Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - Original

<p>Welcome, DizziMom. Many of us are going through this with second/third kids so we come armed with calories to cope. Where is your S1 going to attend? How cool!</p>

<p>:: hyperventilates ::</p>

<p>:: falls over ::</p>

<p>I second the welcome! Hello, DizziMom! Have some cake!! (Thanks for that, madbean, and the champagne, too! And thanks, LIMOMOF2; we'll see, we'll see. I ... I .... eeeeeeeeiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!)</p>

<p>HOW do people go through this more than ONCE?!?!?! I was riding the subway home RIGHT after S's phone call, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry or both!!!</p>

<p>Thanks & Congrats Owlice. I am going to have to read the posts while walking on my treadmill because this will cause excess pounds! haha.<br>
madbean: S1 is off to Nashville - Vanderbilt. He applied ED2 which was a whole stressful decision in itself! But we are thrilled and I am dropping hints to DD that maybe she'd like it too.</p>

<p>owlice--congrats to you and the owlet!!! Promise yourself you'll take at least a day or two to savor this awesome accomplishment before you start worrying about the details. It sounds like your son will be really happy there.</p>

<p>Oh, CONGRATS Owlice! What a thrill for your S!</p>

<p>Time to stop splurging on refreshments and save your $$$ for extra-long twin bed sheets.</p>

<p>Congratulations to your S Owlice! I hope you stop back often to give us updates.</p>

<p>oh, and I am opening our last box of Thin Mints in celebration... pass them on.</p>

<p>Way to go, Owlice and Spawn!!!!</p>

<p>:: GS cookies are long gone in this house ::</p>

<p>:: Checks all pantry shelves for hidden celebratory food ::</p>

<p>:: Passes out truffles, mint M&M's, biscotti and ..... hmmm, do Parmesan Goldfish count as celebratory food?? ::</p>

<p>:: Mimosas, anyone?? ::</p>

<p>Congratulations to owlice and her son! I'm so delighted for you both. Love, love love the FA news. :) Ooh, and now we can talk about exciting things such as bedding. Be sure to find out whether they have extra-long twins or regular length. I highly recommend buying a fiber bed to go on top of the mattress. We got one for my son at BB&B on clearance last summer, and it has been great. When he came home at Christmas he said his dorm bed is much more comfortable than his one here. </p>

<p>Dizzimom, welcome! I'm glad you've joined us. Congratulations to your son on his acceptance. Does your daughter have any idea of where she would like to go or what she would like to major in? My sophomore son is thinking he wants to major in computer science.</p>

<p>Yum, thin mints. Peadobie, I've never had a mimosa so I'll toast owlice's son with one now that I've googled to find out the ingredients. CC is so educational. ;)</p>

<p>:: slurps mimosas ::</p>

<p>:: munches cake ::</p>

<p>:: downs handfuls of Goldfish ::</p>

<p>:: wallows in Thin Mints ::</p>

<p>Thin Mints are my favorite GS cookies!!</p>

<p>Thanks, all! My Owlet opened the letter and then called me with "I got in to Simon's Rock and can't gooooooooooooooo! The scholarship isn't enough!" He was really upset. One of his friends also applied and also got in; they both got merit money, with the other kid getting more (harder courses and higher grades -- maybe NOW S gets that yes, grades really DO matter; it's not all test scores!!). Finances are an issue for the other family as well. </p>

<p>But we might be able to swing this. He may have to finish college at state flagship U, and if he's okay with that, I am, too -- at least he'll be old enough to fit into the social scene there by then!</p>

<p>I hope the school has extra-long twins, because my spawn is at least 6'3". We have one set of extra-long twin sheets already, because of nerd camp, but another would be a great idea. And a fiber bed, hmmm? And really warm clothes; it was 16 degrees F in Great Barrington this morning. Brrrrr!!</p>

<p>I bake a cake last night: almond yellow with milk chocolate frosting. S had a bagel for breakfast, and then cake; I just couldn't say no to his request, since this is the Simon's Rock Admittance cake!</p>

<p>Dizzimom, congrats to your S for Vanderbilt!! Yay!! And good luck getting your D to see the Vandy light!</p>

<p>Went off to Google "fiber bed" and found this: Re-fluffing</a> a Fiberbed</p>

<p>I'm in trouble now... baked some cookies for my kids (sugar w/ peanutbutter cups) and thought of the virtual crowd here that might want to share! Ha! </p>

