<p>ditto, dd, ditto...
Everything you write is so true~I must admit that I have been okay with her being gone, since she is so happy, except that startling moment on Monday, when I went to wake her littlest brother and passed her room...it was startling because it was CLEAN! She has called a couple of times and still seems so happy~so, in that, what more could we want? I know she is in the best place with the best people around her, so I am content. And, I do understand that mother/daughter thing~it's just different, not better, different, and I miss her for that a lot! Now, I have a house full of boys!!!</p>
<p>My son is a freshman and has work study but we told him to get settled in his schedule for a couple of weeks before he takes on something else. He's taking 17 hours. I hope he won't have trouble finding a job by waiting. He's also hoping to find something that interests him. Is this too optimistic?</p>
<p>This all makes me miss ND, though I am doing very well at West Virginia now. Just remind your children that while it is an amazing opportunity, it is finite, so enjoy every second! It is going to kill me watching the Georgia Tech game from Morgantown on Saturday, but we all must move on...many of you separated from your children, me separated from my beloved alma mater!</p>
<p>4mom4, if your son is on federal work study, he is eligible to work in a number of community service endeavors. Otherwise, it's probably food service. My daughter is on federal work study as well, but is working food service on campus this year, just so she can get an idea of how to gauge her time. I think your son can line up a food service job--particularly in one of the dining halls--whenever he can get around to it. I'm not sure how community service works...</p>
<p>4mom4, my d is taking 17+ credits too, and frankly, I am worried. She adds an ensemble (for 1 credit) and private voice lessons (1 credit) and she is up to 19! We have tried to tell her to drop one and go to 16 or so, but... anyway, doesn't this seem like a bit too much for 1st semester???</p>
<p>I think there is a window of time they can drop classes without any negative consequence--maybe a week or two? Also, the First Year of Studies is an excellent resource; those advisors are very helpful and quite accessible. I'd imagine its typical of the kinds of kids who get into ND that they have been, in their days, jacks and jills of all trades, masters of most. College--especially at a place like ND--requires them to start making priority choices and specializing. Like my daughter and yours, they think they are masters of time management as well--and they have been...at the high school level. I strongly believe they are capable of adjusting to become masters of time management at the college level, too. </p>
<p>I'll bet there are lots and lots of parents that have the same concerns you do, Irishcali--myself among them. When I hear my daughter talk about the gazillion things she intends to do, I worry a bit. But I give her credit that she will be able to recognize if she is over her head. That's when First Year of Studies kicks in... These people know what they're doing.</p>
<p>Dear Irishcali and DDjones, thank you for your response. Yes, my son does have federal work study. Financially, it would be a help if he was able to work enough to reach the limit of the allotted work study, however, I don't want his studies to suffer because of work. He opted out of marching band because he wanted to explore other things and he knew from high school how time consuming the band was. Since this is our first child to hit the big time, I don't know how much to expect from him. I don't want him to be overwhelmed, I want him to get the most out of ND that he can, but I also want him to have a sense of financial responsibility. He's a good kid, so I guess I'll just have to let him figure it out. It's hard to step back and let my young adult take charge of his own life. You folks sound like you have a pretty good handle on this stage.</p>
<p>Like everyone above wife and I were very worried about the first year of studies and now going on the third year the kids know what to do and how much they can handle. The great thing about ND is that when you put your head to the pillow at night you know your S/D is in good hands.......... I was a basket case the first year :)</p>
<p>D has consistenly carried either 17-18 each year with band and she said it is at times difficult. After the season is over and the Band is done spring is like a breeze she said. Seems like after the first semester they figure out what courses to take and at what time of year to fit around other activities be they band, BB,Intermurals,work schedule etc.</p>
<p>IRISH 68178 hope all is going well with you. </p>
<p>They can drop classes w/o penalty during the first week or so of class-that is one option of trying to get a handle on time. We do not have any work-study experience, but I can second ddjones with regard to the FYS program. While son did not use his advisor that much, I do know that the help sessions were good for review, according to son. And, I suspect that the program can assist in other ways that son did not utilize. (I wonder if he is going to miss being a part of that program now that he is a soph!) Try going to the ND home page, it has been reconfigured this year, as there is a special section just for parents. I found that section to be very helpful last year. Hang in there--they will work it out!</p>
<p>I checked with D. on Monday night as she had to switch her schedule around, and then I called to find out about her "first day of school" on Tuesday but since then I have made a point of not calling because I think she needs to settle in and I don't want to be interrupting that process for her. </p>
<p>I know they are in wonderful hands and I really want her to immerse herself in her new life. </p>
<p>I did console myself with a bit of retail therapy...she had left a few things behind which I will mail this weekend, so I picked up a whole bunch of silly, silly things like glow bracelets and necklaces, mardi gras beads, plastic leis, and face paint in blue, gold and green. The pieces de resistance were some mylar rock star wigs and the most amazing green feather boa (at the costume shop and marked way down as a St. Paddy's leftover). I hope she's not mortified--I hope it is not too high school. The kids dress up and paint themselves green/wear outrageous costumes so I hope they do that as well at ND.</p>
<p>MOMBot be on the lookout during tommorows game hopefully you will catch a glimpse of her on TV when they pan the student section :) I always love how the different dorms dress up and come in for the pep rallys. Many times on line you can see clips of the rallys and I am sure you will spot her dorm colors. Take care.</p>
<p>I plan on watching the webcast of the Pep Rally and the game tomorrow will be recorded I have to take my other daughter to a 4 pm flight. This empty nest thing is sadder than I expected.I am not calling her so she can have room to adjust but it's difficult. She will call me after the game Saturday. Can"t wait. Sunday I find out if I am having a grandson or granddaughter - something to look forward to</p>
<p>Blue/Gold is good.......... :) D just called me the campus is starting to jump. People are lined up to get into the pep rally already. Band is fired up, hopefully we will suprise some people. GO IRISH.</p>
<p>can't wait to watch the game - good idea about watching the broadcast of the Pep Ralley - I tried to watch it live but must have missed it - how long do they last?
I agree the empty nest is so quiet, but there's lots less food to buy and cook and as dd said much less laundry. So it's not all bad. But Oh SO QUIET!
d is super busy ... but i've heard from all reports (sibs, friends & their parents, adults from church & coaches) that she is loving every second! Enjoy the game tomorrow everyone - hope we all see our kids! GO IRISH!!!</p>
<p>dd, do the girl's wear their purple frosh-o shirts or the green The Shirt of the year? If they wear their dorm shirts I hope D has figured out how to and had time to wash it - that shirt can probably stand independently by now. She wore it to so many events last weekend!</p>
<p>I bought "the shirt" for DD when I was at the bookstore, not knowing whether girls did that or even students did that or if it was a pathetic parent wannabe thing and DD assured me "the shirt" was de regueur so all is well. </p>
<p>Her little brother was openly covetous of the cool stuff I got, even though they skew heavily toward green...I found some incredibly gaudy mylar wigs in blue, green and gold and DS was all squinchy-faced about sending them to her since he and his bandmates could use them for football games..so ND students PLEASE tell me whether a green/gold/blue mylar Billy Idol wig would be a coveted item..the kids' high school has the same colors (how convenient is that) and the same Celtic thing goin' on so anything blue, green or gold will not go to waste.</p>
<p>I need a vote between now and Sunday: Mylar rock star wigs in blue/green/gold--yes or no..if no the high school kids will be all over them for the opening game.</p>