Parents of the HS Class of 2012 - New beginnings

<p>Yeah 5boys. You can do all his slopping for him and stash Dorm Mountain away while he is off climbing real mountains.</p>

<p>I hadn’t thought of that Woody… GREAT idea. You guys will have to keep me informed of everything my DS needs to know, just think of how much less stress we will have…and of course you will HAVE to find the answer to the true question in life… ’ What is the perfect mattress topper"…LOL!! I can’t wait.</p>

<p>Gwen Fairfax, I carry health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield in our state. On their website I can view a provider directory based on location. There were even providers in Europe when older D was studying abroad last semester.</p>

<p>5boys, I started purchasing stuff for S last September on clearance, since he’s my 2nd and I knew what kinds of stuff he’d need. It helps the budget to spread it out, too!</p>

<p>Are parents aware that even if you are covered by an HMO in your state, there may be guest membership available for your child in the state where s/he will attend school? Since MA requires health insurance, it requires minimums on health benefits, so “out of area emergencies” coverage is not adequate. Looking at the 2K+ addition to my son’s tuition bill, I called Anthem Blue Cross. They told me that they have guest membership from our state (CA) to Mass, where my son will be attending college. He will have a primary care physician there and here. Money saved. Happy mum.</p>

<p>MomOf3Stars wrote:

Sounds like a child clinical neuropsychology practice. You’re definitely in the right place now. I’m trying to gently nudge S in the direction of clinical neuropsychology as that’s said to be one of the better paying specialties. :)</p>

<p>NU finally came through with dorm assignments yesterday. S got one of his top choices and will be in the Fine and Performing Arts Residential College. Since he wants to continue with his music but isn’t going to be a music major, being in a dorm with multiple practice rooms (not to mention sound recording and editing facilities) is a big plus. Roomie is an actor.</p>

<p>There are some YouTube videos of his band’s tour. I’m trying to get (his) approval to link a couple of them to the Flickr page. Don’t want to play the game of waiting for the “good” recordings that may never come. Piano player from the 2010 band still hasn’t gotten a mix he likes but hey, any day now … Not holding my breath. :)</p>

<p>Just got home from Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Landing Event, as guest of DD by virtue of her NASA JPL internship. It was an amazing experience to be in an auditorium with 3000 other people, first collectively holding their breath, then simultaniously clapping and hugging. Hooray for MSL’s successful touchdown on Mars!</p>

<p>ohiobassmom, not too long lol. UArts was always her first choice (just not ours due to the high cost) and she auditioned for and was accepted in November. She did two other auditions prior to Christmas (SUNY’s) and one other in late February. It was definitely a much longer for oldest DD when she was auditioning for music programs!</p>

<p>She has several dance friends who have attended UArts and loved it. Oldest DD has friends attending UArts for Graduate school (music related degrees). I know it is an extremely popular school on the Musical Theater Majors thread. DD is hoping to add a minor of Music Business and Technology (we are just waiting for departmental approval).</p>

<p>Gwen - did you happen to keep the employee manual on the health insurance? That will probably have info in there.</p>

<p>We have blue cross/blue shield, but it doesn’t have boundaries as we don’t have to pick a primary care physician. If you have an hmo it might be different. If you don’t have that booklet, call the number on the back of the card. Or check their website, as a member you can log in and get a password.</p>

<p>S got his new passport in the mail the other day but didn’t receive the card yet. We’ll keep the passport at home and let him take the card with him. </p>

<p>5boys - your son sounds awesome. What a fantastic adventure for a young man! </p>

<p>We don’t have much of a collection here at home yet - bbb will be picked up close to school, he hasn’t started packing clothes, just an area rug, some tide pods and a mattress pad. We won’t start packing clothes til before we’re ready to go. I keep reminding myself he’ll have access to stores, he doesn’t have to bring enough to last a year.</p>

<p>MomOf3Stars- Looks like we will both be contending with Philadelphia move-ins on the 23rd… Still not quite sure whether this will be a good day or bad day for me…</p>

