High School class of 2011

[MichelleVW]

My son's GF is a junior at SFA. She really likes it.

That's great to know!!

 

[kbeverina]

West Texas is about 5 1/2 -6 hours away and SFA is right at 4 hours. But the decision has apparently been made!! I wanted her to go to Tarleton since it was only about 2 hours tops away from here, but she hated it so she has decided on SFA. I really liked the campus and the town. It wasn't a huge town, but it wasn't crazy small like where Tarleton is.

So, I just signed her up for orientation in June and applied for housing in hopes that we are early enough to get one of the rooms in the new dorm that is being built.

When I was the student, I thought 4 hours away was perfect. Now that I'm the mom, I like 2 hours away much better.

My mom was hoping my son would pick the school that's close to her (about 3 hours away from us). She told me to tell him that if he went there, she would bring him drinks and snacks every week. Okay, that's just what he wants, I'm sure--his grandma showing up at his dorm every week.

 

[cruisnfamily]

When I was the student, I thought 4 hours away was perfect. Now that I'm the mom, I like 2 hours away much better.

My mom was hoping my son would pick the school that's close to her (about 3 hours away from us). She told me to tell him that if he went there, she would bring him drinks and snacks every week. Okay, that's just what he wants, I'm sure--his grandma showing up at his dorm every week.

I don't know....free drinks and snacks every week? I'm thinking mine would be all over that, lol! Especially if it just meant an hour with grandma, perhaps involving yet another free meal.

 

[kbeverina]

I don't know....free drinks and snacks every week? I'm thinking mine would be all over that, lol! Especially if it just meant an hour with grandma, perhaps involving yet another free meal.

haha--yeah, I should ask him, maybe he'd be all over that. My dad upped the ante by throwing in a batch of the sweet and sour meatballs he loves.

I was hoping he'd give that school more consideration because he got a scholarship there that would bring tuition to $1700/year (we were shocked, VA schools are pretty stingy with merit money). I explained to him how much he has in his account and that whatever is left over at the end of 4 years he can have, for grad school, a car, deposits on an apartment, etc. So at least I feel like he's making the decision to pass up the scholarship with his money, not mine. He still wants to go to Bowling Green.

 

[HannaBelle]

When I was the student, I thought 4 hours away was perfect. Now that I'm the mom, I like 2 hours away much better.

My mom was hoping my son would pick the school that's close to her (about 3 hours away from us). She told me to tell him that if he went there, she would bring him drinks and snacks every week. Okay, that's just what he wants, I'm sure--his grandma showing up at his dorm every week.

How funny is that! I am not sure what my DS would do. He will be about 4 hours away and assures me he is not coming home until Thanksgiving.

I was such a wimp, I went home every weekend! (Or course, my BF was in my hometown and it was about an hours drive.)

 

[kbeverina]

He asked me the other day if I was going to call him every day--and started rolling his eyes before I even had the chance to answer.

I wanted to say, "Okay, you are not that special.", but I refrained and told him that I would not be calling him every day, but if he sends me a message now and then, that would be nice.

 

[agnes!]

DD has gotten accepted at two of the 5 schools she applied to (yay!). Not sure when we'll hear about two of the remaining three (we think it will be within the next month or so as they have rolling admissions). The last one doesn't let applicants know until April. No word yet from either of the acceptances about possible scholarship money.

agnes!

 

[kbeverina]

Yay--so happy for her!

 

[MichelleVW]

He asked me the other day if I was going to call him every day--and started rolling his eyes before I even had the chance to answer.

I wanted to say, "Okay, you are not that special.", but I refrained and told him that I would not be calling him every day, but if he sends me a message now and then, that would be nice.

Lol, I do talk to my oldest DD every day, but we're just weird like that. I honestly don't think I will talk to my youngest every day because she really really really hates talking on the phone. I told her that I would like a text every day or so to let me know she is still alive.

 

[kbeverina]

Lol, I do talk to my oldest DD every day, but we're just weird like that. I honestly don't think I will talk to my youngest every day because she really really really hates talking on the phone. I told her that I would like a text every day or so to let me know she is still alive.

I could definitely see talking to my daughter every day (she's a high school freshman). I don't think it's weird at all.

 

[golfgal]

Lol, I do talk to my oldest DD every day, but we're just weird like that. I honestly don't think I will talk to my youngest every day because she really really really hates talking on the phone. I told her that I would like a text every day or so to let me know she is still alive.

I could definitely see talking to my daughter every day (she's a high school freshman). I don't think it's weird at all.

When DD15 goes off to college I am sure we will talk most every day, the boys, different story. I think I have actually "talked" to DS18 on the phone maybe 3 times since he went to college in August. We text a few days/week and have used Skype a handful of times. DS15 will probably be the same, if that


THere were some mom's at the parent orientation session we attended with DS18 that were wondering if 6 times/day was too much. Both the president of the college and the director of housing pretty much said yes. THey also both talked to her after the session (not sure what they said but based on the 50 or so other questions she asked I am going to guess they suggested counseling for her to let her child grow up).

