<p>Quiet in the Vigil Lounge? Heaven forbid! Here comes S2, belting out the Muppet Show theme song - does that help? 
It certainly seems to help him get in the mood for school.</p>
<p>mountains - thanks for the info. I’m glad that slowing down a bit helped your S. I’ve been trying to persuade D that something in her schedule has to give. So far I haven’t been successful.</p>
<p>I believe it was a bagel that burned in the microwave. I once put a chocolate chip cookie in a plastic bag–what was I thinking?!–in the microwave and the bag melted and the cookie burned. I don’t remember flames , though.</p>
<p>My son had 4 pretty big EC’s in HS and has cut back to 1 during his first year in college. I sometimes feel a bit w<em>i</em>s<em>t</em>f<em>u</em>l about it, but it’s his experience and his choice. I think in HS, he had fewer friends and less of a social life. I like the idea that he has space for that now.</p>
<p>mythmom - thanks for explaining - I have obviously never seen the movie The Red Violin, and I misunderstood what you were saying. </p>
<p>I’m sure you are not too excited about the rain, but I have been crossing my fingers and saying little prayers for rain today. D is supposed to have a softball game (which she can’t play in because she is still injured, but is required to attend), and she really needs to study for her AP as she keeps falling asleep on her review book because she gets home so late. If it rains enough, the field may be too flooded for them to play on - oh, and a little thunder and lightning this afternoon would also be helpful…lol. Plus, I planted tomatoes yesterday, so the rain is good for them too. </p>
<p>Hope you weren’t too late to work.!</p>
<p>Harriet, your little S sounds so cute! Love the theme from The Muppet Show.</p>
<p>Just got email from director of D’s regional orchestra about the recognition for seniors at their last concert, which will be Sunday. D plays violin and her private teacher is encouraging her to audition for the college orchestra. She is a little hesitant, especially since she won’t be a music major and is looking to be more involved in other activities. So I guess this is a long way of saying this might be the last time I ever see her perform in an orchestra. They already had the final concert at the HS, so this is probably the last one for the family.
D2 used to play violin and bass. She gave them up when she entered HS because she wanted to be able to take some other electives. Our HS counts foreign language as an elective (don’t think many adcoms agree that foreign language is optional) so students only have room for one true elective each year. D1 was required to take HS orchestra because she was in the regional orchestra, so she never got to take any electives all through HS. She can’t wait until college so she can actually take some “fun/interesting courses.”</p>
<p>You’re right bethievt, she did say bagel - my mistake. </p>
<p>I think you should be happy that your S has time for friends and a social life while he’s at college. That’s part of what college is about. </p>
<p>D has way too much going on in high school - if I listed everything, you would think it was impossible - but she manages and normally handles things beautifully. It’s just that every so often, things get a little overwhelming. Also, she has a nice group of friends and a BF for over a year now, so her social life is good - although over the past 2 or 3 weeks, she’s barely gone out at all.</p>
<p>Peabodie, I’m sure your D will make the right decision about whether to audition or not, but I can understand why she is hesitant. Hopefully, she’ll find a few “fun/interesting” classes to make up for those electives she missed out on in hs.</p>
<p>I’m sure she’ll be fine. I think she might take up a second foreign language, and the intro classes meet 5 days a week, so that takes up a lot of time. And if she doesn’t place out of the intermediate level of Spanish, she’ll have to take that (also meets 5 days a week). So I think she’s looking at a very language intensive first semester—which she will much prefer over science/math classes. She’ll probably take a break from those.
D2 is taking two foreign languages in HS, and the classes meet back to back. She says it’s fun but sometimes she gets confused and answers in the wrong language.</p>
<p>LIMOMOF2, I’ll add my prayers for rain to yours.</p>
<p>My two bits on electives… That’s one thing I hate about our school. My kids both had to plan out their course schedules starting their freshman year so we could be sure to meet all the various requirements of the state, the local school, and the colleges. There are so many courses they need to take their junior and senior years on the college prep track that they have very few electives, and those electives had to be taken their freshman and sophomore year. But, all the interesting electives at the school are only open to juniors and seniors. My oldest did find some that worked pretty well for him. My youngest, though, has different interests. I think his two electives this year have been a total waste of his time. I think he might get one elective next year. If he does, I think we will see if one of the teachers will let him in a class for upperclassmen. It would be the only chance for that teacher to have him in class, and I know he wants to get the opportunity to have him as a student.</p>
<p>So far as college ECs go, my oldest has one he wants to do for sure and is looking forward to. We found some others on the school’s website that looked interesting. I hope he gets involved right away. My biggest fear is that he will be so overwhelmed by all the changes and the talent of the people around him that he won’t. That’s a Mom Fear, as opposed to a rational fear. I know you all know the difference!</p>
<p>Good morning! My, some of you are up and at 'em quite early! </p>
