my brain is melting this semester

[cookderosa]

Ok, this is a vent, not a question- but my brain is melting this semester!!!

Son #1 re-enrolling in college but moving 1 hour away to do so. Trying to help him arrange housing through AirBnB a job transfer, moving trucks, FAFSA, and scholarships all the while figuring out how to squeak another $500/month out of my budget to help him.

Son #2 is finishing an AS and high school diploma (god willing) but also starting an AAS in August and new internship in January- so FAFSA -letters of rec-transcripts from every school and homeschool-and scholarship applications and more letters. Oh, and clothes for his internships lol!!?!

Son #3 just finished his BOG AAS but we are trying to get the rest of his BS done before summer- which means applications, classes, and costs from 4 different places. No FAFSA for him, but applying feverishly for scholarships and trying to figure out if his advisor has everything where it goes.

Son #4 is in 8th grade, and I'm (just) homeschooling him, but that takes my entire morning/afternoon and we just found out he is eligible to start dual enrollment next year so testing and transcripts and and and and...... oh, and he'll need a ride.

I'm seriously losing it.

[MNomadic]

4 sons!!!?!

My oh my! I don't know if I could deal with 1 teenage version of me, much less 4! Props to you for doing what you do AND contributing here and your blog!

[bjcheung77]

I am going to go through that in a decade... don't tell all... we just know or want to know,, how can we handle them better now going forward so it'll. e easier for both baby and parent... did I just say baby... I meant... teen... yea

[jsd]

I am going to go through that in a decade...  don't tell all... we just know or want to know,, how can we handle them better now going forward so it'll. e easier for both baby and parent... did I just say baby... I meant... teen... yea

Uh, are you ok?


In response to what BJ was maybe trying to say before autocorrect AI robots overtook him... I have a 5yo son and a 2yo daughter... We're over a decade off from where Jennifer is. And yet I can't imagine the brain meltdown I'm looking at in 10yrs... Even though I'll be looking at HALF the frustration you are, Jennifer! (wife and I are officially done at 2!).

[Merlin]

[...]
I have a 5yo son and a 2yo daughter... We're over a decade off from where Jennifer is. And yet I can't imagine the brain meltdown I'm looking at in 10yrs... Even though I'll be looking at HALF the frustration you are, Jennifer! (wife and I are officially done at 2!).

My daughter is about to turn 3 in just over a week. We only have the one, and she's already incredibly independent and willful. She's a handful for us, though that may be because we're older parents. We have no plans for any more children. I can't imagine having to deal with 4 kids, though sons may be easier? I don't know.

I can't imagine how things will be when she's ready to hit college, though by that time I'm sure things will be very different education-wise. Hopefully, online education will be the norm rather than the exception as it is today.

Either way, I'm sure it will get easier, Jennifer. Hang in there!

[davewill]

Boy, am I glad to finally be drawing that phase to a close! Son #1 (30) is leaving home for the second time to take a job across the country. The twins (24) have both finished their undergrad and are working for a year before finishing their respective educations... But that's not Mommy and Daddy's worry.

[dfrecore]

I don't even know how to comprehend all of that! It's hard enough shepherding my 2 through high school!!!

Didn't you move to NC for your husband to take a job at a college, so that your kids could get free tuition? And NONE of them are using that benefit? I could be wrong...

[Murdockb]

You can do this, Jennifer. Drink more coffee, let the housework pile up, and break out the frozen pizzas (unless that offends your culinary sensibilities). It's a season. It will pass. And when you come out on the other side, you will have so much more valuable information to share with the rest of us.  

[magflo]

Your brain is not melting, it is stretching and growing! You got this.

[cookderosa]

I don't even know how to comprehend all of that! It's hard enough shepherding my 2 through high school!!!

Didn't you move to NC for your husband to take a job at a college, so that your kids could get free tuition? And NONE of them are using that benefit? I could be wrong...

HA HA, yes.

We did take this job for free tuition (having 4 kids, that was a HUGE deal), but that was in 2012, so my kids were pretty young and hadn't picked career choices at that time. (ages 7, 11, 13, 17 when we moved) so we didn't lock them into attending Johnson & Wales, but it was an option, so I could check that box in my brain that they had (still have) free tuition at that university if they want.
My son who is 20 will graduate from COSC this year, and he had over 70 credits when he graduated high school from ACE and dual enrollment- unfortunately, Johnson & Wales wouldn't have accepted any (!) of those, so his "free" business degree would have meant starting from square 1. Something he had zero interest in doing (I feel the same, what a waste of time). My other 3 pursuing careers that aren't offered at that school - except for my #3 son could get his master's from there, however, I'm hoping he'll do the Georgia Tech program instead. Anyway, yeah- so it's available, but it's not a good choice.