 

[ctinct]

Congrats to your dd, Agnes!

Now the wait for financial aid begins. I have been preparing my d for the very real possibility of going to state U, which is a good school, just not what she is looking for. She knows she has some merit aid at the other schools she has heard from, but unless we get some other help, it's not going to be feasible. One of the schools sent us a nifty little booklet with some examples of how other families have financed their children's education. One of the examples: A couple had paid off their house, so they just took out a new mortgage. Hmmmm.....my house is not paid for, and even if it were, I would not be taking out another mortgage.

 

[ctinct]

Grrrrr! Daughter just checked her locker at a reach school she is waiting for a decision from. First of all, we have recently discovered that her guidance dept. messed up AGAIN. Very few kids around here take the ACT, but dd did and did considerably better on it than on the SAT. We asked her guidance dept. to remove her SAT scores from her official transcript. They said they would. They didn't. The only reason we found out about it was she had a sealed envelope with some stuff for a scholarship and had to add something to the envelope. Luckily, there was no seal on the envelope (and she knows her stats anyhow), so we just put everything in a new envelope.

BUT- she took both tests twice and this school has BOTH sets of her SAT scores and BOTH sets of ACT scores. I am certain we only sent the scores from one ACT date. The only thing I can think of is maybe her transcript had her earlier ACT score on it, so they noted that, too. No biggie as the composite scores only differ by one point, and she actually did better in two sections on her first test. But, I cannot for the life of me figure out how they got both her SAT scores. Only one set is listed on her transcript, and we did not send her SAT scores at all. I have no clue how they obtained these scores. Crud.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

THere were some mom's at the parent orientation session we attended with DS18 that were wondering if 6 times/day was too much. Both the president of the college and the director of housing pretty much said yes. THey also both talked to her after the session (not sure what they said but based on the 50 or so other questions she asked I am going to guess they suggested counseling for her to let her child grow up).

I got a good laugh out of this. I know I am going to miss my son, but I would never even consider calling him 6 times a day, I think once daily might be too often. The poor kid needs to have a life. I can only imagine the eye rolling that went on after the mom's 10th question, every time she raised her hand. It's one of those times when all the other parents want to gag the one who is dragging the Q&A session on long enough to make everyone's butt cheeks fall asleep.

 

[MichelleVW]

I could definitely see talking to my daughter every day (she's a high school freshman). I don't think it's weird at all.

I don't think it's weird either, but I've got grief from people saying I need to cut the strings, blah blah blah. But it's not like that, we just like to talk to each other every day...it's not usually a long conversation but I call her either on my way to work or my way home. We talk for usually 5 minutes or so and then say goodbye. She's always loved to talk on the phone though...

 

[minkydog]

THere were some mom's at the parent orientation session we attended with DS18 that were wondering if 6 times/day was too much. Both the president of the college and the director of housing pretty much said yes. THey also both talked to her after the session (not sure what they said but based on the 50 or so other questions she asked I am going to guess they suggested counseling for her to let her child grow up).

Ugh. I think know this woman's sister. I chaperoned a drama club trip to the college that my daughter is interested in. We took 10 kids, the teacher and one other mom. The college had a senior theater major take us all around and our kids were thrilled--in fact, 4 of them made application before we left. Well, 4 plus. While the kids sat in on a theater rehearsal, the other mom was talking to an admissions counselor about HERSELF. That's right. This mom has made plans to go to the same school that her daughter will be starting at this fall AND...are you ready? You know it's coming...they plan to be roommates. I can't make this stuff up. I would have murdered my mother in her sleep if she had come up with such a cockeyed scheme. It seems the daughter is okay with this, more than okay. She thinks its a great idea! i don't know what they plan to do with the younger brother while they're both living it up at college next fall

 

[johnsontrio]

I wanted to ask y'all about graduation parties.

DD seems to not be very interested in having one. Around here, they are generally open house affairs in the afternoon, Saturday or Sunday, mostly for family and the friends to drop in as they make the rounds to many parties on the same day. DD has commented that the parties are mostly for the adults. People do occasionally have parties where the kids have fun but they always inevitably end up with kids either sneaking booze or kids coming already drunk. Lots of liability there as parents. The other factor is that, around here, the kids RSVP that they are coming and very few actually show. Friends had a party last year for 3 boys on a Friday night and had a band play for 2 hours. The party was great from my standpoint but over 400 kids said they were coming via Facebook and about 60 showed up. At clean up they found bottles thrown in the bushes etc...

DD graduates this year along with her cousin at a different school. The cousin also has a cousin from his Mom's side of the family. We had planned to do a party for the 3 of them at my SIL's which s about 30 miles from our home. I would think that the family would come but doubt our friends would go. SIL also has a cousin out of state that has twins that she wants to bring to also participate in a graduation party. So now we are up to 5 kids from 4 families, 4 schools, who don't know each other, all participating in the same party. I'm not really feeling it.

