Oldest son off to college

[LONGTOM]

Rough last few days.
Messed my back up again on Monday.
I broke 2 pieces off 2 discs 4 years ago and have put up with it every since.
Haven't been able to do much this week, not even walk.
Been to the back quack a few times this week.
Today he did acupuncture with electric.
Now I know how the frogs must have felt back in science class.  
It did work though.
I feel a lot better this evening.
Hope it holds out for tomorrow.
Taking the oldest son off to college in the morning.
Spent the evening loading the suv to the max along with a rear rack platform and his bike.
He is going to the UNIVERSTY OF VIRGINIA to become an architect.
Sure am glad that my dad taught me to save my money when I was younger and times were good.
Cost around $10,000 to $15,000 per year.
The youngest is just starting high school next week.
He is 4 years behind the oldest.
I guess about the time one finishes college the other will be starting.
Might as well spend it on them now while I am still around to help guide them.
They will get it all when I am gone anyway.  
Sure is going to be different without him around!
I guess it won't be to bad, he's only 2 hours away.
He has no classes on the weekend so he will be able to come home some.
Well, enought for now.



LONGTOM

[MGMorden]

Aside from funerals, I don't remember a time when my mother cried more than that move-in day for my freshman year.  It's a time filled with a lot of memories.  Everyone's different but I'd expect the calls and the weekend trips home to be a little more frequent the first year.  After that it tapers on off.  It's the time when you really learn to live away from your parents and become your own person.  Great time in life.  Sounds like he did the smart thing and chose a public in-state school - the best way to do it IMHO.  The oddball liberal arts majors will seek out artsy expensive institutes but the people who want to actually get an EDUCATION rather than a cultural experience tend to go the public in-state route (I certainly did).  I wish him (and you) all the best!! 

[Sourdough]

Mom's cry, Dad's think finally.  Well Sky has been going to UAF now for 3 years, and living at home.  When he looked at moving onto campus and found out the cost of a dorm room and meals, he sat down and put it on paper.  Decided he could buy a lot of gasoline for that much money.  Stayed at home and commuted 20 minutes to campus.  Mom liked it, I keep thinking will he never quite using my stuff and not putting it back where it belongs. 

Well this year he is thinking about staying on campus anyway.  Mom is not happy, I'm running around thinking Yes, Yes, Yes.

But seriously, I do believe it is a good thing for a young person to go off to college, and experience living on their own.  Honestly Sky went to visit his friends in the dorms and decided he did not want dorm life at that point in his life.  He thought most of them were a bit too immature for his taste, and the restrictions on the Freshmans dorm was more than he wanted to deal with.  Now he would be with older people and things are a bit more relaxed.

[PowPow]

Around here, it was tougher when the baby left. The oldest got along just fine.
But when the baby left, mom worried if he would remember to eat, if he would remember to wake up in the morning, ...go to class ...do laundry. She worried that he would lose weight; he was already the skinniest kid around. He left at 120, came back at 150.
When she's not around, he figures it out. He overslept a couple of times and might have worn a shirt that came out of the dirty clothes bag a couple of times, but he managed to maintain his scholarship, make the dean's list and march in the band at halftime show of the BCS championship.
 
Its amazing how much these kids will grow up, if we let them.

[zoner]

sounds like you've done a top notch job at parenting Longtom.

[LONGTOM]

Well, we got back a few hours ago.
Man, am I tired!
My back did OK but my right leg is aching.

All went well.
We got him moved in and met his room mate which is from out town, seems like a nice guy.
More kids in one place then I have seen in a long time.
No TV hookup in the dorm, have to check into that.
The college held a free concert tonight at the arena some distance from his dorm, a long walk.
He is just getting back to walking after spending the summer with a dislocated ankle and broken leg which required surgery with a plate and 7 screws.
He left the concert eary to head back to his room and after walking a few blocks he realized things didn't look right.
He called and said he was lost.
I know my way around down there pretty good and was able to tell him where he went wrong and he is now back at his dorm safe.
I guess he may still need his old mans help from time to time.
Said his leg was hurting after the long walk.
Hey, at least he called and asked what to do! 
It was hard saying goodby for his mom.
His brother took it pretty good, for now.
I am sure he will start to miss him soon enought.
Me, I guess it will hit me soon enought to! 

Thanks for the replys.



LONGTOM