<p>DD was home for a surprise visit. We weren’t planning on brining her home but she flew standby on a buddy pass and actually got a seat!! So it was a nice surprise. She never saw her friends as she’s coming back in a couple of weeks and was happy to be home with family. She tried to cram every food she likes from home into 3 days. She ate cheesecake for breakfast. She came home to a clean room, left it a mess while she was here but returned to school with her room as clean as she found it. So I know it can be done! I also sent her back with dirty laundry. She does it as school herself now so I’m not about to break that new habit.</p>
<p>Main difference I noticed with D2 home is that the house is noisy and busy–the phone rings 7 times a day whereas it might ring 7 times in one week when it’s just Dh and me at home. Plus, there are lots people here. Our house was the center of activity (we’ve got a pool table and a big flat-screen, plasma tv) when D2 was in high school. It’s still seems to be a draw for D2 and her friends (all college sophmores); however, I’ve noticed that it’s a smaller group than last year–couple kids are away–one studying in London, one working on an organic farm in Siciliy and two others who transfered to schools out West aren’t coming home until Christmas break.</p>
<p>nurseratchet</p>
<p>"We weren’t planning on brining her "</p>
<p>I think you meant to post this on the “to brine or not to brine thread”!</p>
<p>My son and daughter are not close, but as they have gotten older they actually do spend a small amount of time together. Usually they will watch tv in the same room while on their computers; they might even speak a few words to each other!</p>
<p>Last night, I notice a small change; they ended up at the same bar with their group of friends! It seems there are a couple of bars that kids from their high school tend to go to during the holidays; I think it is easier to run into old classmates with out actually making plans with them. I couldn’t decide if this was really a change, although my son did text his younger sister to see if she was still there and came up to her to speak. So now my kids are bonding at bars; how exciting :-0</p>
<p>S has been home for a week and goes back tomorrow. I sure am glad he was here for more than a weekend, because we never would have seen him! He’s spent lots of time yesterday and today with his GF and friends. I suddenly feel very emotional about his leaving. I’ll miss him. But he’ll be back in three weeks for a month of winter break.</p>
<p>My D will be back in less than two weeks for a month as well…this was just a taste of things to come!</p>
<p>snowball - I can top that… my girls were doing drunk karaoke in a bar last night. We headed up to Wisconsin for a fish fry with a bunch of friends. Liquor laws are looser there, and 18+ can drink with a parent present, so we let the almost 20-year old drink. She and her sister don’t usually have much in common, but they were having a blast last night, and did a Spice Girls song with two other friends. They usually aren’t very affectionate, either, but last night I had witnesses to them hugging each other! It was actually a lot of fun - we were with five other couples and some of their kids, who we all knew from show choir when our kids were in high school. So it was fun listening to all these kids sing again (and some of the parents). We’re hoping to do it over winter break again.</p>
<p>S announced he was taking his dirty clothes back to school to wash rather than having me do them. (A choir of angels broke out in “halleluia!” as he finished that sentence.)</p>
<p>My boots and pashmina are gone to the movies with D. I’m honored - my stuff was rated “fashionable”. D did her laundry on Monday before she left for her Thanksgiving break. I’m happy she learned to iron her clothes. They do have homemaking classes at those women’s colleges, don’t they ;)?</p>
<p>My DD came home very late or rather very early morning Thanksgiving (4AM) after spending the evening with her friends. She has been in and out since she was home. BTW her room was clean prior to coming home, now it looks like a disaster zone.Saturday 11/29/08 was her 18th birthday and she spent it elsewhere, so I felt a little put off by it, but I have learned to step back a little in her life. But right now she is lazing on the couch and we will go out for a dinner celebration later today. I really like having her here, but I havre come to like the freedom I have when she is at school. I can’t believe that I am admitting that.</p>
<p>His last day here, S had 2 friends over for breakfast without telling me they were coming for breakfast. Fortunately,…there were good things to eat in the house besides cold cereal! </p>
<p>The landline doesn’t ring for my kids anymore (except for the youngest who doesn’t have a cell yet.) As S pointed out, why call a “house” and not be sure who will answer when you can call a person directly? Which I guess makes sense.</p>
<p>Not sure why, but cell phones barely work in my town, and our house has no reception. No bars on the old cell phone here–which irks my kids to no end. So, that’s the reason our landline rings when the kids are home.</p>
<p>My kids have rarely ever received phone calls on the landline–everyone in the house assumes it’s always a call just for mom. They’re usually right.</p>
<p>I don’t even pick up the landline phone anymore, just screen all the calls to see who it is. 99% of the time its solicitors who just hang up. I’m wondering why I even keep the land line.</p>
<p>My extended family call me on the landline. I also use the landline to send faxes. I also use it when I’m calling a toll-free # or local # & plan to talk for an extended period of time – not sure whether cell phones are really safe from radiation or whatever causes brain tumors/cancer, especially with extensive, prolonged use.</p>
<p>Did anyone happen to read the Sunday “Zits” comic yesterday? My house exactly! The land line rings and rings, I can’t find any phones, and no-one bothers to pick it up. Too funny. Even the kids laughed at that one!</p>
<p>Zits is usually right on for my family. Makes you realize that many teenagers are alike; I guess that makes me feel better that my kids aren’t the only ones!!!</p>
<p>D slept through her alarm on Wednesday and missed the shuttle to the airport. Caught a ride in a cab with a friend (she paid the difference!), and made her flight. Got to the next airport, and somehow missed the fact that her connecting flight had already boarded. Sat happily in the gate area while the connecting flight pulled away… Good thing travel was light this year, they gave her a seat on the next flight at no charge. Oh, and she was traveling with no cash at all (zero). She is normally quite responsible, not sure what happened this time. We were obviously still very happy to see her and have her home for the weekend in spite of the multiple phone calls on Wednesday starting at 5 am our time!</p>