<p>It seems that most of our contact is by Facebook chat, and a few quick phone calls. I wish there were more frequent and longer phone calls, but I understand that it is hard, particularly when the student has a roommate, busy schedule of classes, sports, clubs, etc. Just wondering if other parents are in the same boat?</p>
<p>Worst part about about BS...you miss your kid so much AND you live for even the smallest scraps of info from or about your child. At least you have a Facebook connection; many parents don't. No kid who is acclimating well communicates frequently; well, some do, but not many. Console yourself with the fact that your kid is doing well!</p>
<p>We hear mostly on FaceBook as well, or MSN or AIM Instant Messaging. I think now that he's more adjusted, we are getting more quick phone calls. Mostly those are between classes, during free periods and when he's taken a test and finished early and then has a free period - he calls to tell me he did well and is going back to bed! LOL </p>
<p>We are lucky that he's only an hour and a half away and we're able to get to games, etc.<br>
Once the evening comes, a phone call is next to impossible - dinner-enrichment/clubs-study hall - and then it's late already.</p>
<p>FaceBook has been the saving grace really. He updates his status - we can tell if he's had a good or bad day, we can see what others write on his wall, what he's doing on weekends sometimes, what photos are being posted of him...etc. And of course we can tell if he's being STUPID online (but that's a whole other discussion.)</p>
<p>We only get quick phone calls every couple of days (usually after I've left a message) -- my S has blocked us from his facebook (its my fault -- I commented too much on his activities and info I got from his facebook)! And Parlabane - that's it exactly -- I do live for scraps of information. But we are lucky to be only 2 hours away, so I don't usually go more than 2 weeks without driving up to see him, if only to share a meal. It's a double edged sword; you want them to be independent, but does he have to be that independent???!</p>
<p>Text messaging (thank goodness for unlimited plans) mostly with the occasional live phone call. If she's taken a particularly nasty injury, I'll get pics (several this year). Long bus rides home from sporting events often leave time for extended text conversations.</p>
<p>Facebook. Some phone calls, more when she is very upset, fewer when she is having fun, and even more when she is having a great time. I email her things she needs to know (travel plans etc) but she usually responds on FB.</p>
<p>She blocked me from FB last year too, but you can still message without being "friends" so I just kept messaging and eventually she added me back. I expect I'm on a "limited" but that's ok :)</p>
<p>Wow, I didn't know how lucky we were---we get daily phone calls, often when she is walking back to her dorm. Just touching base, saying hi to her little sister, etc. I think she misses home less by being in touch, but everyone's different.</p>
<p>She says she's too busy to update her Facebook, but another girl posted pictures of all the girls in the dorm ready for a dance, and as my daughter was tagged I got to see them (very cute). I've texted her a couple of times, but when I try to sign off "Mom" my phone writes "Non" so I have to sign Mommy instead (no one under age 30 will understand this ineptitude).</p>
<p>Lemonade: My phone has a Next key, so you can see what the phone's second, third etc guess is. I think Mom is just a Next key click away!</p>
<p>My daughter texts almost every day, rarely does email (they don't have internet in their rooms) and calls once a week. We like to see her every two weeks or so, and am glad she is near enough that it isn't a hassle. Personally, I love exchanging cell phone photos. You know, a picture is worth a thousand words?</p>
<p>Wow you guys are lucky your kids add you on facebook. I would never add my parents on facebook...I saw a friend request and completely blocked them from everything.</p>
<p>I guess I am lucky -- my son calls every night to say good night. sometimes it is just a quick call, sometimes longer if he has questions/problems/etc.</p>
<p>We started this tradition of him calling me to say goodnight when he was gone for the summer after 6th grade -- and it has just continued. He doesn't seem to feel I am interfering and I don't call him (unless I have something specific that needs to be communicated right away).</p>
<p>There have been a few nights he hasn't called but not many.</p>
<p>He is definitely not having adjustment problems and hasn't been homesick at all -- he loves school!</p>
<p>Thanks everybody! Seems like our situation is pretty normal. We are definitely not complaining that she is doing well...much better than daily anguished calls.
And, these last two weeks have been busy for her, with end of term projects, and tests this week.</p>
<p>Winter break begins this weekend, so we get lots of time to catch up!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wow you guys are lucky your kids add you on facebook. I would never add my parents on facebook...I saw a friend request and completely blocked them from everything.
[/quote]
Pretty much all my son's friends think it's cool. He said it's a little "stalker mom-like" but it's fine. Also, Facebook can be dangerous - and I don't mean in a literal attack way (although that possibility is there too) - but in a you join a stupid group, or post dumb pictures or say your school sucks, etc. kind of way. Part of us being on is "stalking" - making sure he and his friends aren't being dumb - when colleges look at Facebook, it's even more important.
He added us no problem, although we did tell them (after he added us) rule is that if he doesn't we take away his computer. Yes, he can still use the ones at school, but it's much harder to do all your homework in the library.<br>
And like I said, several of his friends have friend-requested US and only a couple have ignored us when we requested them.</p>
<p>Grejuni: Thanks for the tip, you inspired me to find out which is my "next" key, so I'm back to being Mom, though in the process I sent my daughter a one keystroke message!</p>
<p>He calls every night before go to bed (no matter how late) to let us know how he's doing that day and say good night. He asked for an extra fleece throw, kind of cold at night. Send next day along with his favorite books and cookies.</p>
<p>We just use the dorm phone. We talk to her almost every day, depending on her schedule.</p>
<p>Cell phone does not work in dorm. I text her and sometime during the day she will text back. Short text every day
Room phone her RM hogs (she is terribly homesick and spends hour plus every night on phone - entire time from study hall to lights out) - so, if lucky, I call just after study hall or at lights out.</p>
<p>Princess'Dad - is there only one line for room phone? When son was in double, he and the RM have different phone lines.</p>
<p>We do a lot of texting as well, but cell phone is sporadic in dorm. We call room phone, but as she has roommate (they each have own phone), we don't want to disturb studying, so we tend to do that only in early evenings.</p>
<p>just thought I would mention that my oldest son goes to a boarding school in Wales -- and with the cost of phone calls being so expensive, we don't do a ton of calling (we usually try and call him once a week). We use google chat -- which works out great. I have a blackberry, so chat is available on my phone. He can see that I am "available" when he signs into gmail and can chat with me. sometimes it is a lengthy chat, sometimes just a "Hi Mom". </p>
<p>If you have students studying abroad -- check it out. We really love it!</p>
<p>arling,</p>
<p>They put in only one phone per room now - to be used for security, etc. It is quite a PAIN.</p>
<p>hsmom
Try skype. It works pretty well. There is a slight delay, better if you have a USB connection. I have to show daughter how to use headphone and not just computer.</p>