The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly....

Parents Forum
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<p>Berurah-
Ditto on what everyone else has said!! It is so exciting and such a relief to know that you are in college!! I am sure there will be more acceptances to come, but that first one is soooo powerful! And this will certainly be a day he won't forget!!</p>

<p>The nose thing happened to my cousin and my s. My cousin was at a family function, went back inside to grab his coat for a photo, and tripped on the sidewalk on his way back out, smashing his nose. So, instead of taking a family photo, he took a trip to the ER and had surgery shortly thereafter.</p>

<p>My son was in gym class- they were horsing around before class started and one kid put him in a choke hold. Unfortunately the chokehold was too long and/or too tight, and my son passed out. It freaked out the kid holding him, so he let go, and my son went down, face first, onto the hard wooden floor. Broke his nose. We were very fortunate that he didn't break any teeth, and that it wasn't more serious. Needless to say, we weren't too happy with the whole incident, and the coach who was <em>supposed</em> to be in the gym supervising them, was in hot water.</p>

<p>So, Berurah, rest assured that if your s. goes to U Mich and is in a similar situation between the months of Nov. and Mar., he'll probably fall into a deep pile of snow, which will cushion his fall :)</p>

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<p>editrix,</p>

<p>Thanks SO much for your excitement for my son and also for your much appreciated encouragement with the Michigan app. process. As you well know, he was SO burned out by the time he got to that one that your gentle insistence was JUST what he needed!! He and I are both very excited by the prospect of the Honors program. I can't wait to get information on it!</p>

<p>With regard to the nose...he is safely out of surgery. You have no idea how much better I felt after reading your post because I had always thought that a plastic surgeon should take care of these things, but we had an ENT doctor perform the surgery. It was quick and successful...he was able to perform a closed rather than an open reduction, and even through the swelling, it looks SO, SO much better! And S. says there is a marked difference in his ability to breathe now. I can't believe what your daughter had to go through after her broken nose! I'm glad all is right now after the ENT doctor's surgery.</p>

<p>I'll be in contact as soon as things settle down.</p>

<p>pattykk--Thanks so much for the congrats on my son's acceptance! Having had three middle schoolers so far myself, I am with you totally on the disbelief that anyone would give a bunch of 'em wooden paddles in a gym!! Yikes! Your son must have the most delightful sense of humor! What a character--I can just imagine him running around in a fedora! My son has a debate tournament next weekend to practice for nationals in June, and we were discussing all the ways that he could put his injury to use <em>lol</em>. I wonder if it will garner a sympathy vote from an ambivalent judge??? </p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>jym626,</p>

<p>You are so very right about the impact of the first acceptance! It means even more to him because most of the other schools he's applied to are very elite with the miniscule acceptance percentages, so realistically, he's not counting on too many more. I hope, though, that at least one of them does come through.</p>

<p>You have certainly had your share of broken nose experiences! The one with your son was outrageous, particularly given that it occurred within a school setting!?!? Poor thing...first choked, then dropped on a hard floor! I hope that coach is gone now or at least scared enough to keep a much better eye on things.</p>

<p>Had to <em>lol</em> about the snow! But for every fall cushioned by snow, I shudder to think of the falls caused by ice! <em>lol</em></p>

<p>Thanks for the congrats. and for your great post!</p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>Mazel tov mazel tov on UM and the successful surgery! Ann Arbor must have a special pull. In mid70s we knew a young couple who had graduated UM and moved to the same southern city where we were. We lost touch over the years and the other week, just for fun, I googled them. They are back in Ann Arbor, and both work for the university.</p>

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<p>*GO BLUE *!!!! :)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mgoblue.com/sounds/victors.wav%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.mgoblue.com/sounds/victors.wav&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>What a fantastic present for your family! (The acceptance, not the nose!). Congratulations! Whew, what a relief!</p>

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<p>Great university, great "college town"!!
Congratulations to your son, and glad to hear his nose is now OK.
Quite the emotional time, poor you!</p>

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<p>kinshasa--Thanks so much for your good wishes!!! I think you are right about Ann Arbor. It is, I believe, a very special place, kind of like Austin (where I'm from). It has so much to offer, and I'm sure many people who attend U.of M. desire to stay/return. My dh is from Michigan, so if S does end up attending there, we will feel kind of like he is home. And I LOVE Google too!!!!!!! It's amazing!</p>