Since DD is not really interested in having a party to compete with everyone else on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, after all, there are only so many weekend days in the summer, I am considering having a Sunday Brunch Open House from about 10am to 1pm. People could come with their families either before or after church. Possible menu items omelets, french toast, ham, bagels, fruit, etc.. What do you guys think? Any advice you care to give?

 

[golfgal]

Ugh. I think know this woman's sister. I chaperoned a drama club trip to the college that my daughter is interested in. We took 10 kids, the teacher and one other mom. The college had a senior theater major take us all around and our kids were thrilled--in fact, 4 of them made application before we left. Well, 4 plus. While the kids sat in on a theater rehearsal, the other mom was talking to an admissions counselor about HERSELF. That's right. This mom has made plans to go to the same school that her daughter will be starting at this fall AND...are you ready? You know it's coming...they plan to be roommates. I can't make this stuff up. I would have murdered my mother in her sleep if she had come up with such a cockeyed scheme. It seems the daughter is okay with this, more than okay. She thinks its a great idea! i don't know what they plan to do with the younger brother while they're both living it up at college next fall

I thought this woman was bad when she asked if they had rooms parents to rent so they could help with the transition. When she found out that wasn't an option she said she could just stay in a hotel for a couple weeks in case her DD needed her

I wanted to ask y'all about graduation parties.

DD seems to not be very interested in having one. Around here, they are generally open house affairs in the afternoon, Saturday or Sunday, mostly for family and the friends to drop in as they make the rounds to many parties on the same day. DD has commented that the parties are mostly for the adults. People do occasionally have parties where the kids have fun but they always inevitably end up with kids either sneaking booze or kids coming already drunk. Lots of liability there as parents. The other factor is that, around here, the kids RSVP that they are coming and very few actually show. Friends had a party last year for 3 boys on a Friday night and had a band play for 2 hours. The party was great from my standpoint but over 400 kids said they were coming via Facebook and about 60 showed up. At clean up they found bottles thrown in the bushes etc...

DD graduates this year along with her cousin at a different school. The cousin also has a cousin from his Mom's side of the family. We had planned to do a party for the 3 of them at my SIL's which s about 30 miles from our home. I would think that the family would come but doubt our friends would go. SIL also has a cousin out of state that has twins that she wants to bring to also participate in a graduation party. So now we are up to 5 kids from 4 families, 4 schools, who don't know each other, all participating in the same party. I'm not really feeling it.

Since DD is not really interested in having a party to compete with everyone else on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, after all, there are only so many weekend days in the summer, I am considering having a Sunday Brunch Open House from about 10am to 1pm. People could come with their families either before or after church. Possible menu items omelets, french toast, ham, bagels, fruit, etc.. What do you guys think? Any advice you care to give?

ANY time you can have a different menu at a grad party you will get a ton of compliments on the food. If people are going to 10-15 parties, ham sandwiches get REALLY old. My all time favorite grad party I ever attended was back in 1993 and the mom and the 3 DD's baked about 12 different kinds of cheesecakes. That is all they had and EVERYONE was so thankful it wasn't ham sandwiches. Another friend's DD wanted root beer floats. I thought that was a great idea.

If your DD doesn't want a party, offer her cash instead. I know several people that have given their kids the choice-a party or cash. Some take the party, some take cash.

 

[disykat]

I think brunch sounds great!

My senior doesn't want a party, however close family friends have been asking. His graduation is on a Thursday. I figure we'll have family show up on Wednesday afternoon and have a family style buffet dinner and his favorite dessert with a few very close friends invited and call it a day. If he wants to invite a few friends over that's fine, but it will mainly be a low-key family dinner.

I have been worried though about being invited to other parties without having had a shindig of our own to reciprocate.

 

[agnes!]

We had a run-in with a crazy-*** parent today. The child (who is a HS junior, on a sports team and does a bunch of extra-curriculars) called DD about an academic team they are both on. Everything seemed ok until... The other student asked to put DD on speakerphone so the mother could hear all the details herself. Then the mother started lecturing DD about how this academic team is run and about what did the team coach mean in a particular e-mail and how they really need to send communications... the student ended up saying "Mom, agnes!'-DD really does know what she's talking about" in the background while Mommy dearest went to town saying how the team should be run and why don't they do this and why don't they do that...

I thought I was bad but the thought running through my mind after DD told me was "Hey lady, your kid is old enough to drive, will be out of the house in a year and a half and DD is not the Team Coach a *teacher* is. Call the damn teacher yourself if you're so dis-satisfied."

DD spoke to a friend later and found out this mother has quite the reputation for butting in to the sports team's activities and has to know *exactly* where her kid is, exactly *what* the kid is doing, has to speak to a teacher every time this kid stays after-school...

I'll file this under the heading "Helicopter EXTREME".
agnes!