenomenon – because their generation has so little of that to tie them together like we did as kids.
Back to school bright and early tomorrow for D26. This post was in my FB memories today from Jan 4, 2022. I suspect D26 will be saying the same thing tomorrow –
D22: “Mother. Mother, I have been at this school for 13 years, and today was the absolute longest school day I’ve had in all that time.”
Me: “But you’ve often had days where you started before 8 and didn’t get home until 11 after a show.”
D22: “No, I mean the literal academic school day. It was the longest 8:10 to 2:50 block ever. I thought it would never end.”
First day back of second semester senior year, folks. I do believe it’s set in. 
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Too funny!! Hope your D’s first day back won’t feel as long!
We’re up to Season 5 Episode 4 of Stranger Things last night! So far we’re loving it and it’s so hard to stop! With football games tonight, we’re not sure if we can get an episode in! I was unsure how I will accept the kids looking older, but as someone here said, it’s not too bad nor distracting. Can’t wait to watch more!
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S26 is done applying to college!!! I am so proud—and so relieved. The waiting will be hard but he has done his best.
He has a couple more days to sleep in, play video games and hang out with his girlfriend/friends before school begins again.
My D22 drove back to UCLA today. Her girlfriend flew up on Friday night just to see her and keep her company on the drive back down. My husband and I took them out for cocktails last night. They are a cute couple and it’s great to see D22 so happy.
That’s a wrap! We have closed this holiday break chapter.
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Trying to catch up while avoiding the game that’s on right now. I can’t watch- I yell too much and scare the dog.
D26 isn’t applying anywhere else, which is a blessing because she struggles with the essays and she is already quite torn on which college to attend with the ones she is already accepted to.
I didn’t watch Stranger Things yet but I am thoroughly spoiled 
The X-Files is on Pluto now so I’ve been binging that lol.
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Steelers or Ravens? It was a wild ride, but we are celebrating over here and waving out Terrible Towels…..
Brother in law HUGE Steeler fan. So glad to hear they won
I bleed Eagles green and am ready for the playoffs.
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Anyone else’s kid wake up “different” today? Oh the next 4.5 months will be a struggle.
Pro of ED: college stress is over
Con of ED: Senioritis is real, lol!
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Forget the kid – I haven’t had to be up at this hour in weeks, lol. (Mine isn’t committed to a school yet, but oh yes, it’s going to be a struggle regardless.)
This is what it looked like this morning while I took the dog out. My brain is still stuck in the Upside Down.
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We have two who bleed Eagles green (husband and daughter) and two who are Pats all the way (me and son). It’s all good unless they meet in the Superbowl.
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I despise living in New England so I root against any team within a 180 miles from here.
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HERE WE GO!!! BLACK AND YELLOW, BLACK AND YELLOW!!!
(Needless to say I did not get a lot of sleep last night. I did feel bad for Lamar Jackson and Tyler Loop though.)
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I hate the Patriots but I like Drake Maye’s wife lol. Her TikToks are wholesome and adorable.
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I have no issues with the Eagles- my boss is a huge fan. The Patriots are a different story…
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