<p>My reserved, introverted D texted me the 2nd night on campus and said “I just did Karaoke for the first time ever” - both DH and I wanted to know which other student had her phone :)</p>
<p>She also signed up for info from the sky-diving club but that wasn’t as out of character for her :)</p>
<p>My son spent an entire weekend day working on his organizational system. My mom helped him, by typing up <em>200</em> labels for his folders! He’s also managed to get up on time every day so far. Wow!</p>
<p>My S volunteered to organize a major social event for his fraternity. To give you some idea of how…unexpected… this is, when I told a friend of mine who knows him well, she literally staggered backwards. :D</p>
<p>You all have such great kids. My kids jaw dropping moments were never things that made me smile after my jaw resumed it’s normal position.</p>
<p>After attending a pre-orientation program at new school, 3boysdad and I were eager to hear about his first few nights on a college campus. When I asked S2 if he needed a lighter weight blanket because of the intense heat down south - he said “I don’t know, I haven’t stayed in my room yet” ------- What?!</p>
<p>In her first week at college, and of her own volition, my D unpacked her stuff. She called home. More than once. She did laundry before she ran out of underwear. She cleaned and organized her room. She went to the gym and worked out. More than once.</p>
<p>Both my daughters took bartending courses and became credentialled bartenders on campus. And between the tips and the alumni networking, they say it’s been a good experience.</p>
<p>Hey, my D wants to be a bartender too. Did your D’s take the classes on campus or at a “bartending school”?</p>
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<p>I suspect that these things are more kept under wraps…</p>
<p>Packmom–thanks for admitting what the rest of us wanted to post!</p>
<p>Some smaller victory. DD2 was a major introvert in HS. She mentioned her week in the fencing club where she does rennaissance fencing (with blunt knives, etc), and this boy gave her a bloody nose but she got him with a “face shot”. Glad I’m just her father.</p>
<p>Hehe, I like this thread, fun to read.</p>
<p>What my son has done is not totally out of character. However, I am pleasantly surprised by son’s ability to get good bargains. Given the fact that he is attending NYU and he is living in a very, very expensive city, NYC.</p>
<p>Sonny asked me for a good place to get a carpet for his “sterile”-looking dorm room. I asked him his budget. He said $100. When he said that, I was trying to figure out the name of a catalog with cheap rugs for a sizeable dorm room floor. (He is living in one of the more spacious dorms at NYU.) Then I mentioned ABC Carpets, a well known carpet store with actually very high quality carpets made of tufted wool, etc. I mentioned they sometimes have clearance sales, but the best I was able to do myself was to get a plain carpet for $199 (10 years ago). Sonny came back from shopping and told me he got a rug that was actually “high quality” with blue and cream floral patterns (to match the blue and cream in his and his roommate’s bed covering color scheme). FOR $100. My jaw dropped. ABC Carpets does have some very nice rugs but the prices do not go that low (that I know of).</p>
<p>When I started missing sonny, I kept busy doing research on the internet to get good walking and rain shoes for him since he has to do a lot of walking in NYC. I admit I think of myself as a “good bargain buyer.” I ended up getting sonny 2 pairs of high quality Clark rain boots and walking shoes, in addition to one highly rated Sorel snow boots all for around $200 (all quality leather shoes), taxes and delivery included. Sonny was trying to stop me. He said, “Mom I just got myself the best walking shoes for $15 - from a thrift shop in NYC.”</p>
<p>We always lived well “materially” (the whole household). I was worrying about sonny having to budget himself living “adequately” in NYC (especially with the high NYU tuition and fees). It seems I’m the one who has to budget myself!</p>
<p>To crown it all, he asked my advice for a good fridge for his room. I did research and came up with the best price for a 4.6 cu ft. fridge (with the most desirable features, including a freezer section). Sonny’s roommate had his parents buy that (we supplied the microwave, a $130 value before taxes bought for $69, taxes and delivery all inclusive). Sonny just informed me, “Mom, with that big fridge (the largest in the dorm that I have seen) and the rug we bought, I feel we are living in the most luxurious room in my dorm!”</p>
<p>It is good it does not take much for the kids to feel pride in themselves and their new living situation. Though I have to say, my son has become more frugal than I ever expected, given our family’s tendency to consume a lot! It is a pleasant surprise.</p>
<p>Well, my relatively reserved daughter announced that she is becoming an EMT! her and a new BFF are both pre-med and they think it will be a good experience. I say…you go girl!</p>
<p>Evolving - loved your post. Made me think of the jaw dropping comment.</p>
<p>The RA had sent a list of things kids needed in their dorm. One thing was a plunger, but we had not bought one before he left. So, DS comes home from college for Labor Day weekend. I ask if any of the roommates had bought the plunger. He said he got a plunger and a sombrero for $1, 50 cents each.</p>
<p>My son, once a picky eater, has a new hobby: cooking. His bread is spectacular, and now he tells me he’s making cheese.</p>
<p>BerneseMtn,</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback on my post. I hope it tickled you a little reading it.</p>
<p>My jaw actually dropped trying to figure out how your DS got a plunger for $.50 (the sombrero maybe as a give away or thrift shop purchase). It wasn’t a toy (fake) plunger, was it? Let me know, maybe I can replace the plungers in my 3 bathrooms cheaply, hehe.</p>
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<p>Yep, we were firmly in that group.</p>
<p>Although, now that they are older college students, things have changed. For example, the D who never, ever did any sport (aside from kindergarten soccer/somersault/daisy picking) has turned into a cycling maniac. It’s great to see our young adults continue to grow and evolve. Even if some of the jaw-dropping isn’t so great.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and the no-kitchen-for-me kid is now really into cooking.</p>
<p>Lucky parents who have kids into cooking. Just think of the treat you have waiting for you when your “chefs” return home to take their turn in the kitchen. So envious. :)</p>
<p>My S1 (who will be sophomore in three weeks - the fall quarter has not started yet) established an investment fund. He legally incorporated. Raised capital from fellow students ($500 per student-investor seems to be about average). He dubbed himself as “managing partner” and “chief investment strategist”. When we (me and H) and my parents and family friends volunteered to invest in his fund, he said “no” (no funny charity money from family. Only well informed, “real” investors, he said). That said, he did accept $500 investment from his boss at a wall street firm where he is interning this summer. I believe he raised a bit over $10K. </p>
<p>I read his initial pitch letter to potential investors. He is writing monthly share holder report/letter. I was pretty impressed with those - sounded very professional. He says so far his fund is beating the market. He spends a lot of time studying and analyzing the market. </p>
<p>This is a kid who was rejected from the likes of HYP most probably due to the lack of any EC to speak of. He played on line game during the first years of HS and read non stop on finance matters during the last two years. No clubs and team activities. So I am doubly surprised by a sudden explosion of initiatives and drives for all things entrepreneurial and extra curricular (not only this investment fund, but other things). Perhaps, kids bloom at different stages and phases.</p>