<p>olderwisermom, my family has a cottage on Lake Michigan (going way back to the nineteen-teens). When I was little I couldn’t understand why anyone ever vacationed anywhere else on earth. While I guess I now know that every family has its own special places…in my heart I still can’t understand why anyone would ever vacation anywhere else! So many memories of time there with my grandparents, the sound of the lake lapping at the shore, the beautiful sunsets, the marvelous thunderstorms…</p>
<p>We won’t be getting back there this summer to visit but Michigan summers are always, always in my heart. Have a wonderful time!</p>
<p>It’s hard to imagine that Kinderhook is on the way to anywhere! </p>
<p>We’re just treading water here. D is liking her real and true (paid) job at the library (instead of the usual volunteer slot) and is busy with her sport (beagling). She loves the freedom of this summer but has been great about not abusing it. She went to a graduation party week before last and realized that she is so ready to move on from even her h.s friends. While not counting the days to college, the subject comes up a lot on how she is going to manage various things. Fingers crossed she gets the classes she put as her highest preference and a single room, as that is her best chance of a successful/happy transition. </p>
<p>Her current plans for a mjor are are animal behavior and animal husbandry- which is a far cry from the ancient manuscripts/history which she had considered. She knows that Library and Info Science programs are looking for science literacy, and Hampshire has this as an established major (they call it concentration) and it interests her so there you go. (Also archivist slots are the most difficult to find and not well paid.) She also said that she’d like to not to have to create something new and have to work/fight for acceptance so choosing an established program (and one that interests her) would allow to go with the flow and enjoy her college years.</p>
<p>**I have taken the first and last move-in dates for this countdown from the list on this thread. To try and list all of them would be overkill to say the least.</p>
<p>First new student move-in is the University of Georgia on August 9th. (Excludes cadet training at West Point)
Move-in day in 20 days.</p>
<p>Last new student move-in is the University of Southern Oregon on September 22nd<br>
Move-in day in 64 days.**</p>
<p>If there are earlier or later move-in dates, please post them so that I can pick them up and adjust the countdown postings.</p>
<p>Really enjoyed the HP movie this weekend. Great music too!
S got his dorm and roommate assignments over the weekend. Last night I asked him if I could see roommate’s pic on FB. S only wanted to show me profile pic only and did not want me to see other pics and wall posts, etc. Was S protecting his roommate’s privacy or what?? H thinks the more I asked the more S would feel uneasy about it. Exactly one month from today, S will be sharing a room (and private bath) with the boy. I want to cry.</p>
<p>DS and his GF have been together a year and a half now; she is also headed to college down the road, local but far enough apart that they won’t be able to see each other too often. She is a very smart, sweet girl. DS wants to cook dinner for her, in our house, with candles on the table, and the rest of us gone for a couple of hours. I’m thinking "Hmmm . . . " Realistically speaking, if they were going to engage in any hanky-panky, it has probably already happened during the last year and a half, but I don’t want to leave the door open, so to speak. He is trying to figure out what to cook; maybe I’ll suggest something really spicy and garlicky! What do you think? Is a couple of hours alone in the house for dinner okay? I’m thinking we won’t specify our return time, so they won’t know exactly how much time we will be away.</p>
<p>cpmg- I would give him permission. He is asking and not trying to sneak around. Just wants to do something nice for his GF and make it a special occasion. If kids are going to mess around, I don’t think they will wait until they have the parents’ house to themselves. That’s what prom is for. ;)</p>
<p>samuck: Not sure what types of sheets D2 was given, but I’m wondering if they aren’t all flat. I’ll have to ask her. I do know she requested that I send her printed instructions with pictures about how to make hospital corners because she felt she could make her bed better. That’s the kind of kid she is! Wish I’d had my mom, a nurse with 40+ years of experience, give her a lesson or two before she left. The new cadets have their laundry done for them. It takes a week to turnaround dirty laundry to clean. So I’m wondering if two sheets are for the bed, two in the laundry and two ready to put on. Trust me, I wouldn’t have sent six sheets and two mattress covers!</p>
<p>fogfog: D2 has had about three hours on the computer since June 27. All three of those hours were on this past Sunday. She won’t have access again till August 8 at the very earliest. At that point, she shouldn’t have too many restrictions about her time online. During basic training, letters are the only sure form of communication. No packages till after basic training.</p>
<p>The one piece of information from her letters that made me laugh was when she said she gets plenty of sleep - 7 hours a day! This is the kid who went to bed late and got up late the two weeks she had after school was done, and this drove me nuts! (maybe because D3 is almost 8 and was still getting up plenty early; didn’t want to make her be quiet to accommodate D2) In her defense, D2 did put in very long days with short nights during the school year. At basic training, Taps is at 10 p.m. and the wake-up call comes at 5 a.m. Physical training - running - starts soon after.</p>
<p>Hello, today I convert from lurking to participating! Thanks for the amazing posts of which I have read many over the past few weeks since finding CC. Also, TY for making newcomers feel welcome:)</p>
<p>My son will be a freshman at University of Miami, move-in day is August 18, yikes! Our other son is a rising HS freshman. We live about an hour away, so I had been saying to myself, “No biggie, he’s so close to home.” But I’m beginning to realize that he will not be living at home and we will not have access to his daily life and friends, professors, etc. I know it’s time to let go, but this will be hard. The brothers are very close (they also fight regularly). They have had some poignant moments this summer as reality sets in. Little brother will lose his live-in best bud, and companion in all things sports, x-box, tv and more. I will remind him that soon he will not have to fight for sofa position, TV DVR slots and dibs on the shower. </p>
