What a difference a year makes

<p>My son is finishing up his soph year. I spoke with him yesterday and he mentioned in passing that he was “done”. He had taken his one and only final that morning (first day of finals). His other classes had final projects that he had turned in. If I hadn’t called him I would have not known he was done. A year ago he was ready to be picked up 15 minutes after he turned in his last project. He is in no hurry to be picked up. Whatever works for us. His life is now at school.</p>

<p>Yep, focus has changed end of sophomore year. Both DD and I referred to returning to school as going home this spring. Mentally we made the switch to where she lives now. Also, she did not need me to come get her. She cleaned up and came back herself. Big difference in a year.</p>

<p>That’s good news and bad news for those of us whose eldests are freshmen. DS#1 is stressing heavily through exam week; I know he’s anxious to come home but there are post-regular-season sports commitments so we can’t even make a definite plan to get him home. As I peruse these threads it has occurred to me I can’t even assume he’ll be spending summers at home in future. I know I have him this year, though, and am thrilled to be able to <at some=“” point=“”> bring him home, let him sleep, get him healthy (poor kid has been sick almost the entire school year with evil tonsils that we’ll have removed in a few weeks), let him get re-centered. Surely you parents of sophomores can understand I hope he still needs me next year?</at></p>

<p>Sign me “Still having issues with this goldang letting them grow up thing” <where did=“” my=“” little=“” boy=“” go?=“”></where></p>

<p>ingerp-one benefit of being a BFA Studio Art major is you have fewer final exams. I think this term my son had all his classes from the art dept. Art History was the only final exam.</p>

<p>Freshman D still has a month of college to go out of state (they start the last day of September and get out in mid-June)… she called Monday night sad and homesick… but she’s perked up since then. I think she just need to vent and get some TLC.</p>

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<p>True, but in return they have to deal with critiques and then… where to put all the year’s pieces of art when the studios have to be cleaned out… extremely independent DD (also finishing soph year) called yesterday practically wailing about this problem. I said that she would certainly figure it out. She’s independent when she wants to be and she still needs mama at other times. I couldn’t give her any advice about that problem which, of course, made the situation more charming, as you could imagine. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to hang up the phone! :)</p>

<p>My (finishing sophomore year) son informed us this would be “the last” summer he would come home. He said that was true of most of his friends here in his home town. He too, is very relaxed and took his last exam yesterday. He too, has found his own way home and because he lives off campus doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to get home. He informs us he’ll be home sometime next week! The growth and changing patterns are interesting and a nice change in the parenting role.</p>

<p>Very similar to momofthreeboys’ experience. My OOS soph S rented an apartment for next year starting May 1st. He has already moved into the apartment. He is through with this year of college next week on Wednesday. His summer job starts June 1st back out of state. He said he’d be in our town “for a few days” sometime “toward the end of May.”</p>

<p>BTW–S worked OOS last summer as well. And, this Winter Break he was in town for 5 days and spent the rest of the holidays in different Western states skiing with different friends who had parents with cabins or where the friends lived in the ski town so he could crash with the friend.</p>

<p>Each passing day seems to provide further proof that the launch has occurred.</p>

<p>I know. All good news and what we’ve been working toward the last 18 years. Still, :(</p>

<p>Its amazing when all our efforts, blood, sweat and tears combined with their talents yields these competent young adults. That launch is sooooo bittersweet! Why is it that is seems to sneak up on us though?</p>

<p>I agree with all these posts as we are now in the same phase. S is finishing up his soph year. Seemed less stree this year with finals and has a real handle on things there. He has set some tremendous goals and is striving to achieve them. His dorm had an 11 month lease, so he will be staying there until the end of July. During that time he will be attending a class and working. He has a 2 week period before he can move into his apartment, so he will be coming home…YAHOO…</p>