For all the Grandmas out there!!

[sanra]

Originally Posted by Vallie

Poor little thing does sound like she is suffering from anxiety at the moment. Maybe when she settles into high school and gets involved with things there she will feel less anxious. I was always the anxious one who hid all the time when I was growing up. My twin was louder than me! And now I am her supervisor at work!

And look at you now..

Talking about twins reminded me of something which happened to one of DGD's room mates this year.

This year DGD and her two room mates were on the same college track team. As the college is close they would come over for dinner, wash clothes and study. Alley never ate much and DH and I talked about it. Alley is a twin and her sister is more outgoing than Alley, with a lot more accomplishments. She had talked about her sister and feeling she needed to compete with her. Track was Alley's thing and she was good. I don't know where her sister went to college but I don't think she was in track.

Come to find out anytime Alley ate she had to run or exercise until she felt she had burned off the calories. She has anorexia which seems to be somewhat common in women sports. I understand she had been doing it in high school, without her parents being aware of it, and it got worse in college.. Her parents live in another state and she couldn't go home often.

DGD and her other roommate mentioned a concern to the coach. He had been suspecting it and was keeping an eye on her. Along with Alleys parents they did an intervention. She left immediately to a rehab center in AZ and had no contact with others for a period of time. This was around Thanksgiving and last I heard she is doing well. She will not be coming back to college as she will need continued counseling. She is planning to attend college closer to home.

I am glad I am not a kid growing up right now.. Been there, done that! I made a lot of mistakes growing up but did get all grown up.

[sands_healy]

Originally Posted by Rosie G

I was telling Avery about the braids you were trying to do. She said you just need to send for her. She loves doing hair and make up.

That would be sooooo much easier.... if she pays for her flight I will give her room and board

[Vallie]

Originally Posted by sands_healy

Group activities he does really well in, especially when he's required to help fellow members. He loves sharing his knowledge and helping them understand. In sports he's a team player as well, but if he gets annoyed he walks off, calms down then rejoins.

He sounds like he has some great qualities. He is only young yet and with maturity he will handle situations better.

[Vallie]

Originally Posted by AliceMattison

Improving everyday! It's amazing how much better I feel just being at home...slept better last night, etc. Will be really glad when I can get rid of the drains and can take a shower!

I only had one drain, have you got a couple? My drain was water proof so I could have a shower with it in. It was fun getting it out. The nurse (a young good looking guy!) said take a deep breath and hold it while I pull.... and out it came! No worries! I was amazed how long the tube was.

[Vallie]

Originally Posted by LauraLou

My mother braided my hair in French braids every morning for 4 or 5 years. She used a greenish gel in a bottle with a wide opening the comb went right in. It isn't in the stores anymore (not a surprise) but I am sure there are other gels. I can feel that stuff dripping down my back as I type.

Lots of gels in the shops, I think the boys use it more than the girls!

[Vallie]

Originally Posted by LauraLou

Vallie, you said it so well! With my 3, the oldest, my son, was offered a full ride scholarship to little Olivette College in Michigan, where his dad went. I know strings were pulled although he had an exceptionally high ACT score. He flat out said he had to take some time to "taste life" and was tired of school. So he went to Idaho, stayed there from August to Thanksgiving, rattled around, lived in an apartment with his sisters until they moved out, and was offered the scholarship a SECOND year and turned it down again.

I agonized as I saw his future turn duller and duller but it was all his choice. Now, of course, he kicks himself. I remind him that I could NOT have done anything to make him accept the scholarship. He doesn't blame me and for that I am thankful, but it pains me that he has never come close to his potential. He is 46 and his time has passed.

Both of his sisters have Masters degrees and are well employed.

I know what he means but it is easy to kick yourself now for things not done in the past and opportunities lost. I do it all the time but I know that when I was younger that is not what I wanted. There is always the hindsight view of what you should have done verses what you did do. But that was a different time and youth with all its distractions gets in the way . Probably if he could go back to being 18 he would still go off and have a good time!

[Vallie]

Originally Posted by sanra

And look at you now..

Talking about twins reminded me of something which happened to one of DGD's room mates this year.

This year DGD and her two room mates were on the same college track team. As the college is close they would come over for dinner, wash clothes and study. Alley never ate much and DH and I talked about it. Alley is a twin and her sister is more outgoing than Alley, with a lot more accomplishments. She had talked about her sister and feeling she needed to compete with her. Track was Alley's thing and she was good. I don't know where her sister went to college but I don't think she was in track.

Come to find out anytime Alley ate she had to run or exercise until she felt she had burned off the calories. She has anorexia which seems to be somewhat common in women sports. I understand she had been doing it in high school, without her parents being aware of it, and it got worse in college.. Her parents live in another state and she couldn't go home often.

DGD and her other roommate mentioned a concern to the coach. He had been suspecting it and was keeping an eye on her. Along with Alleys parents they did an intervention. She left immediately to a rehab center in AZ and had no contact with others for a period of time. This was around Thanksgiving and last I heard she is doing well. She will not be coming back to college as she will need continued counseling. She is planning to attend college closer to home.

