I am with you, @waiting to exhale, although I’d call my approach “stumbling in the dark.” Bravo, @3scoutsmom, and is it any surprise she’s mastered adding color in CC too?
It really helps if you know what college your kid plans to go to early on. D16 knew she wanted to go to OU since sophomore year so she started planning back then what classes would do her the most good. S18 and S20 say they want to stay instate most likely UT or UTD so they will take Texas Government DE because all Texas public colleges require it for graduation.
@EastGrad I told my DH I learn to “program” in color on CC and he didn’t believe me, so he said, “show me” and I did and he laughed and said that’s NOT programing but I was still pretty proud of myself!
I thought I would pop in and say hello to all of you still active on this thread. I haven’t been on here in a couple of months…too much snow, too much ice, too much melt, too much water in basement, too much life craziness! Haven’t gone back to catch up on posts yet…but will eventually.
I did look at most recent discussions, and am quite happy S16 does not have the housing woes that some of your kiddos are going through. On campus housing all four years required - period. Dorms are quite nice also. When it snows in the Boston area, the farthest he has to walk from the dorm to classes, the cafeteria, or the administration building is about 300 yards. Quite a different experience from most of your kids, but he still LOVES his school. Happy parent here since kid is happy. There have certainly been bumps in the road, but manageable.
Yes, Eastgrad, I think stumbling in the dark is about right. Even when I pick up on some things here I would have to keep external notes to stay on top of my game. (I have at times, to be sure.)
If anyone has kept in touch with Palm, let her know I hope things are going well and I often think of her.
New question…what are thoughts on students carrying protection when they are out late at night? S was out with a friend last night, and a drunk driver threw an empty beer can into her car while they were in a drive-through line. She got out of the car, then the driver did too so my S got out of the passenger’s side and asked the driver to get back into his car. Apparently the driver flashed a knife so they called the cops, who came and impounded the car.
I am glad S was there to protect his friend and defuse the situation (I am glad he handled it the way he did), but it is definitely scary as a Mom since I know the area around his campus is not that safe and he’s never encountered anything like that before. One of my friend’s sons carried a small knife with him while in college, but I would prefer not to go that route. I’m not sure about rules for carrying mace/pepper spray, and that can also be used by someone attacking the person who carries it. Do any of you have suggestions about this?
Incredibly scary situation, @lifegarding. Your son did an amazing job at approaching and then defusing. I am supposing his chosen actions allowed for the exercise of a level-headed response by the other driver. Providence prevailed in that moment, thank goodness.
I đo not give any specific instruction on carrying a weapon of any sort, but would want my kid to be fully prepared to use it were circumstances to present themselves. It would be important to me that they not have their own weapon used against them.
Two of my kids have years of self-defense /martial arts training. One of those is, simply, swift, fierce, uncannily astute. The other is so very well trained that self-satisfied football players who have thought to shame my kid in front of others have walked away in shock, rubbing a sore spot made by my kid who blocked and jabbed, then restrained and readied for a full-on attack. This kid of mine is, however, a sweet, pacific, pussycat - more likely to trust beyond good measure.
I would want to give my kid a chance to execute a reasonable defense and hope they could exit a harrowing scene. I would take my cues from what my child is comfortable with, being mindful of local laws.
@lifegarding… up here in Massachusetts, my first thought in the middle of your post was, “how would a condom have prevented this?” Good luck whatever you decide!
@fretfulmother…yes, after I reread my post I realized the first sentence might hint at a different type of protection :).
I plan to talk with S when he’s home this weekend for his sister’s show and get a better sense of how he felt and what he thinks would help him feel more safe. I agree with @Waiting2exhale that I don’t want him to have a weapon that someone else can use to hurt him…and I know he would feel awful if he had to use it on someone else. That’s why I think mace/pepper spray seems safer to me…painful if sprayed with it, but temporary.
My concern is that maybe S thinks he could handle someone in a situation like that, when he has no training in martial arts and is a very passive guy and not that big. My one suggestion to him was that next time if a situation escalates like that, they should get back in the car quickly and drive a safe distance away, then call for the police. Since it was at a drive-thru restaurant across the street from campus, it sounds like the incident drew attention and police response pretty quickly, fortunately. It does worry me a lot, but I am glad he feels comfortable letting me know about it.
Brag alert. Just received an email from DS16 that he has been offered an on campus position as a writing lab consultant . The job required a recommendation by his English professor, an in depth interview including a writing sample , grammar correction and a role play of a tutoring session. There were over 80 applicants. He’s very proud and excited.
Congrats to him! @carolinamom2boys <:-P here, spring break is next week and I’m so ready. Housing for next year doesn’t happen until April but I am applying to live in the honor’s housing.
Brag moment here too; Dean’s List was officially released earlier this week and D16 made it. It’ll be nice to see him a week from today when he’s home for spring break…with girlfriend in tow…
Good luck whatever you decide!