@palm715 Welcome back…it is so nice to have you return! I don’t comment often anymore, but do keep up with posts for the most part. I continue to enjoy the updates on everyone’s kiddos and the wonderful support that is found here.
Glad so many of you here have been able to enjoy having their kids home for spring break!
I am not a big sports fan…but have to comment (and sorry to those who support other teams!): GO ZAGS!
DD is home for a half of her spring break and will spend the second half with a group of friends in NY. It is amazing how fast the second semester goes. She feels a little guilty that she doesn’t spend entire break with us, so she doesn’t sleep until noon as she likes and we try to add as much of family time in those few days as possible. She goes on a long runs with her dad, shopping with me and cooking with grandma. Her life at school is so intense in every aspect that she really needs to have a down time at home to recharge.
@palm715 : That is great news.
So much of what you’ve written mirrors my D16’s outcomes at seeking summer internship/research work. She says almost everything I have sent to her, or that she has found herself, requires that she have more experience, and her opportunities are further limited by her schools incredibly late release date. Most of the programs insist that a student be present for every moment of the program, with no late starts granted. (Sad face.)
She doesn’t give up, thank goodness, and has of late reached out to two major companies, taking “a shot in the dark, because why not?” I hope something works out for her. I will remind her of the opportunities at local unis and colleges and hope for a wonderful result.
Great to hear of such good news for your daughter.
@Waiting2exhale I sent my D links to a bunch of math REUs, but then she went into to talk to her math advisor and he said wait until next year (or year after) when she has more classes under her belt. In the end, she’ll be getting more teaching experience, albeit at elementary level. I wish she’d ask to do some math tutoring or projects at the school, but I have to keep mum or I get the sullen, snarly treatment.
Funniest story from spring break was D relating how one of her friends (male) has an interesting work-study job. He’s a nude model for the art classes. lol! I’m not sure how he knew that my D had taken studio art with live nude models in HS (at a local art institute), but he asked her what the work was like when he was considering the job. Anyhow he took the job and says it’s so much easier than his old work-study job.
Sullen, snarly treatment from your D? No idea what you’re talking about! 
I do a lot of keeping mum, too. It takes a lot of effort and might be underestimated as an effective tactic!
@liska21: All other things aside, and wow, do we have things in common, I also did nude modeling for the art classes in college. They really pay! After a while it doesn’t even seem that weird or off-putting.
I get such snarl from D’16 that I have asked her to be nicer. Then all communication goes silent. (Exhale.)
@Waiting2exhale The studio drawing class D took the summer after HS was such a great experience. The models were all types: college age to 70s, skinny to voluminous, males and females. She became such a better freehand artist and there was something liberating about drawing all sorts of body types.
They must grow out of the snarly phase at some point…surely. My D is pretty good really. Only snarly when I say something that could be construed as a criticism or suggestion. Unfortunately, how comments are construed often feels unpredictable. Like ‘Do you have any plans for today?’ Who knew that could be such a loaded question…
My older D was so snarly I was thrilled when she left for college! But as a wise radio host had said years earlier, they turn into humans again around 21-and you know, she DID. My D16-Sseakid-had her snarly phase a little younger-she did EVERYTHING sooner, lol! At around 15 we started many mornings with “You need to dial back that attittude”. But really, she was an easy kid.
She’s had a really rough day with boyfriend problems, a concern about her choice of sped vs. elementary ed, choice of college, her roommate’s boyfriend of many years dropping her, and a WWE style fight in the hall of her dorm! Was there some phase of the moon I didn’t know about? She’s talked to a trusted friend and her favorite auntie along with Dad and I, and things are much calmer tonight. Hopefully tomorrow will be much better.
You are all making me feel a little better about S’s visit. He was only here 3 1/2 days but seemed to answer every question with an aggravated tone. Very surly. He was easy birth till last summer, so I guess it’s overdue. My older two are wonderful adults (and one of them has had their moments!) so I know there is still hope.
Our older D who is graduating from university this May (!!!) is a lot less snarly than before, and is quite fun to be around on break.
Our younger D16 is still at a stage where simple questions (see @liska21 “Do you have any plans for today?”) are perceived by her as Major Parental Interrogation & Interference.
I kept my mouth shut and held it all in, and I’m now happy to report D16 did move forward and accept the UG Fellowship. She said she doesn’t really want to do it (the extra work), but it seems like something she shouldn’t pass on because it will look good on grad school apps. Great, now I don’t have to die a little inside.
In another twist, I had to bite my tongue, hard, when she began to petition us for taking the extra car back to school with her in the fall. “It’s so inconvenient without a car!”, she said via text. Thank goodness for texting and she couldn’t see me rolling my eyes.
She has upped the anty by saying she could save $ by moving off-campus next year, but she’d need a car for sure then. Her room and board stipend is discharged into her student account whether you live on campus or off. Students who move off campus and are able to live frugally keep any leftover money.
I’m off to play some Gloria Gaynor…
@sseamom hugs to her. I’ve never had a boyfriend/been in a romantic relationship of any sort but I have seen my fair share this year. And with the major thing- is special Ed an undergrad option where she is? I know here in NY, you can only get your master’s in special Ed. @Midwest67 your D16 sounds like one of my friends with the car-right down to asking to live off campus.
@readingclaygirl she is a special ed major now. I think the plan as of today is to remain with that major and get additional endorsements so that she has other options. She’s meeting with the department head and a professor friend from Vandy tomorrow to hash things out. It’s a work in progress.
Wishing everyone a very happy holiday weekend.
Are many DC home? My DS is on a trip for honor students to the gulf coast. I think it will be a lot of fun but, I will miss not seeing him for Easter.
Hard to believe that only about 4 weeks are left of their freshman year in college! It has certainly gone by fast!
Same to you!
We pick up D16 May 5, and the following weekend, D13 graduates from UIUC. I agree, time is flying by!
Did year one meet your parental expectations? Your student’s expectations? Anything surprising? Disappointing? Do we have anyone with plans to transfer?
S has been the most self-sufficient freshman of my three kids. He’s happily made a great group of friends and plans to room with them next fall. He joined a couple things and signed up to work at move-in in the fall. He still is not communicating much but he’s had a good year. I can’t believe it’s over in a few weeks!
DD also had a great first year. She’s loving her college and her majors. She’s very excited about moving into an apartment next year with her friends. Everytime I think of her living in an apartment I flashback to when she was 3 years old playing in her play kitchen chopping apart velcro plastic vegetables
She’ll be home for less than two weeks before she heads for her summer internship in Germany. The only surprise for us was the change to a double major and moving to the 5 year plan.
Only one week of classes left, then finals. I can’t believe 2 years went by so fast, and then her brother will be a senior and little sister is moving up to middle school.
She is set to start pharmacy school in the fall and has a job lined up for the summer.
I hope your students are all loving their schools.
@mommdc Is the summer job pharmacy-related? You’ve got a “caboose” kid! I’m a caboose. 6 years younger than my one brother.
@Midwest67 yes, she worked in this pharmacy last summer as well, and during breaks. She is working as a tech, but should hopefully get her intern license soon, so she can start keeping track of intern hours.
I did not know it was called a caboose kid, yes the two girls are 9 years apart.
DH is picking up DS16 for a whirlwind weekend home, then finals and home on May 5th. This year has gone by so fast. He’s really enjoying his college.