<p>What an amazing weekend! We just returned from taking our daughter to ND for her freshman year. The weekend of activities was great! From the "Frosh-O staff" of students in the hall (Welsh Family) that helped us move in, to all the other people on campus that helped with everything, it was smooth and memorable all in one. A special highlight was the Mass this morning that brought tears to our eyes, and of course, the "Spirit of Notre Dame" program this afternoon, with the bands, chorale and coaches that got everyone in the true spirit of Notre Dame and the ND family. For those new to ND, or considering it as a choice for college, I can't imagine a better place to go, or to send your child off to. In a word...WOW!</p>
<p>That's great to hear! I hope/know she'll love her whole year (of course she will; it is NOTRE DAME!). Keep us posted on how things shake out.</p>
<p>An amazing weekend...our second such Frosh-O experience in three years. Toughest part was saying goodbye. My son the junior came to meet us as we hugged our daughter the freshman. As we walked away, the tears forming in earnest then, I saw the two of them walking down the quad towards the dining hall, moving on with their ND experience. An incredible place. But oh so far... We are an exceptionally close family--I can't believe we were willing to let both of them go so far away, except that it is such an amazing opportunity for them. </p>
<p>But me and my ten year-old son shed plenty of tears on the 8-hour ride home. And my husband, who was driving, was having a tough time keeping clear-eyed for the road. </p>
<p>Feels like someone tore my heart out...but I know they are in a place where they are happy and thriving...</p>
<p>Sometimes it just sucks to be a parent doing the right thing...</p>
<p>Anyone else feel that way?</p>
<p>most AMAZING place ever... my mom BALLED the whole ride from our last lunch to my dorm and we're from chicago! she's coming to see me in like 2 weeks haha...</p>
<p>dd--REALLY weird your daughter is in welsh because my cousin is in there (junior) so i'll be spending a lot of time there! lol who knows, maybe i'll meet her--you're probably praying no--i think you blocked me awhile ago haha</p>
<p>ddjones, did your son staff the Navy O-week this year?</p>
<p>hahaha josh</p>
<p>Danbrenn, yes, my son staffed Navy O-week. Jvon, my daughter is in Pangborn, so you may have already met her during one of those mixer things. I won't block you from her :) She's a hard-core cross country runner and soccer player, so I figure if she doesn't want to be around somebody, she can run in the other direction or just gear up for a good corner kick ;)
She is, though, immensely social, so if you had any Stanford/Pangborn events, my guess is that she was one of the more high energy ones up there... Her brother, Navy ROTC boy, is going to have his hands full :)</p>
<p>haha ROTC boys don't scare me</p>
<p>Jvon, my daughter is in Welsh Fam and I think they had a little party with you guys yesterday. Actually she went over for the party (doesn't like to miss any of that!) while we finished putting together her cabinet in her dorm. (We seemed to do a lot of "putting together" while she was out at the various mixers!!! which was totally fine!) All of a sudden we were ready to leave and she wasn't there! It actually made for a good little laugh at a somewhat sad moment! She showed up to say goodbye and we truly felt good about sending her off. She is incredibly happy to be there and told us that she just knows she loves her school. What more could we ask? It was tough to arrive home and see her empty (actually not really empty enough) room and know that she was away. And, we had many bittersweet moments, but to echo dd, it is a great place, and we are so blessed to know she is in good hands, with good people for her next phase of life. </p>
<p>Oh, and she text messaged me a bit ago to say that they were in line for their football tickets! What fun!</p>
<p>Trust me, my daughter can be scarier than the ROTC son... Perhaps a common trait of the 18 year-old female? :)</p>
<p>Just got back..what an amazing weekend. I cried off and on throughout the Mass, but lost it when they sang the alma mater at the end.</p>
<p>I lost it so many times I can't even count them. Still losing it today... In ways, it was harder to walk away from two of them there, rather than just one of them. They were together when we left; I saw them walking away down the quad, brother and sister together as I have seen them for so many years. And I'm sure my son was busy telling my daughter how "mom always cries when she says goodbye, but she'll get over it." It's cool to have them there for each other, but 40% of the family away leaves a heavy load on my heart...</p>