<p>NJres--Thanks SO much for the smile you brought to my S! I got him out of bed to come and listen to the .wav file!! He LOVED it!! That was so cool! Thanks!</p>

<p>nedad--The relief is IMMENSE!! Now, S feels like he's got a fabulous school "in his back pocket", and he can relax for the next six weeks, knowing that if nothing else comes through, he will have a happy and exciting college career. Thanks so much for the good wishes!</p>

<p>cricket--Thanks for the congrats! Yes, it has been an emotional roller coaster this past two days, but the good has won out, especially since the surgery is over and it went beautifully! Several of his friends have come by today to cheer him up, and he seems to be doing very well. Thanks for your sweet post!</p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>Start reserving those football tickets now! (humming the Michigan fight song)</p>

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<p>What a happy thread! Many congrats too. I know from around here that Michigan alums are some of the proudest (in a nice way) and most loyal of all--which has to tell you it is a great school. Don't know if you've seen the football stadium but it is breathtaking....sorry about the nose--from a household that has seen torn ACLs and stitches on hands, foreheads, eyelids (hockey incident), and badly sprained ankles but--knock on wood--no broken noses--many healing thoughts and you WILL laugh about it someday!</p>

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<p>berurah, congratulations to you and your son. My daughter is loving the school. I lthink Ann Arbor is a fantastic place. Walking through Ann Arbor to go to a football game was a fun experience.</p>

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<p>fireflyscout--My son's 11-year-old brother would give anything to occupy a seat in the Big House!!! Since the acceptance yesterday, he has been lobbying heavily for matriculation <em>lol</em>. We have this little stuffed wolverine mascot that plays the fight song. Guess we'll all have to hum along now!</p>

<p>patient--My son would be proud to be counted among the Michigan alums someday! I have not seen the football stadium, but I did visit Ann Arbor once as a Junior Olympian who attended nationals there. The area was just beautiful! You must have a home full of major athletes given your notable collection of injuries! <em>lol</em> It inspires me to hear from an "injury veteran" that we will make it through this broken nose without being too much worse for the wear. Hope everyone at your house is healthy and uninjured at the moment!! </p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>dstark,</p>

<p>I am so glad to hear that your D is loving U.of M.! What is she studying there?? The only concern I have is that the classes may be so big that he would get lost. What does your D say about that? If my son decides on the school, I hope you'll be around for some advice! Thanks for the post! ~berurah</p>

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<p>Berurah--yes, last time I checked, all is well here. Actually just the usual collection of trips and falls and recreational sports! I was actually the one with the torn ACL (torn while trying to ski-race my then 9yearold crazy wild son down a steep icy slope)--but have since had the surgery with ligament replacement and fully recovered and run a half marathon and many shorter races. The only one that was game-related was the hand....then 14yearold son "cleated" by a first baseman as he dove back into base to avoid a tag on a pick-off. Ouch....11 stitches....</p>

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<p>Oh Berurah, I'm so sorry to hear about your son football accident. My son had a similar accident playing pick up football with friends two years ago- a badly broken arm in the shoulder! Thing was, he had to wear this immobilizer which wasn't a caste. (Two of his buddies got on either side and squashed him.) The really rottenist part of the entire accident was the fact it played havoc with his tennis game for a year. It was horrible. He had to give up tournaments at a most critical period , and he was WEAK and had a weak serve for ages afterwards.
At any rate, have confidence in the medical profession . My son will have oral surgery this summer, along with several days in the hospital, and I have great confidence in the doctors. Also congrats on the acceptance! Is this where he wants to go? That is marvelous!
Patient; Medical adventures, no? How goes the tennis?</p>

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<p>Berurah Wow wow wow yippee! I am so happy for him and you and your family! It has been so tough to be going thru this both with my own s and with yours. I've been following your posts and feeling your angst knowing in my heart that Logan would get in but also knowing that there would be no way to convince you of that until you actually had the letter in your hand. I had never lost hope. I can not tell you enough how happy I am for you. I'm sure there will be more good letters to come.....enjoy enjoy enjoy
andi</p>

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<p>Berurah, my daughter is a freshman. First term, I don't believe she had a class with more than 30 people in it. She took four classes and 3 professors knew her well. One took her around his department after class because she hinted she may want to major in his field. None took her out to lunch or anything.</p>

<p>This year she has 3 classes of around 100, but for her she doesn't mind as long as she thinks the professor is interesting. There is one class she hates because she thinks it teaches the obvious and the lectures aren't stimulating. She finds the class discussion fine. I can't name the class until she is finished. :)</p>

