sue, is it bad that I'd like my daughter to tell me she's feeling lonely sometime and ask me to visit pronto like your son did? It's really very sweet; be thankful. My daughter attends university 8 hours from home yet never seemed to miss home last year (freshman year) and couldn't wait to return to school a couple weeks ago. Of course I realize it's a positive thing that she loves her studies, friends, surroundings and adventures so much, but ... gosh. We do talk and text a lot, though, something I don't expect to do as much of with my son when he goes off to college in two years. I'm laughing at the comments about engineering students as my daughter attends an engineering school and is studying biomed and mechanical. Her housemates created a spreadsheet listing every item in the house along with separate shopping, utility bill and housework spreadsheets. This is something none of my friends would've ever considered preparing in college. So yes, they are indeed extremely tidy and organized, but I'm also married to an engineer and am well aware that tidiness is not a universal trait in the profession!

So happy for you judithn...took me back to when my kids were in college in our city, but living on campus. Sounds like a great conversation, and something she needed to hear, and you were able to do it in such a way that she really listened, and matured enough to apologize. You obviously have a great daughter, there, and now you have practice for when your son leaves home...heh heh!! We Moms have to support one another...our kids are in their early 40's, so a lot of this type of thing is behind us, but there are always things to work out. We do have very thoughtful children now...they just weren't so much at your daughter's age!!

I would have to get out his test reports to give all of his disabilities with the correct terms. He has fine motor skill problems which have make writing more difficult. His reading skills are much lower than normal although his comprehension is high. He has trouble with memory skills, organizational skills, attention span, you name it, he has it. He has been in what is called the "Discovery" program since 6th grade. It is run through the national institute for learning disabilities. He has had an individual learning program since 2nd grade. He has attended Discovery classes for 90 minutes, twice a week up until last year. We feel that he has been given the tools that he needs and know it is time for him to sharpen them and use them to his advantage. His discovery teacher once explained a 90 minute session for him akin to having him rum laps around the track for hours. It is physically exhausting. It is believed that the base of the brain is underdeveloped with dyslexic kids and so they focus on developing it through various mental exercises. One is called rhythmic writing which involves the student writing on a chalkboard similar shapes repeating the direction of the movements out loud. They also add verbal math problems and such. They force the students to use both sides of their brains during this exercise. It is actually quite common for dyslexic kids and kids with other learning disabilities to have higher than normal IQs. That adds to the frustration and behavioral problems because the kids have the answers in their heads but can't get them out on paper. Sometimes we test DS verbally because of his reading problems. It is quite a challenge and when this boy walks across the stage to receive his diploma I don't know that I will be able to contain myself.

Running, That is true. However, for several generations now, in our country, a university education has been linked to upward mobility ... so much so that people forget that this was not always the purpose! NYTimes did a fascinating piece on how education became synonymous with economic success over this particular point in history, ... wish I could find it (it was in the magazine several years ago). That said, most people cannot afford 50k+ per yr to study something for the sole purpose of enlightenment. I think of majors like Victorian Lit. as reserved for trust funds kids, dynastic wealth, or the fortunate few who can happily lead lives of penury for their art. Or, they are majors undertaken as undergrad by kids who go to excellent schools, and who know they can do post grad in a marketable field anywhere they'd like. But for the vast majority of students, who, on top of it, borrow to fund their studies, they need to select a major that does, indeed, give them a good ROI.