<p>I’m embarrassed by this question, but I must know: what does the first D mean when referring to son or daughter (DS, DD)? It’s probably obvious to most, but I’m a bit slow in this area. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if this has been discussed, but what is the consensus on having your child sign over the right for you to be involved in their health issues and perhaps power of attorney? I’ve heard this discussed locally. </p>
<p>Sorry for the lengthy post, they will be shorter going forward:)</p>
<p>My interpretaion is D = Darling, as in Darling Son, Darling Daughter</p>
<p>My DS is up the road at the Flagship State University, so you may see him more than most, but that will be mostly because he is out of clean clothes :)</p>
<p>The first D in DD/DS stands for “dear” (I think. Maybe “darling”). </p>
<p>I believe it makes perfect sense to have power of attorney for an adult child, until they have their own family. And as long as they are dependent on you and are covered by your medical insurance, having the medical records waiver signed is a good idea. With that said, we didn’t do either yet, since it’s on my DH plate and he is a champion procrastinator.</p>
<p>lisa-we had S sign over permission for us to access his information at school. Except for the health center. They really want to kids to give permission every time they go rather than grant blanket permission. I didn’t insist, because if he uses the health center for any reason and doesn’t tell me I wouldn’t know to call them anyway. But we do have permission to see everything else. H was adament about it, hehas a friend whose kid really messed up at school and parents didn’t know for months. oh and welcome. </p>
<p>phb - sounds like your S made a great choice with WP. She is going to do great. S gets by on about 6-7 hours of sleep during the week, but would sleep all day on weekends if we let him. Funny how they adapt. </p>
<p>cgpm- I’d give permission also. He sounds like quite the romantic. </p>
<p>sunnyday - have you tried searching for S’s room mate from your FB page? Even if it isn’t public I think you can usually at least see a picture. Or google him. I would be curious at this point. I admit to “creeping” the class of 2015 page for S’s school. </p>
<p>kinder- my fingers are crossed! S did not get any of his choices for dorm, but has accepted it. We also had a heck of a time with his classes and schedule. Did the best we could, resigned to fact he did not get all the classes or teachers he wanted, then he found after most of the kids had registered that a couple his first choice classes opened back up and he switched. </p>
<p>In 5 weeks S will be at school with H picking up his supplies and getting ready to move in. yikes, it is flying by.</p>
<p>Welcome Lisafest! You are not alone. It took me a while to realize what the first D means.
My younger son is also a rising HS freshman and is very close to his brother. He has been asking for a dog. We are seriously considering it. Not to replace of course but maybe a good add on.</p>
<p>Aaargh! I just got out of a meeting and saw that D, who has been out of the country and out of pocket for three weeks left me two phone messages. She is at the mid-way point of her project, at which time there is an overnight session for all volunteers in her country (they are scattered at different locations) where they have a chance to phone home. And I missed it! And there is no way to call back. I am about ready to cry. </p>
<p>She left two very touching messages saying how awesome everything was, the good work they were doing, and that she was having an incredibly good time. And that I shouldn’t worry about not being able to pick up the phone since it was not a big deal. Of course it was a big deal. I know there’s nothing I can do about it and I need to take a deep breath and move on. I will be picking her up at the airport in three weeks, but I would have loved to just be able to exchange a few words with her. Sigh.</p>
<p>^ Hugs to you cooker. I know the feeling, as our kiddo has been gone since the first week of June–and comes back mid Aug…
I missed a call yesterday am.
Was able to get a short few words last night when I got an unexpected call. So perhaps she will try again. ;)</p>
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<p>Too funny.
From what we hear, our student is basically, training 2x a day, eating and sleeping. Train, eat sleep…repeat…hear there is little time for anything else–does get necessary laundrey done. </p>
<p>For the two weeks kiddo is home before the U I suspect sleep will be important…In the past kiddo has been good about heading to bed after school work is done since the sport takes so much time and physcial energy…Dorm life will add a new wrinkle</p>
<p>Mamom-Thanks. I did google the room mate(Haha, we are alike) and found nothing. Instead, there was a man with the same name executed a few years ago.LOL. I think I am just going to let it be for now if S does not want to disclose much information about his roommate with me. Maybe he will share more when he is ready.</p>
<p>BTW, the 4 of us, DS1, DS2, DH and I saw HP last Saturday. We enjoyed it, but I realized our days of buying 4 tix or asking for a table for 4 at restaurants will soon be a thing of the past:(</p>
<p>sunnyday - try a nickname, variations…haha. </p>
<p>Cooker - I am so sorry you missed the call. Sounds like she is doing well! The 3 weeks will fly by. </p>
<p>I am planning on making an appt to get the kids picture taken one last time before S goes to school. I almost forgot to do that. I haven’t had the kids pictures professionally taken in a few years because of the cost but will work it in this year somehow.</p>
So many memories of time there with my grandparents, the sound of the lake lapping at the shore, the beautiful sunsets, the marvelous thunderstorms…</p>
What do you think? Is a couple of hours alone in the house for dinner okay? I’m thinking we won’t specify our return time, so they won’t know exactly how much time we will be away.</p>