<p>Believe me, I’ve thought of a quick glance while standing at the mailbox - and she’s warned me against that, too! I know that if I did it would someday come out that I peeked … so I’m going to take the high road, I’m afraid.</p>
<p>Congrats to those of you with new acceptances or news of money!! Both are exciting!</p>
<p>Question for all of you:</p>
<p>What are your seniors planning to do this summer? We are really wrestling with this here. In previous summers he has worked as a lifeguard and tennis instructor. Last year he had an internship at a local hospital. It was a “real” job working 40 hours a week plus he commuted 45 min. to an hour each way. He has the opportunity to work at the same internship this summer, but isn’t sure that he wants to. He really wants to have a flexible schedule so that he can spend time with “the guys”. I get it. I really do. After this summer, they will all scatter, and he will not get to hang with them every weekend. We have told him that he does not have to do this internship, but he has to have some sort of job. I suggested that he might want to go back to one of his earlier summer jobs – they were more fun and flexible. There were things he didn’t like about those jobs, so he’s not sure that’s what he wants to do that either. I CAN’T have him sleeping 'til noon, kicking the soccer ball around all afternoon, and then going to the movies or hanging out with the guys every evening. Of course, after he runs out of spending money, he will figure this out. Anyway, what are your kids doing?</p>
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<p>That’s will power. I don’t think my DW could hold back. If you can hold the line you deserve cookie dough ice cream, fresh fudge brownies and extra Cadbury eggs as a reward! :)</p>
<p>Of course, you could always have a neighbor peek for you or ask the mailperson when they are delivering. Too bad nothing will need to be signed for… :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Congratulations to guitarist’s mom. That’s as far back as I went in the thread today, so everyone consider this a cyber hug of good cheer or sympathy!</p>
<p>I have posted the pictures from the ball on the Shutterfly site. They are in reverse order–couldn’t figure out how to move them around. I’ll write some comments later to let you know who the “players” are.</p>
<p>For all of you stressing decisions in the days ahead, know that your children are as resilient as they are brilliant. Yesterday, our son asked what was for lunch. When I offered up options, he said–“I think I’ll just finish off that Boston Cream Pie. It was delicious.”</p>
<p>I had been afraid to even mention that the pie was still in the refrigerator for fear of stirring up the rejected emotions. He was okay with devouring it! And I didn’t mind that the nutritional level of his lunch was a little suspect.</p>
<p>G’s mom - great way to start the week - congratulations!!</p>
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<p>Aah…what torture!! Not even bringing in the mail! H was headed out on Sat, picked up the mail…saw the scholarship letter - came back inside and literally stood behind D as she opened the envelope! I was asking him to give her a few minutes to read the letter by herself first :)</p>
<p>madbean - this is not from one of the schools where your S has applied to - still think there’s a chance they’ll end up at the same school! That would be neat!</p>
<p>Friend called yesterday - their S got accepted at Case (D was accepted in the EA round). We are all headed to a local reception this weekend. Interestingly, we haven’t talked to these friends for several months now - and we now find that our kids applied to a couple of the same schools. D is in at both schools - their S got into Case and is waiting to hear from the other. </p>
<p>Roller-coaster of emotions definitely at home - D was riding a high all weekend with the good news - right now, she’s snappy and crabby. Apparently not feeling too good, but has tryouts starting for her spring sport right now. Don’t know about the rest of you - but these ups and downs are too emotionally draining on me :(</p>
<p>My D has asked me not to “know” before she does. But she hasn’t gone so far as to ask me not even to pick up the mail, especially when I’m home and she won’t be home until late. So on days like this I “half” know.</p>
<p>emilybee (you’re my alphabet buddy on the “big list”!) - I wish I could be more hopeful about the little envelope, but threads for this school say the acceptances are BIG. Oh, well. This was a “let’s see” reach, but my D was fond of it. Thank you for the positive wishes, and congrats to your son!</p>
<p>Busy day here today!</p>
<p>Emilyb: Congrats on St. Lawrence. Your son has a lot of good choices.</p>
<p>Idinct: Thanks for sharing the fat dog story. Add my dog to the list.</p>
<p>CPT: Congratulations on the merit $$</p>
<p>Arisamp: Congrats on the scholarships. I completely understand the prom shoe issue. My daughter is short so she can wear high heels, but her tall friends usually have to stick with flats.</p>
<p>G-Mom: Sounds like a great mail day at your house. Congratulations on the accceptances and $$.</p>
<p>Emmybet: Sorry to hear about the small envelopes. I hope they surprise you.</p>
<p>Onegirlsmom: Personally, I would take a peek at the mailbox. You are showing great restraint.</p>
<p>My daughter got a nice suprise today. Old family friends who live in another state sent her a BU sweatshirt to congratulate her. It was a really thoughtful gesture.</p>
<p>OneGirlsMom- I am in awe of your willpower! I would literally have to lash myself to the couch if I was home all day knowing that there could be envelopes waiting in the mailbox!!</p>
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That was my laugh of the day. Thanks!