I am glad I am not a kid growing up right now.. Been there, done that! I made a lot of mistakes growing up but did get all grown up.

She is lucky that someone was watching out for her. It must be doubly hard when you have to go away from your family for school opportunities. Glad she is doing well now.

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by jennilynn10

A second Christmas page from me (can you tell I can't sleep tonight )


Santa's Helpers 2012 page 2

Well, if this is the use you make of insomnia, I guess you've found your silver lining to the cloud of your current hardships

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by sands_healy

I did it to her friends hair this morning, which was much shorter. It looked better, so with practice I'm sure it will eventually look amazing. DD wants to wear the style to school tomorrow so I've told her to wash her hair in the morning so that I can do it while it's wet. Will let you know how it goes

Are you familiar with detangling solution, Sands? It's a spray in product I use after washing and sometimes even on dry hair to help ease out tangles. It might make the process a little easier. . . but since I am the last person on earth anyone should be asking for styling advice, take it with a grain of salt!

[jennilynn10]

Originally Posted by Raphne

Well, if this is the use you make of insomnia, I guess you've found your silver lining to the cloud of your current hardships

Exactly!!!

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by AliceMattison

Improving everyday! It's amazing how much better I feel just being at home...slept better last night, etc. Will be really glad when I can get rid of the drains and can take a shower!

There is only one good thing about spending the night in the hospital: warm blankets. I don't know what it is, but those blankets fresh out of the "blanket oven" tucked around you in crisp sheets, smelling so clean. . . its the only pleasurable part!

Although. . . having someone just bring you food, and pick up after you, is kinda nice, too

I always think the worst thing is the hospital pillows. I have yet to find a comfortable hospital pillow.

Originally Posted by sands_healy

I know I would want to be at home all the time in your situation. Nothing like your own bed.

Originally Posted by AliceMattison

Thank you, LL. I will be glad when we get the path results...knowing what you're dealing with is easier than not knowing.

Agreed! Knowing what battle you need to prepare for makes it less intimidating, somehow

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by LauraLou

Vallie, you said it so well! With my 3, the oldest, my son, was offered a full ride scholarship to little Olivette College in Michigan, where his dad went. I know strings were pulled although he had an exceptionally high ACT score. He flat out said he had to take some time to "taste life" and was tired of school. So he went to Idaho, stayed there from August to Thanksgiving, rattled around, lived in an apartment with his sisters until they moved out, and was offered the scholarship a SECOND year and turned it down again.

I agonized as I saw his future turn duller and duller but it was all his choice. Now, of course, he kicks himself. I remind him that I could NOT have done anything to make him accept the scholarship. He doesn't blame me and for that I am thankful, but it pains me that he has never come close to his potential. He is 46 and his time has passed.

Both of his sisters have Masters degrees and are well employed.

Originally Posted by PQ

Oh my.........what a story. It makes my heart ache.

Originally Posted by Vallie

I know what he means but it is easy to kick yourself now for things not done in the past and opportunities lost. I do it all the time but I know that when I was younger that is not what I wanted. There is always the hindsight view of what you should have done verses what you did do. But that was a different time and youth with all its distractions gets in the way . Probably if he could go back to being 18 he would still go off and have a good time!

Originally Posted by Fulltime RVer

We had to wait decades for our daughter to come around. She's so bright and could have done well in college and contributed to society but she decided she would rather rebel against her boring, mean parents. She paid a heavy price for that for a long time and it seems like much of her life has been wasted (mine, too, with the many hours I was either furious with or worried about her) but she's got it pretty together now and I am thankful for that. Things could have turned out so much worse.

I think that the really bright kids have a harder than average path sometimes. . . not sure why that is, or if maybe it just seems that way because of the crush of wasted potential and lost dreams. But I think sometimes they struggle more to "find themselves" Or maybe it's just that they don't have to learn self discipline early, because so many things come so easily for them, that when the time comes to be self-directed they flounder.

Originally Posted by LauraLou

Does any mother look back and say it was all smooth? I sure would like to hear from her.

If she does. . . well, where was that list of memory slip ups LL or Rosie posted recently?

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by Fulltime RVer

Yes, I am getting another new knee sometime the first two weeks in April. I don't have a date yet.

Thats right around the corner!

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by Fulltime RVer

That's good he can calm himself down and go back. I remember in high school I would go out to play softball after school and the first mistake I made, I'd just take off and go home. I didn't get to play much softball.

LOL well, think of it this way: that's a lot of balls that didn't hit you! Which was always my great fear playing ball: I'd be nailed with one of those rapid flying objects and loose an eye or something. . .

There is a reason I wasn't usually picked first for sports teams

[Raphne]

Originally Posted by LauraLou

Paper is not dead.

http://vimeo.com/61275290

oh my gosh that is HILARIOUS!!!!