Good Evening LL'rs:

Well this day has really been something. Spent the day helping DD pack for college (we take her Thru. morning). I did get a little emotional at the food store this morning thinking about the things I didn't need to buy because she wouldn't be around. By the afternoon, I realized that she lost my Visa card I gave her the day before to make a run to Target and also lost her cell phone. We couldn't find them anywhere. I finally call my DH to tell him and then shortly after that DH finds out the card and cell phone were stolen. There were 2 $20 purchases made this morning with my Visa and a bunch of 800 calls on the cell to sex lones!! My DD was at a friend's house last night and left her purse in the car with it unlocked. She then realizes $20 is missing from her wallet and also her Ipod is missing. She remembers that there were a bunch of middle school age boys hanging around the driveway and street last night and at one point her friend asked them to leave. DD & DH just left for the police station to file a theft report and of course that is a big inconvenience to her and she has a big attitude right now. Just ask me if I'm emotional about her leaving!!! No way- for the tiny bit I felt earlier today before all this happened, has been taken away. She's always losing something. Now at least this time she didn't carelessly lose things, but was irresponsible not to have locked her car with her purse and Ipod sitting out. I'll try and keep this in perspective that it is all a learning process for her. But it's awful hard when she has a big attitude because she has to file a police report and all she can worry about is that all her favorite music that she downloaded is gone and that all her cell contacts are gone and now she can't call anyone while she is at college. Never a dull moment! And of course I'm stressing and eating salt water taffys and mini semi choc chips! So I thought I better get online and stop it before I eat the whole bag! I could just scream!!!!!

Hang in there Karen! Maybe you SHOULD scream! Go outside and yell a bit (well not now, it's too late, but scream into a pillow or something! What a day, huh!!! Sorry!!!

SCREAM Karen SCREAM!!! Let it out! This is a great time to exercise too to get that frustration out and to reap the benefits of the exercise! Feel free to vent anytime you need or want too! You know I do!!

Do SCREAM! what STRESS - terribly frustrating for you as parents to go through ordeals like this, and in particular the "attitude problem" from the youngster. Do let this experience become a positive - if you possibly can - by letting her do and be present with most, if not all of what you have to go through in order to clear up the mess she created by HER carelessness. That is the only way she will learn and benefit from this. She still won't care unless SHE has to go through all the hassle and stress that comes with such an experience. Even to the point where she has to cough up "restitution monies" unless your credit card takes care of it? She will only learn from her own pain - not from yours!

MAGreta in SC (3 grown-ups, 6 grands - been there, done that )

(((karen)))

Hi Karen,

I hope things are better now. I believe you are off to your DD school. I hope it all goes well!

Hi Karen,

I sometimes think that kids purposely (if subconsciously) do things at moments of leavetakings so that we can get through the separation without too much pain. I would MUCH rather be MAD than SAD - how about you?

A thought - in 15 years you won't have 1 emotion about the stolen stuff. You'll still experience pain at the leavetakings. Enjoy your MAD!

Mother Lynn

Lynn & Everyone:

I think you might have something there. It was tense at times yesterday too. Your right, I think it was easier for both of us to separate being a little mad than sad. We were the only parents of her roommates who didn't stay for the parent/student chapal service at 7 pm. Mainly because we live 3-1/2 hours away and needed to get home to our 13 year old DD who was home by herself yesterday. That had to be hard for my DD but she simply asked one of her roommates parents if they would adopt her for the service! So I felt a little better about not staying for that. It feels weird that she isn't here. BTW she found an older cell phone a few days ago that she lost months ago, so we activated that one - so at least we can be in touch a little easier now. Well, I'm off the send her a package of some things she forgot!

Thanks for your support.

Wow Karen - I am not looking forward to my 1yr old baby girl rushing off to college - but sometimes I think the time with DH will be bliss. Now your 13 yr old DD will have lots of mommy - daughter time. Thats what happened to my mom and younger sis when I left.