<p>Then again, I always have sucked at goodbyes...</p>
<p>By the way, Dan, it appears Jvon isn't scared by Navy ROTC boys ;)</p>
<p>I hope my son was civil and nice...</p>
<p>Well, you obviously haven't met any, and if he isn't scared of NROTC boys, then maybe your son can get the Gunnery Sergeant to give him a hand. That man can bring the wrath of God down on someone. ddjones, I'm pretty sure that your son issued me my gear and treated my blisters all week.</p>
<p>And was he civil and nice?</p>
<p>Yeah, actually he was one of the only ones.</p>
<p>I'm glad to hear that. We tried to raise him not be a jerk; most of the time, the lessons seem to have stuck :)</p>
<p>H and I got home at 6:00 pm tonight (Monday) after a 2 day - 19 hour long
drive from ND to Houston - to echo everyone's sentiments 'Frosh-O' was amazing! During the 19 hours H and I recalled the weekend and decided our
d found the most incredible university to attend, especially for her. ND is tailor made, fulfilling her every need - (academic, athletic and spiritual - listed alphabetically). She is indeed in good hands - too bad she's 1186 miles away.<br>
The Pangborn girls were incredible, as was the rector, the dorm pres and vice pres ... and everyone else. All the scheduled events were wonderful and all the parents we randomly talked with at them were wonderful too. The mass was awesome - truely awesome!
Our ND d is the youngest of 4 and boy is this nest empty! Everything echos.
I still haven't gone upstairs to check out her not-even-close-to-empty room. Maybe next week. DD our girls sound like they'll get along really well - hope they meet up soon - I imagine they already may have.</p>
<p>Did anyone's children get in with a below avg. SAT score by any chance (I'm not talking horrible, but like 1900-2070 or so)? If so, what was it that helped them? I've always wanted to go to ND, but the more I look at who's going there, the more I think I just might not be good enough. I've got great grades (3.97 uw) and ECs (captain of several teams, club president, internships, etc.), but most people who get in are just naturally very smart, and good test-takers it seems, which just isn't exactly me. I get good grades bc I work my tail off. Anyway, sorry to take the fire out of this thread, I've enjoyed reading all of the posts! You can PM me or whatever so that this thread can get back to its original purpose if you want! Thanks.</p>
<p>I was doing fine (enough) after Sunday night, until Monday morning when I walked past her room, which, like your daughter's, was a lot less empty than you'd think, given the amount of stuff we hauled around! The most healing thing was when she called me about midday on Monday to fill me in on the scoop--she was obviously very happy...breathless and hyper as ever. She got a job at Recker's, working 4 two-hour shifts a week. Not a bad hike from Pangborn... I thought Pangborn's Frosh-O t-shirts were some of the cutest ones of the girls dorms; it was kind of fun to look at all the slogans... The little phox is cute, though. Just what my daughter needed, more t-shirts :)</p>
<p>A few days into this, I realize this is yet another phase of life--dropping off the daughter at college. I know someone took me to task a week or so ago for seemingly favoring my d because it wasn't the same kind of loss as when we dropped off our son two years ago, but it isn't about how much you love them, it's about that daily mother-daughter thing...</p>
<p>In any case, I remember when my mother-in-law fought a losing battle with cancer in 2000, and I suddenly became aware of how many people there were out there who instantly identified with what we were going through; they were so supportive. The next time after that when someone said a parent was going through the final stages of cancer, I knew exactly what they meant, and I could be supportive, too. Since dropping her off on Sunday (leaving her with her brother, who had driven up a week earlier), a lot of people who have been through the same thing have related their stories, and I'm touched by the support of people in my parish, at my youngest's school, and on these boards...</p>
<p>Toughest thing was when, about an hour or two out of South Bend, my 10 year-old started crying in the back seat, buried in a blanket. That got me started again. We went on that way for at least 25 miles of interstate.</p>
<p>My husband is a saint :)</p>
<p>I have already noticed that I have a little more time on my hands and the laundry pile isn't quite as daunting...so I am looking at the bright side!</p>
<p>By the way, I think the orientation liturgy is one of the most beautiful and touching rituals I could ever imagine. </p>
<p>They are in great hands, believe me!</p>