<p>Curmudgeon, we're playing the merit lottery also, and I'm beginning to wish the deadlines were earlier rather than later. My daughter still has three essays to complete; she claims she has plenty of time (and is probably right) but I just want everything DONE! In the world of Mezzomom logic (a world with a population of one), if the essays are submitted earlier, she'll hear if she's a contender earlier, and I'll be able to fill out my handy little Master Calendar of [Her] Life with travel dates. There's absolutely no reasonable reason to be this obsessed with the dates, but I'm a long-time i-dotter and t-crosser who likes ducks in a row. Fortunately for the sake of my relationship with my daughter, I've also gotten very good at keeping my mouth shut, or her stress level would combine with mine to create a combustible home life.</p>
<p>Admittedly, I did ask her to finish up by the beginning of January, so she could file all the college stuff in our computer room, leaving me room to do FAFSA and Profile. I think she's seen through that flimsy excuse; on the other hand, yesterday she volunteered the information that she has almost completed writing one of the essays "in her head." I'm going to assume that's her version of taking pity on dear ol' Mom!</p>