<p>DS & I are eating cookies and sharing stories about his classmates and where they've been accepted. It's such an exciting time isn't it? I like to imagine how each college will mold that particular child and wht type of adult they will turn out to be. And will they all still be friends 20 years from now...... </p>

<p>too much thinking on my part! I need a vacation! :D</p>

<p>I had been giving my son $20 a week allowance. No tasks are tied to this, he lives he gets the allowance. He does have some assigned chores but getting them done is not tied to allowance. Around the beginning of the year I stopped the allowance and just started giving him money as needed, but I am now thinking I would serve him better by making him live within his means on an allowance. Not that he is asking for huge amounts of money, I just think he needs to develope some budgeting skills.</p>

<p>His school lunches are paid by us through his use of his school ID which he swipes like an ATM card. He takes the train from the suburbs to an urban school in the city every day. Sometimes he will get off the train midway with friends on the way home to get a sub or snack, or they will stop at the supermarket on the way to the train and grab something. He does't have a huge social life and getting together with his friends usually entails a snack at BK or dunkin donuts and playing video games. </p>

<p>Working during the school year is tough because of sports, homework and other commitments. He will try to find a job for the summer. I am thinking of going back to giving him $20 per week. What are others doing?</p>

<p>congrats owlice's S and I hope it works out for him and his friend.</p>

<p>(now I have posted on all the parents of class of xxx threads, eek)</p>

<p>Thanks and lol, jackief! Does that mean you have kids in all these classes, or just that you get around? :D</p>

<p>mamom, I'm a fan of allowances, and also of unpaid chores. Allowances teach a child how to handle money, budget and save. Good lessons to learn. Unpaid chores teach a child to contribute to the household in addition to teaching him how to do things that have to, after all, be done by someone. Some people give their kids an allowance and chores, and then let the kid earn more by doing additional chores. </p>

<p>I had been giving my S an allowance, every two weeks on my paydays. I stopped at the beginning of the year because I want him to think about getting a very part-time job or creating his own. I think having a job would help him appreciate money more and manage his time better. So far, this isn't working. He's still getting an allowance from his dad, and that is, apparently, enough for his meager needs.</p>

<p>I've told him he will have to earn his spending money at SR, though, if he goes, because I will not have two extra nickels to rub together if he goes!</p>

<p>~~~~</p>

<p>I've just taken three lovely loaves of oatmeal/whole wheat/honey bread out of the oven. It smells great! This is my favorite bread these days, as it's wonderful for sandwiches, general munching, and toast. </p>

<p>:: puts the fresh bread on the buffet table ::</p>

<p>:: puts bowls of hummus (pepper, plain, and roasted garlic) next to bread ::</p>

<p>:: adds soft cream cheese, warm brie, and a variety of preserves and jellies to the spread ::</p>

<p>:: platters cucumber spears, baby carrots, sliced green and red bell peppers, and celery; arranges grapes, blood orange quarters, pear and apple slices ::</p>

<p>:: heats water for tea ::</p>

<p>:: puts out a tray of petit fours ::</p>

<p>Snacks are up; enjoy!</p>

<p>owlice, I just get around and like to read about the other's kids! I have D's in the '10 and '12 threads. I heard the NPR story on Simon's Rock a few months ago and think it is a great program for the students.</p>

<p>I hope that my posts in this thread don't come back to bite me in a year! The '10 parents had been nipping at the heals of the '09s, so that we need to do penance if we increase the 'other side's post count. You guys are still so low that I don't think its a problem for a while, and my transgressions will be forgotten.</p>

<p>We give our youngest son a few dollars a week for making dinner one night when I work and for feeding the dog every night. He generally spends money on his girlfriend or computer games. He also pet sits fairly often and earns money that way.</p>

<p>We don't give our older son at college any money. He earns money from his summer job and just doesn't spend much. We never gave our daughter any money while she was at college either. So far, this has worked, neither of the older kids has asked us for money since they were in HS.</p>

<p>Owlice,
I am in, I love fresh bread, which is actually one of the reasons i don't make it very often, no willpower.</p>

<p>On another note.... S's school had it's first auction tonight in almost 18 years.. When we left they estimated they would take in almost 400K! Yipee! </p>

<p>Joan</p>

<p>mamom, I love auctions. Did you nab anything? Our S's schools had their auctions this weekend too. One ends in about 90 minutes, in fact. It's online and I keep looking at the amazing items I really don't need. Two tickets to this year's Emmy Awards? Hmmmm....</p>