jeannespines, our Illini aren't doing so well this year either, won the game against NU on Wednesday nite, then blew a good game today against Gonzaga, it was really close at the end!! We have some really talented players but someone needs to light a fire under them most nites! Frustrating!! cheekybones, we will cheer for most teams in the Big Ten, if they make the playoffs! Loved seeing Michigan State win it all last year! They deserved it, very talented team & great coach! dreamgoddess, I'll bet you could find a way to do a football table for your hubby, you are so talented with tablescapes! Dream, I will probably use white dishes, and I have clear blue ones I can top them with.

Sue, Your response reminded me more of myself! I was constantly at odds with my parents - they thought I spent way too much time in front of the mirror working on my hair and only wanted to be with my friends. (Hey this was 1979, remember Farrah hair). I'll never forget the day they took me to college. My younger brother had a peewee football game and we couldn't leave until it was over. I was so pissed because I wasn't going to get there till very late afternoon - well after everyone else had moved into the dorm and I was furious that my parents just couldn't see how important this was to me - who cares about DB's football game? Geez! By the time we got there and they unpacked me, we weren't even speaking. It didn't help that all my roommates were sitting around smoking cigarettes and I hadn't told my parents I had signed up for the smoking dorm. I thought I would be insured of rooming with some cool girls if they smoked!! (remember this was 1979, and yes, they were right in my mind it was all about me, but my roomies were very cool and we had lots of fun :-) Long story short, our relationship improved dramatically with a little distance and me having a little more control over my life. So, look upon your kids' attitudes as their excitement of getting out on their own, not that they don't love or appreciate you. My senior is really looking forward to going off to college, and quite honestly, while I'll miss him, I'm looking forward to it too! My laundry, mess, crap laying around etc. went down dramatically with the exit of DS1, I'm almost giddy at only having to cleanup after one remaining DS once DS2 goes off to school. Of course, I have to admit, my kids don't go far to school - they live on campus but it's at Ohio State which is in Columbus - 5 miles from where we live. So while they're out of my hair, they still stop by or come home frequently. So I guess that's why I'm not too sad to have one gone and one out the door - they're just across town! :-)

oh, Kathleen, it might be better than you imagine. I think they last about 1 1/2 hours. Depends on time outs etc. Years ago I didn't give a hoot about sports. Finally was compelled to go because youngest is an all sports kid. She plays in school and took me to college games too. I prefer college game over high school. Not as rough, they seem to play cleaner, while jr High and high school is soooo rough! DD played an advanced team last summer and I got to know the rules and the plays so much better which helped me to enjoy what I was seeing. It's as though all of us parents watched for the great plays and lousy calls. I didn't holler in disgust but some parents where pretty good at it! lol! I was good at cheering them on, our girls actually asked us to be louder so they could hear us as they ran. Guess I'm saying, the more you understand what's happening the better the game! Hope you do have fun even if it's just watching the girls enjoy it. :) Their time here is half over by now I'm guessing. What have you gotten from this experience?

So great to read everyone's experiences. Mine were much the same-- however, I went to Wilson College, a small women's college in south central PA so we didn't have the advantages of the schools in the big cities-- or those in Western MA/Boston where the environment of academic excellence is unmatched (IMO). Like Sue, I didn't set out to go to a women's college. If I had, I'd probably have selected one that was in a different region and a little more focused on science/math-- however, I have NO complaints. Because women's colleges are so focused on providing opportunities to women, I had many advantages such as being able to work with my professors to design my own major, run my own lab/studies and build the kind of curriculum and experience that prepared me for graduate studies-- and, in fact, helped me to receive a full scholarship in a highly competitive PhD program. When I started college, I was pretty confident and was quite comfortable (and quick) to speak my mind. What I lacked was the maturity and compassion to use my "voice" effectively. Through the many leadership opportunities and guidance of my peers and mentors, I learned how to use my voice to not just speak out -- but to speak out in a way to educate, influence and lead others. I learned to not just identify problems but to provide solutions-- because I was a part of the solutions. These skills have been invaluable not just in my careers but in my personal relationships. I've had the opportunity to get back in touch with some of the students and professors recently as we rally to support the college, students and alumnae in facing the possibility of going coed. It has been a great reminder of what a great group of women we were... and are. We're professionals, business owners, teachers, lawyers, doctors. We're community leaders, mothers, activists, scientists and artists. We're passionate and wise and we know how to get things done. When I was first contacted about the possibility of the college going coed, I had to ask myself if attending a women's college had benefited me. I've been in male-dominated fields my entire life-- through two different career paths. Had my women's college education prepared me for that work? I wasn't sure.. until I started reconnecting with my old classmates. We are all different and have gone down very different paths-- but there's just something different about this group. I've struggled to identify it and name it (which is why I haven't posted here for a few days). These women have such a strong sense of themselves and the worlds around them -- and hokey as it sounds, they are generously and passionately committed to sharing their experiences and giving back to other women. It's been humbling.. and inspiring. And that's the other thing I gained from going to a women's college-- a great appreciation and admiration for other women. I think it's made me a better friend, sister, daughter and manager. Thanks again sharing your thoughts and experiences! I've enjoyed them all.. and best wishes to all those with daughters and loved ones heading off to school!