<p>My understanding is that condoms are available for free everywhere on campus and a big part of orientation is “this kind of stuff”. So I think I will leave it to my son rather than get involved in any way.</p>
<p>Yes…I actually thought of this yesterday. There was a great thread about a year ago. I will try to link it. My thought is with close living quarters and zero supervision there will be very little time to stop and think. Getting them free on campus takes thinking ahead that sometimes these kids just don’t do. Maybe they take some ‘just in case’…but if they don’t and they end up in a physical situation are they going to stop? Maybe, maybe not. I’d rather have the conversation to remind my kids that each and every time you are expected to protect yourself and your partner. Give them two, give them twenty…but expecting them to do it themselves is asking for trouble IMO. If you feel strongly against it take the opportunity to tell them once again that you feel sex isn’t the right choice for them. Simply saying nothing isn’t going to help anyone. Again, it’s my opinion, but I do think our kids listen to us.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/998047-what-do-your-tell-your-child-about-birth-control.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/998047-what-do-your-tell-your-child-about-birth-control.html</a></p>
<p>I had to go back through and read to see if I would be embarrassed by any of my posts in the thread. 
Nope, however I am reminded we said we would make sure our kids got over their initial fear of buying condoms for the first time before they left for school…tick tock…</p>
<p>Just wanted to say that I am so glad my son’s school includes the microfridge in the room! No splitting the cost or whatever, no hauling it up there. So easy!</p>
<p>The roommate is bringing the TV but my son didn’t ask what kind. He’ll let us know if it’s a problem. Just another good reason to pick a school within visiting distance.</p>
<p>On the topic of preparing your kids…</p>
<p>The other item that is handed out on campus along with condoms is emergency contraception (the morning after pill). Kids need to understand this is not a substitute for birth control or an excuse for unprotected sex because ‘hey they give out those pills, right?’. Talk to your kids about this so they understand they myths surrounding this. These are NOT easy conversations to have, however I would rather talk about it then have my kids misinformed.</p>
<p>I am in NO way trying to open a controversy about the use of the morning after pill. I only want to remind parents that it’s readily available and it may be something you want to discuss.</p>
<p>@pepper: I’m so sorry about your parents. My H’s mother died last month after several years with dementia. Each move (from independent to assisted living to the ‘memory center’ to the nursing facility) was so traumatic; at the beginning she was angry and combatative because of the loss of control, later she was just frightened and disoriented. None of it was good, despite the wonderful care she received and the amazing support she got from my SIL (who lives nearby).</p>
<p>@momjr: Ha! And my D is refusing to shop for clothes in Boston because New Haven is in the NYC orbit and she doesn’t want to look provincial!</p>
<p>HighHead: That’s really funny! It’s all relative, I guess.</p>
<p>Hi all…it’s been a while and looking at some of the posts, a day for people to check back in!</p>
<p>Pepper - good to hear that your D is doing fine and sad to hear about your parents. It’s hard dealing with that.</p>
<p>amanda - read a few pages back that you were able to score the fridge! Fabulous!</p>
<p>fogfog - belated wishes for your anniversary. Nice to see something sparkling! H has decided that he’s better off taking me to the store and asking me to pick something up, especially in the sparkling department! So, we did do the requisite trip before our 20th anniversary in June!</p>
<p>Remember the audition D had pending? Big sigh of relief - that was yesterday! And she came through with flying colors. But a couple of incredibly stressful weeks before that - mainly for me. It didn’t seem to register with her the amount of work she still had to do until there was a week left!@!@! But she worked like a maniac that one week - lots and lots of hours practicing. It was incredibly hard, but I bit my tongue and didn’t say "I told you so " 
She was very nervous about pulling it off and the last couple of days were sheer torture. But she did indeed pass - and pass with incredible ease! Teacher was very very happy. D was also happy - thanked me for making her stay with it and finishing the program - she thought it gave her a sense of closure and accomplishment for having spent the past 14 years learning!</p>
<p>She now has two precious weeks of summer left - and is determined to enjoy it. We have a few more small items to pick up for her dorm and will get to that sometime next week. We are picking S up at camp tomorrow and taking the weekend off (or kind of - I am going to take the laptop with me since I have to work this weekend!).</p>
<p>Can’t believe the summer’s almost gone! We almost had a breakdown moment yesterday when her teacher was saying bye to her. I am able to hold it in most of the time by focusing on mundane details - things to buy, things to pack, stressing out about how we are going to move, what boxes/crates to use etc etc…</p>
<p>Have a good weekend folks!</p>