<p>gladmom & LIMOMOF2: I had toasted a bagel for my early bird daughter, and later in the morning thought the petrified uneaten half would soften up if I heated it in the microwave. So I popped it in at the lowest automatic “reheat” setting, and left to get the 1st grader ready for school. A bit later, middle daughter strolls into his room to say, “Um, mom, smoke is pouring out of the microwave vent. Not looking good in there.” She had the presence of mind to turn off the microwave. Smoke was filling up the house, billowing across the ceiling. 1st grader was all ready to call 911, probably anticipating having the coolest Show & Tell later that morning. I honestly didn’t know if I should keep the door closed and let the microwave continue to smoke, and wasn’t sure if it was burning up inside. So, with images of “Backdraft” running through my mind I decided to get the kitchen fire extinguisher, pull the pin, open the microwave door, and spray the heck out of it. I still don’t know if that was the right thing to do, but eventually the smoke stopped. The bagel was blackened, and the paper plate it was on had some burned spots. I don’t think there were actual flames. Maybe there would have been if I hadn’t played Sparky with the extinguisher! My middle daughter stayed cool throughout. After it was over she said, “You know, mom, you kind of panicked back there.” No sh**, Sherlock! And, yes, the little guy had the most excellent Show&Tell, even without actual firefighters playing a featured role. I now approach the black beast “Lucifer” with renewed respect for his powers.</p>
<p>I am immensely impressed with those of you who learned instruments along with your children. I know it is hard when they must let a beloved activity go to make room or time for something else. Pruning the buds, as it were. My middle daughter was a beautiful pianist, but hated practicing. I finally refused to pay for her lessons, tired of being the piano-practice kapo. I had hoped she would miss it enough to go back, but no such luck. Her voice is still her instrument, and she’s taken up the drums in band, now begging for her own drum set. My husband is actually contemplating getting one. I suppose I should capitulate if for no other reason than in thanks for keeping the house from burning down. Older college-bound daughter offered her bedroom to house them so I can’t use the “no room” excuse. Am I nuts to even consider saying yes to this?</p>
<p>mythmom: Thanks for clarifying who had the red violin, and why. </p>
<p>Good luck to all the AP test takers! </p>
<p>Could someone recount bethie’s mouse story or should I poke around old threads for it? I am intrigued!</p>
<p>Here’s the link to the mouse thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/431753-mouse-my-car-heeeelp.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/431753-mouse-my-car-heeeelp.html?</a></p>
<p>My S did his EC pruning after sophomore year. He had been first chair at his instrument in both regular and jazz bands for frosh/soph years. He got top scores at competitions and loved playing. But it was just too much. He wanted to focus more on academics and spend some time finding out what he was reallly interested in. Later that year he decided not to continue with track either. He definitely had his head on straight and was doing what was best for him. </p>
<p>My H and I were sure that he was hurting his chances for admission to top schools with his decisions, but we supported him. Then he surprised us all with his admission to Stanford. He didn’t apply to any of the Ivies – said the weather is much too cold there. If he hadn’t gotten into St, then he would have been happy with one of his other admissions. He is so calm and self-assured that anxious-me is learning from him.</p>
<p>je<em>ne</em>sais_quoi, gladmom, and LIMOM, you’re all making me wonder if I’ve been too unkind to S1. He’s been begging me to let him use the old microwave (sitting by the door waiting for the county household toxic cleanup day) to make lightning with grapes, destroy his AP books after the exams, explode marshmallow peeps, etc. </p>
<p>I guess if he plugs it in on the back deck, and keeps the fire extinguisher handy, and only lets S2 watch from INSIDE, maybe it’ll be therapeutic for him. </p>
<p>And, as jnsq suggests, give S2 something really excellent to share at show and tell.</p>
<p>LIMOM, I absolutely get what you’re saying about the rain, and I’m rain dancing for you. </p>
<p>And jnsq - GET THE DRUM SET! There is not much on earth cooler than a girl drummer. :)</p>
<p>(In case anybody is really worried here, I am not serious about letting him put the textbooks in the microwave. But the grapes and the peeps - maybe!)</p>
<p>gladmom: We noticed this year that kids like yours who seem to know how much they can handle did very well in the admissions game. Good for your son to realize his limits, and GREAT for you to respect his instincts. </p>
<p>2blue: I read the entire mouse/critter thread. Thanks…I think! </p>
<p>Do most kids continue with their ECs (especially music) in college or are they too busy with their studies? ECs seem like an excellent way to meet and make new friends. </p>
<p>My 2 cents re electives in HS: My older daughter was swamped with academics due to GC advice that typically started out with “Colleges like to see…” and was discouraged from taking some interesting sounding electives. With daughter two we are going to let her scale back the academics and take more classes she will ENJOY! We weren’t brave enough to risk angering the admission gods first time around.</p>
<p>OK, Harriet, I’ll get the drum set if you let your S1 blow stuff up in the microwave – but you have to promise to tell us all about it!</p>
<p>It’s a deal. But I have to find both fire extinguishers first.</p>
<p>As for your ECs in college question, D went in intending to keep up both sports, but fairly sure she’d drop music. She’d never been a committed, passionate musician; she’d just enjoyed the making-music-together aspect. So it made sense, and we attended her last concert without too many tears. Freshman year she played both sports, but she’s now down to one - there are just too many other interesting things going on. ECs are without question a great way to make new friends, and to keep life from being exclusively about studies. I think a lot of kids wobble a bit as they try to get the balance right, but most seem to find the right mix pretty quickly.</p>
<p>Jnsq - Buy the drums, ask Harriet for her microwave, and then blow up the drums in the microwave if you regret your decision. :D</p>
<p>Good plan, mountains, good plan.</p>
<p>Hmm, drums and fireworks . . . this is starting to sound more like summer than spring! I like it.</p>
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<p>If you have never microwaved peeps you have missed a fun experiment. Kids have done it every year in the regular microwave, not even consigned to back porch. Makes kind of a somemore with them. We don’t really burn them, just poof them up.</p>
<p>Morning all! Sounds like fun for all with the microwave! Got home from D2’s track meet last night and she wanted Fettucini Alfredo at 9:00! Good thing I had some refrigerated sauce! I think she is looking forward to the end of AP tests. One more week!!! Hooray!
Oh…the fettucini was good…but not really on my new healthy eating plan! Guess I need to get out and do some extra walking!</p>