Totally agree. And what happens if one should accidentally slip out of your hands and pass in front of the sun and you happen to see what is written inside that envelope. Can’t be helped I say.<br>
What a good Mother. You are making me feel guilty. I haven’t resorted to steaming, but have done what I could with the sun, it is natural you know!
Ohiomom- My S will be working 40 hours, if possible, maybe more. Even with working 40 hours per week, I remember having plenty of time to hang with friends. I honestly think a kid would be bored out of his mind after a few weeks of nothing. Plus, I want S to at least earn pocket money for the summer if not for college.
OWM – can’t wait to look at the pictures.
GMom – congrats to your D on the acceptances and scholarship money! I will dance with you, although my kids say I dance like Elaine.
Emmybet- hope those small letters mean great things. Fingers crossed. And congrats on the elite acceptance! I know how you feel about being denied though. S was first deferred then waitlisted from his number 1 school.<br>
Aris – congrats to your D on the scholarship. Tell your D you love where you are planted. And congrats on the local scholarship!
Madbean – sounds like your S is more motivated than mine right now. Tell him to keep up the good work.
Phb- lucky you! I have not been to the Grand Cannon for years. Enjoy.
And last, I have great news to report on my S’s front. He got an email from the dean of the college of the U he has already been accepted to. The same U who gave him 4 substantial merit scholarships already. This dean would like to talk to him and would like him to call her assistant and set up a 30 minute window where she can talk to him about additional aid and where she can answer any questions he has. Oh, and it looks like he got a big envelope from our state u, which is more expensive right now than the above named university.</p>
<p>“emilybee (you’re my alphabet buddy on the “big list”!) - I wish I could be more hopeful about the little envelope, but threads for this school say the acceptances are BIG. Oh, well. This was a “let’s see” reach, but my D was fond of it. Thank you for the positive wishes, and congrats to your son!”</p>
<p>Emmy, I have almost added boychild’s schools to your D’s list a few times! </p>
<p>Boo for acceptances in BIG envelopes but your D has some wonderful schools to choose from. </p>
<p>Ohiomom: boychild will keep his part time job at Marshall’s and hopefully be able to add some more hours. He is planning a trip with a bunch of boys from school to the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach and then he is flying down to Florida to help my parents drive up. He also applied for an internship in Sen… Gillebrand’s Albany office but he hasn’t heard if he got it yet.</p>
<p>Ohiomom - D is going to be a nanny for two young girls. She needs to get them to swim, tennis and golf lessons at a shwanky country club and then hang out by the pool the rest of the day. She had this job last year and it worked out well since most of her friends worked full time also - they still hung out around camp fires and friend’s pools during the week and the beach on weekends…she would have been bored if she didn’t work because there wasn’t anyone around.</p>
<p>I solved the problem about knowing about admits ahead of time by never promising not to look. So I never broke my word. Of course I never give D the news either; she gets it on her own and then shares with us. Who’s to know that I already have an idea?<br>
As for what D is going to do this summer- I almost don’t want to say so as not to jinx it. But we think she has a real, honest to goodness job through a summer youth employment program. Details have to be worked out, and it all could come to naught, but our fingers are crossed. She has been so busy the last two summers with taking classes to prepare for taking off her senior year fall semester or doing a language immersion program that she has only been able to do babysitting most summers. So this is a big deal.
