Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

NOTE TO ROBIN - Yes, Mike and Bev both serve a purpose in my life. One does not replace the other. However, they BOTH read my blog. Really, Robin. Ask your Alaskan friend to comment. That would be so much fun! No pressure, of course.

Guess where I wrote Friday's post from? Come on, guess! I was at Jacksonville University's library. Austin and I were at Orientation ALL day long, and he had one more meeting (two hours for me to kill). I decided to go to the library and read magazines (one of my favorite activities), and I saw this row of computers with no one on them. So I began working on my blog!

What can I say about yesterday? First, I had SEVEN MEETINGS, not SIX, like I posted yesterday. I just wanted to make that clear.

The first hour was great. The Go Team (kind of like Ambassadors at Gardendale) put on an hour long play/skit of all things freshmen will experience. It was funny, musical and very entertaining. It held my interest like a two year-old at a Wiggles concert. "This is going to be okay," I thought to myself. "This isn't going to be over my head or boring." I allowed myself to be lulled into a sense of false security.

Austin left and the next session (a/k/a meeting) was given by a woman and it was about parents. She called us "helicopter parents." You know... hovering. She even suggested we not call the kids all the time. I quickly tuned her out.

On to session three... Nine parents met with the advisor who will be handling our kid's schedule. He was very nice. He was very informative. I tried very hard to listen to every word that came out of his mouth, and then I heard, "...so after I go to registration with your child tomorrow, you can pick them up." What?

Not only am I NOT a meeting person... I am NOT an "ask questions at the meeting" person. I usually get very angry with the people who ask questions at the meeting because that means the meeting will last longer. But I felt my hand raise high over my head. "Yes," he acknowledged me.

"I never ask questions," I started. No one cared. "Why isn't the parent going with their child to registration?"

"Is there a particular reason you think you need to be there?" he responded, not unkindly, but maybe slightly irritated.

I know he did not expect me to go into the lengthy story of the day Austin was born, and what I physically and emotionally went through giving birth to him, but I wanted him to understand the FULL extent of our bond. That and the fact if he messed up his schedule, Mike and I would have to PAY to change the classes next week.

"I think we'll be able to handle it," he said, again, not unkindly, but maybe slightly smug.

You didn't have to be a brain surgeon to understand that these people were planning on treating these freshmen like "adults." Absurd!

Okay. I would not consider that session a success... Mainly, because I didn't get what I wanted. I needed to go to lunch before we had another meeting... I mean session.

Lunch was okay. Because of my diabetes I couldn't eat the mashed potatoes or the mac and cheese or the homemade roll or the peach cobbler. That pretty much left chicken, carrots and green beans. Oh, and they didn't have a Diet Dr. Pepper so I had to have a Pepsi Zero. Just shoot me now!

After lunch, we had my favorite session. Austin decided he wanted to try the Communications Major session. It was fascinating. I loved it. Austin loved it. I can totally see him doing something like this... if he wants to. I refuse to be a "helicopter." Austin was really pumped up about it, so I encouraged him. (Oh, by the way, I am now registered in Communications 101. I'll be with Austin Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 11:00. Not being a "helicopter." Just trying to expand myself... I want to be a better blogger, and this class should help.)

The next session was a student panel where six kids sat in front of us and answered all the questions we could think of. Mostly, they talked about how important it was for us, as parents, to give the freshmen freedom.

Session Six was an administrative panel where nine adults talked about all the things we, as parents, needed to know about the different departments at the school. I think I lost consciousness on administrative panel member number four.

Then we went to our final session which was a reception. Sugar cookies and sweet, sweet red punch. I admit it. I took a sip of the punch. I have the red mustache to prove it.

And then Austin was in his final session. Parents weren't allowed because it was just for the kids so they could ask questions they wouldn't ask in front of their parents. All I can say is Austin Faulkner better not have had his hand waving.

Out of the SEVEN MEETINGS, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed TWO of them. That is excellent for me. I consider yesterday a success.

To all of you out there who have sent children off to college, I admire how you pulled it off without being called a "helicopter." For those of you who still haven't experienced this monumental task, I would advise you to take your child, run to Montana, buy a farm and just keep everyone with you in a compound-like environment. I really think that's the way to go.

In reality, it was a good day. I loved the campus and the faculty I met. Everyone seemed very nice and helpful. Austin seemed more at ease, too, which is very important to me and Mikie. We want him to adjust well and be happy.

NOTE: It did help that the Baptist Campus Ministries table in the lobby has Ultimate Frisbee three nights a week and they have an intramural basketball team. Austin was thrilled about that, too.

Weekend Happenings

I'll be keeping up with Mikie and Austin on their excellent adventure. Roxie is having friends over Saturday. Sunday we'll visit grandparents and great-grandparents. Low-key, but fun. We'll probably have a mini-Faulkner Family Movie Night Sunday night and stay up late. We'll just have to see what comes up! I'm getting more and more spontaneous in my old age... Have you noticed?

Book

I haven't read these yet... I'm going to the bookstore to buy them TODAY. Let me know if you've read anything helpful regarding the Empty Nest subject. The subject is hitting me right in the face this week.

1. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters: 101 Stories About Surviving and Thriving When the Kids Leave Home by Jack Canfield, etc.

2. When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parent's Survival Guide by Carol Barkin.

3. You Can Be the Happy Mom of an Empty Nest by Darlen Cooper.

Have a fantastic Friday and weekend. Let me know if you do anything different with your family you would like to share. My blog is always open to ideas!

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.