<p>I’m so far behind on this thread that I give up but I’m hoping you can still give me some advice re. Open houses. DS#1 is headed to IU on Aug 25. He gave up his dream of Purdue several months ago in favor of a scholarship and no debt at IU. By now he is resolved and happy with his choice. DD#2 is his Irish twin and was originally in the HS Class of 2011 but is now in the Class of 2013 due to an early gap year for foreign exchange and an acceptance by United World Colleges for a 2 year IB diploma program. She leaves for Armand Hammer United World College on August 24. We did not have a graduation party for #1 and #2 does not anticipate wanting one because all her friends will have moved on and her new friends won’t be local. We’d like to have an Open House/Send off party for the two of them on August 20 so I am trying to throw things together. What can you tell me about creating photo invitations? I have cute photo of the two of them on their first day of preschool that I’d like to use. I also want to add a current photo of them. Any advice? Any advice on food etc?</p>
<p>Well I know for a fact that DS’s school gives out free condoms. One of the guys who hosted him for preview weekend had some sort of container completely full of them. He told DS and other new admit that he grabbed some every time he had a chance. I’m guessing it was mostly wishful thinking and 
to have so many, but it lets me know that DS is well aware of the availability of them, and I think he might grab a few too, just because he can. We’ve discussed it in the past and will do so again before he leaves!</p>
<p>Pepper welcome back. Glad to hear your DD is doing well. If you think she’s having migraines, consider looking into “The Migraine Diet”. My DS started getting migraines in 7th grade. He was taking all sorts of meds to try and get rid of them and prevent them. I found the Migraine Diet book and read it. Seemed to make sense, especially because my younger brother had headaches directly related to eating hotdogs. DS read book, went on diet, and once he had them under control we’ve been able to link every one to things he ate by accident. Mostly targets MSG and nitrites (preservatives). Since you mentioned your DD’s junk food diet, it might help. Of course there are many other causes of migraines, but this is an easy one to try (MSG and nitrites are in so many processed items from doritos to soups to pre-packaged sauces and meals). He’s not taking any meds for them anymore and has mostly eliminated the migraines, thankfully!</p>
<p>Welcome back Emilybee & Pepper. You both were missed. Pepper - glad your DD Is doing better. Hugs to Mom. Tough situation compounded by your sis.</p>
<p>I asked DS if he wanted condoms (hasn’t had a date yet). He laughed.</p>
<p>[University Reveals the Secrets of Winning Merit Scholarships - CBS MoneyWatch.com](<a href=“MoneyWatch: Financial news, world finance and market news, your money, product recalls updated daily - CBS News”>MoneyWatch: Financial news, world finance and market news, your money, product recalls updated daily - CBS News)</p>
<p>If any of you have a AAA card and Sprint as your cell phone carrier, you may be eligible for a 10% discount. First check the discount section of your AAA web site. You’ll be surprised at how many goodies are there. </p>
<p>Then, after setting up your service contract, call Sprint customer service and ask them how to activate the discount. Ask about other possible discounts - college, employer, credit union, over 65, etc. I was most proud of my DS b/c he called Sprint and handled everything on his own. This is a MAJOR breakthru.</p>
<p>Apollo66- Try Shutterfly for photo invitations. I used them for my D1’s graduation party, and they turned out great.</p>
<p>Apollo - I used my local CVS for the invites because I could get the pics uploaded and printed within an hour, quality was fine - definately not as crisp as Shutterfly would be, but I didn’t have time to wait. Sam’s Club, Costco, Walgreens…they can all do it too.</p>
<p>Arisamp - Congrats on the audition triumph!</p>
<p>So nice to see some familiar people back on-line that have been gone for awhile! Pepper, I hope you waved when you passed the Quakertown exit on route 78 on your way to Hershey! Glad to hear your daughter is okay but sorry to hear about your parents. You surely have a lot on your plate! BTW - why is the insurance for the computer so expensive? Did you read this thread? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1185968-student-insurance.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1185968-student-insurance.html</a></p>
<p>I used Peartree for my announcements/invitations but I also considered e-vites. These are invitations that are e-mailed [Invitations</a>, Free eCards and Party Planning Ideas from Evite](<a href=“Evite: Online Invitations, Greeting Cards & Party Ideas”>Evite: Online Invitations, Greeting Cards & Party Ideas) I also just did a FB event invitation to people I had sent out the announcements plus a couple of extra people so I could easily keep track of my head count.</p>
<p>We finally got up to B,B&B and got a small cart full of stuff, planning to do the pick up at the college location for the bulkier items like a small three tier bookshelf and an ottoman. I was hoping we could steal his older brother’s but he seems very possessive. Son really want’s a good computer chair, but that’s just going to have to wait. Once we got home from the store I got on-line thinking it would be easy to order the items that we want to be picked up at the nearby store, but it looks more complicated then I thought it would be.</p>
<p>We’re off top Vermont for vacation on Sunday. Leaving our ferocious golden to guard the manse. Looking forward to spending some down time with lots of family, all of whom I like!</p>
<p>BI</p>
<p>too funny. Had forgotten about that thread…lots of good posts and thoughts there.</p>
<p>I am thinking that bc purchase for girl/boy should be done by the girl/boy, not the parents because they have to “own” this and that it is their choice no matter what, and their responsibility. We parents aren’t going to be there and so if they are too embarassed with the purchase then that says something about their true readiness in this adult arena. kwim?