Congrats to mamom’s S- hope more $$ is coming his way.</p>
<p>Update: D got 2 waitlist notices today. We’re now aiming for the “CC Waitlist Award.”</p>
<p>Honestly, she was blase about the one she no longer wants to go to (and will decline), and flattered by the reach, wants to stay on it. A waitlist means they did like you, and it’s very soothing to the ego. </p>
<p>She’s ready to give up a couple of safeties at this point, but doesn’t want to go down below 2-3 choices. I think the bulk of the rest of her answers will come next week - 4 more to go, all pretty reachy.</p>
<p>I’ll correct mamom: D’s great acceptance with merit/talent money is not at an “elite” school. A lovely school that clearly really wants her and where she could do very well for herself. She’s not looking for “elite,” but she may find she’s looking for a different experience than they offer, when decision time comes. But that will depend on what her choices actually turn out to be.</p>
<p>Like so many of you all, this next week or so will be very eventful for us.</p>
<p>Update on JD2: Her family might be able to get her on a flight this week. I won’t send her on a bus to the airport until that is confirmed. I hope she can go home, but I’ve also made it clear that she is welcome here. We’re just going day by day still. Tomorrow she and D1 are visiting the local elementary school to talk about Japanese culture with 3rd graders who are doing a Japan unit. Then in the evening we all get to see D2 play her tenor saxophone Concerto. </p>
<p>Never a dull moment! Sometimes I can’t wait for next year’s empty nest …</p>
<p>D has no summer job. They are hard to come by around here, but she also hasn’t tried very hard. We won’t give her spending money, so she’ll have to budget her grad presents VERY carefully. She does hope to be in some plays this summer, already is cast in a lovely semi-pro show in June. But she knows she could work, too. Maybe she’ll luck into something.</p>
<p>Congrats everyone on big news today, especially with merit. I am looking forward to April 1, so we can start making definite plans, airfares seem to be going up, up, up.</p>
<p>Summer - “discussing” summer plans currently. The “hanging with the guys” and “my last summer of high school” is getting a little old. This is the first summer in a long time that S isn’t going away for weeks to take a summer course, so I’m hoping he finds a job. He is leaving 3 weeks earlier than hs started though, so at least it won’t be 14 or 15 weeks home. He worked as a busboy last summer, but the hours were killer - ending at 12- 2 am and all weekends. And unfortunately hardly any of his friends work, and none at night. Oh well, such is the life. He needs to make some spending money & some money to bring to school in the fall. He works weekends in the spring & fall during the day, but he usually spends all that as he gets it.</p>
<p>Wow, lots of fat dogs on this thread! It was a tough winter. I haven’t broken the news to DD about her dog gaining the 10lbs and I’ve sworn everyone here to secrecy. I have only until hs graduation when she is coming out to get him in shape. Not looking good.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the lovely comments on the shutterfly pics. I am trying to digest everyone’s albums and put faces with stories and kids with colleges. Thank you, 2education for creating the site.</p>
<p>Summer plans for our son: Weeklong mission trip to Navajo reservation in early June with dad as one of the chaperones. Working 25-30 hours per week at the furniture store where he has worked for over a year. He does their FB page, website and online ordering. (They posted the most wonderful post yesterday on their FB page–congratulating him on the Cotillion award.) At least a week at my mother’s lake cottage in Michigan, depending on her progress.</p>
<p>We have already made reservations for the Summer Welcome registration program at Mizzou. The boys can pick their dorm rooms online on April 11. In many ways, I am grateful that we have our answer and that he only applied to three schools. I’m praying for all of you who are still in the waiting mode.</p>
<p>For those waiting, the UC Santa Barbara decisions are online now. Sounds like another bloodbath ala UC San Diego <ick></ick></p>
<p>So for all my bragging about being given the go-ahead to open the mail, I was read the riot act for messing with the big envelopes and texting her this afternoon. “Now all I get to come home to is the small envelope rejection letters! And I find out the good news by text??!” </p>
<p>umm, oops, I thought we had an understanding.</p>
<p>mamom - very nice news for your son today!</p>
<p>D will nanny again this summer and it is the best job ever for your final summer before college. The mom only needs her three days a week and they pay very, very well so that’s really all she needs. The kids are older; really just need a driver but part of each day is spent at the club, swimming. So will be a fun summer of laying by the pool, movie-going and visiting the zoo plus she’s free to hang out with friends the other 4 days.</p>
<p>My d will be babysitting part time for my sisters middle school age kids. Easy money and gives her time to just relax before school. This will actually be the first summer she will have been home in years…either away as a camper or working at the camp. Decided between graduation, celebrations, a family bat mitzvah, a family vacation and getting ready for college, that she didn’t want to be away this summer. We were happy!</p>