<p>My daughter is math oriented so she is taking math, statistics and economic classes.</p>

<p>There are many programs for Michigan students where you can take small classes or partake in activities and have relationships with professors. She wasn't interested in these. Your son will be getting this information in the mail. </p>

<p>There are advisors everywhere. There is one a few 100 feet from her dorm room. Yet, you have to be proactive. For kids who aren't, the advisors might as well be 100 miles away. </p>

<p>She finds her fellow students for the most part very bright and hard working. Most want to have fun. There are tons of things to do at the school.</p>

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<p>Berurah-</p>

<p>Congrats to your S!! I'm sorry to hear about his nose. It sounds as if (from what others have written) he's now a member of a very popular club - the "I once broke my nose" club. My own son is a proud member - basketball related. </p>

<p>Enjoy the sweet smell of success with Michigan!!</p>

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<p>congrats Berurah. My son has also been accepted to U of M, in the honors program. It's not his first choice but his attitude is that he really likes the school and would be happy with it if he didn't get into his top choices. I too have some concerns about the size of the school but I've been told that, with honors, it seems like a more intimate place. We'll see what happens over the next 6 weeks. I find the waiting to be agony!</p>

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<p>patient--Whew! I'm glad that everyone out your way is healthy right now! I have to say that I am simply amazed at what you have been able to do after your ligament replacement surgery! You must be very determined, and it sounds like your kids are too. That hand injury must have been horrible! Wow, 11 stitches in a hand--I hope it wasn't his dominant one. It is so inspiring to hear that everyone has fully recovered from the injuries. When you're in the middle of it, it looks so bad, but your post has given me much perspective and the feeling that things will be back to normal very shortly!</p>

<p>bhg--I'm beginnning to feel quite lucky after reading about all these other mishaps. That must have been quite devastating for your son to have his tennis game affected in that way. Was he able to come back and regain the time he lost in tennis? I know the havoc that injury/illness can play on a sport. When I was a diver back in high school and in contention for the state title, I got the biggest headline ever when I was "sidelined" with mono! <em>LOL</em> I hope your son is back to his old game! </p>

<p>andi--I so appreciate your enthusiastic congratulations and the hand-holding and shoulder you have provided for me since October! I think of you S often and am keeping my fingers crossed for him to be admitted in April after his October deferral. You are right in that I was hard to convince that ANYTHING good would EVER happen. My faith has been restored!! Many hugs to you as you and your S wait out these final weeks!</p>

<p>dstark--I am so happy to hear of your freshman daughter's positive experience so far at Michigan. My son intends to do his undergrad. degree in a science field, probably biology, chemistry, or biochemistry. I was talking to someone yesterday whose sister and BIL graduated from U.of M. (back when), and she seemed to think that if you were an English major you might have more large, impersonal classes. I don't know...My son is the type, though, who is VERY, VERY independent and an intrinsically motivated learner, so I know that he COULD handle large classes. I just think he (and everyone) could get more out of smaller ones. To be honest, even though Michigan wasn't his very top choice, <em>I</em> think he would be happiest there out of all the places to which he's applied, if only for the diversity of the student body. You are sure to be able to find all kinds of people at Michigan in large numbers! My son tends to be proactive, so I trust him to consult advisors if/when needed. I am so excited that you are on this forum with a daughter just ahead of my son--I'll probably be calling on you often for info./advice!!</p>

<p>momsdream--Thanks so much for the congratulations!! I remember when you posted about your S getting into UPenn ED!! It is exciting, isn't it? My son used to play school basketball too, and it is definitely a sport that can be rough on the nose!! It sounds like my son is in good company though!</p>

<p>Bridie--A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to your son for getting into U.of M. too!!!!!! That is so wonderful! As far as Michigan's not being your son's first choice but one that he would nevertheless be happy with---that is EXACTLY our situation. We still have nine more apps. out but won't hear from any of them until April. It's kind of funny, though, now that this acceptance has come through, he is really very, very excited and thrilled with the prospect of Michigan. He really, really likes the school and always has. May I ask you how he came to be accepted to the honors program already? Did we miss something on the app. that we should have marked? Did you receive word of his acceptance into the honors program with the first acceptance letter? Like you, I consider this wait to be stressful and tedious! But for us, it has just been made a great deal more tolerable! :) I wish your son the very, very best of luck for acceptances on his remaining apps.!!</p>

<p>~berurah</p>