Worth discussing when pinting out the responsibilities again–that it you don’t feel ready to choose to be careful, then you need to step back and realize that isn’t someplace to be active. Easily said, yet add teen hormones, and yet developing frontal lobe and perhaps some alcohol…and …</p>
<p>On the migraine front–I have a ripping migraine today. Use to have many and they have tapered off in recent years…I have been eating all kinds of stuff I dont normally eat… will be a low key day and hopefully wont carry over all weekend…</p>
<p>^^^^You bet I am going to send condoms with D. Knowing my D, she will be the one sharing them with hallmates who are too “shy” to go to health services. We have had long talks about the whys and wherefors of being sexually active so I have great confidence in her making good choices. That said, making it easier to be responsible is ok in my book too. We want so much for our kids to do the “right” thing (whatever that is in your opinion) but we are all flawed and make poor choices some times. I do not want her to die because of that. This is one instance when my parenting mantra (“Better drowned than duffers”) is not in force.</p>
<p>PS Off on vacation for over a week to stare at the waves. Can’t wait. Good wishes for all while I am gone.</p>
<p>**I have taken the first and last move-in dates for this countdown from the list on this thread. </p>
<p>First new student move-in is the University of Georgia on August 9th.
Move-in day in 4 days. That’s next Tuesday! Time to pack this weekend. :eek:</p>
<p>Southwestern University is just 2 days later.
University of Alabama and NC State are just 3 days later.
University of Missouri (Mizzou) is just 4 days later (for sorority recruitment).</p>
<p>Last new student move-in is the University of Southern Oregon on September 22nd<br>
Move-in day in 48 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. Also, please edit and update the countdown thread using the link below.</p>
<p>The link to the Move-in Date Thread is <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1141579-hs-class-2011-college-class-2015-move-dates-5.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1141579-hs-class-2011-college-class-2015-move-dates-5.html</a></p>
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<p>fogfog, that’s our family’s philosophy, too. I was out with rising hs sophomore D2, and mentioned that parents on the thread were discussing if they should send protection with their students or not. D2 shook her head no, saying that 1) the dorms have them, and 2)the student has to take responsibility for it themselves. She was actually pretty funny, telling me all the places where one can get 'em for free. This from a kid who knows a couple of girls whose parents have placed them on bc because the parents fear (justifiably, unfortunately) that the girls won’t take precautions. :(</p>
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<p>KinderNY–have heard you use this quote–and I googled it–Though not having read the book --it was out of context. Can you elaborate on the quote.
Thanks.</p>
<p>Also–I just “love” your dd’s spirit…and am a “fan” :)</p>
<p>From a children’s book , Swallows and Amazons, from the twenties set in the Lake District of England.
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<p>The children go sailing about (night and day), camping, meeting people all over the lake, for days on end, and all without adult supervision. :eek: The quote is from the beginning where the mother of the 4 children wires to her husband for his ok on the expedition. He telegraphs back: “Better drowned than duffers. If not duffers won’t drown.” </p>
<p>So, back in the day, I used it with D (who also loved the series of books) to reinforce using good judgement and making good choices. When I said “make good choices” I’d get an eye roll. If I said “better drowned than duffers” she knew I was trusting her to do the right thing and act responsibly. I am pretty sure she knew it was a metaphorical “drowning” to which I was referring, not actual death. ;)</p>
<p>Now I really, really am off.</p>