<p>Silk long Johns… nice tip, Oldfort!</p>

<p>S is nowhere near ready to fly halfway across the country in 5 days that I can see. I’ve stayed up half the night looking for a safe water kettle. Clearly I’m partially losing my brain! Just thought I’d mention that in case anyone is in a similar state of disarray. At least we’re in it together.</p>

<p>*Just got home from Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Landing Event, as guest of DD by virtue of her NASA JPL internship. It was an amazing experience to be in an auditorium with 3000 other people, first collectively holding their breath, then simultaniously clapping and hugging. Hooray for MSL’s successful touchdown on Mars! *</p>

<p>So jealous michal1! That must have been very cool.</p>

<p>SteveC, we have an English mastiff as well. Best.Dog.Ever.</p>

<p>Silk long johns are terrific. I still have the same pair I bought 20 years ago for my stint in upstate New York.</p>

<p>Just read backwards enough to notice the “launch date” list. I’ve been on CC mostly for the music major forum, & it’s lovely to find you all. S is moving to IU from CA.on the 12th. A grand adventure for us all.
Speaking of which, just yesterday I read on the orientation info (not previously available) that the parent part of the orientation is for “adults only” & we’re bringing our 13 yr old. Should I have known this? Bought plane tix ages ago of corse. Good grief. Will we have to stash her at Starbucks?</p>

<p>Maybe get him/her a room in a nearby hotel, and let her explore the town on her own. That is what I would do, but I am hardly the traditional CC Helicopter mom, so letting my 13 year old run around for a couple days does not seem completely crazy.</p>

<p>(And I do know my username might suggest otherwise, just don’t question me!)</p>

<p>I’ve been doing well all summer, and H and I have been somewhat gleefully planning how we’ll deal with an empty nest. With less than two weeks to go, it finally hit me like a ton of bricks this morning! D left for the first session of a preseason tuneup camp a local coach is holding for area girls who are playing in college. Most of these girls play against each other scholastically but have often been on the same team during the club season since they were middle schoolers. Funny that that’s my trigger-knowing I won’t see these girls playing any more! H and I will probably keep going to the high school games-can’t imagine not having it a part of our life. We have several trips planned to watch D play with her college team, but it’ll be a big adjustment! Deep breath-I promised D I won’t get mushy on her!</p>

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<p>This is SO COOL!</p>

<p>Intending to send D (launching day after tomorrow, yikes!) with SS card in case of campus job (hoping she’ll get one) but reluctant send passport etc. According to [USCIS</a> - Acceptable Documents](<a href=“http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=e8e31921c6898210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e8e31921c6898210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD]USCIS”>http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=e8e31921c6898210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e8e31921c6898210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD) she can use her driver’s license as a List B doc plus social security card as a List C.</p>

<p>mihcal1, I’m so jealous you got to watch the Curiosity landing in person! I live close to JPL and have several friends who work there, but unfortunately we’re out of town right now so we had to make do with watching it on TV. I guess I shouldn’t be sad that we’re out of town though–we’re finally taking a family vacation to the Grand Canyon before my younger D starts high school in 2 weeks.</p>

<p>As far as my S, since he doesn’t start college until September, I can still be somewhat in denial about him leaving. We’ve started to collect dorm supplies, but we only have dorm hill so far–I’m hoping it doesn’t turn in to dorm mountain or it won’t fit into our mid-sized sedan!</p>

<p>Although S doesn’t launch until 8/15, we are leaving home either late this Friday night or early Saturday to start our 1,000 mile trek. Packing has just commenced today (he took the day off from work to get it done) - and S came to me panicked and asked if I could help him because he didn’t even know what he’s supposed to take! Possibly this should have been thought about earlier! I think there’s just a note of apprehension in his voice, and maybe the reality of it all is hitting him.
I’m doing pretty well and even managed to hold it together yesterday during his senior piano recital despite the fact that several of his friends and HS teachers were in tears!
Nice to meet all the new parents who’ve joined in on this crazy ride. Can’t believe that some kids start this week! Good luck to all!</p>

<p>hawkeye55, I have anxiety like you cannot imagine about not being able to get self parking at the hotel (where I have a reservation) around the corner from DD’s dorm. I am shipping several large boxes in the next week or so but there will still be several to bring down in the cara as well.</p>