IT'S OFFICIAL! OFF TO COLLEGE!!!
John and I drove my oldest daughter to college on Friday! We got off to a rocky start when little sister had a meltdown saying bye to big sister. She got in the car and said - "ugh, it was going great until Andrea started! sniff, sniff," Judith and Alison had a quick hug and kiss and we were off! It was a pretty uneventful ride, as Judith slept for over an hour. She was very nervous, especially when it started pouring. We brought John's truck and the back was loaded with cardboard boxes. Electronics, etc. were in the back seat with Judith, so all was well. We registered - had to check in with health services and we passed right through. We arrived at the dorm in a downpour! Fortunately, there were upper classmen and women who unloaded for us - it was heaven. Judith's room mate is a very sweet girl - HUGE relief for Judith!! Her parents were lovely and the six of us got the room unpacked and set up. The men worked on computers, printers, and all of the electronic necessities...refrigerator...etc. We ran out for a late lunch and a quick stop at Staples - I forgot light bulbs and push pins- just a few little things like a usb adapter, etc. Our quick lunch and shopping trip were a highlight - very light, lots of laughs! The three of us together is always something special. Back at the dorm John finished up with software issues and it was time for the residence hall meeting. Judith breezed in for a quick hug and kiss and she was off!!! Sweet...I thought , NO TEARS ! :) We finished up and laughed as we were leaving the room - we'll never see this room look like this again! Both mothers agreed that they don't keep a very neat room!
We headed back to Maine and were happy, tired, and relieved - it had gone so well and Judith seemed anxious to get on with her college life - very exciting!! I did have one moment when I turned to John and said, "I can't believe I left her in Massachusetts!" He agreed and we both laughed and started talking about how much fun we had in college. She is going to have the time of her life!!
Back at home we are adjusting - it does seem very quiet with only two. Alison and Andrea are getting along (so far!) and Ali has taken over Judith's job at the local pizza joint. She seems to be taking it in stride and we are in close contact with Judith. A wonderful friend and very wise soul reminded me ..things are the same, just rearranged. We will all adjust and emerge as stonger people with a stronger family bond. It all sounds pretty simple and straight forward. Isn't it amazing how the mind runs and the imagination takes over when we are presented with a new and challenging event in our lives??!! We are looking forward to family weekend at the end of September. I like that - instead of parents weekend, which it seems all of the colleges follow, it is a family weekend. Judith is blessed to be attending a wonderful school and we are looking forward with great excitement to the next four years. I am sure it will fly by ! Listening to Moms that are sending their first off to school , I am taken aback at how fast it all goes by. It seems to me Judith was just going off to school at 5 years old and we have barely blinked and she is off to college. People always used to tell me to enjoy them while they were little - it all goes by so fast. How true that is! You have to instill good values and be strong and consistent. The time does fly by and we are blessed with the most amazing young adults ever imaginable. It's a hard job being a parent but the rewards are beyond anything I could have ever imagined. To see our children blossom is the ultimate. Stand your ground and stand up for your beliefs. I am so glad I was so determined about the vaccine waivers - as another good friend told me...blaze a trail and leave a wide path for other parents to follow.
I am thrilled with the beginning of "the college experience" ...stay tuned for more.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Only 3 days 'til College!!!
Wow! It's happening so fast! My daughter leaves for college on Friday. Busy day today as we were shopping for all of the dorm room stuff...sheets, comforter, laundry bag, under the bed storage, towels, wastebasket, and the list goes on and on!
I have Mom's special stash in a pile - Sensé (self preserving formulas - zero preservatives) skin care products, as well as their bath and body - shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, firming body nourisher, and toothpaste (no fluoride). Also in this pile are her nutritional supplements- Usana Healthpak 100, which includes a daily pillowpack of vitamins - one morning and the other evening.
I figure she'll rip open a vitamin packet but she would never open several bottles. The Healthpak conveniently contains the Essentials (mega antioxidant and chelated minerals), calcium, proflavanol 90, and an antioxidant booster... for a busy college student this is a comprehensive nutritional program. The Healthpak was designed to provide an optimal balance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, as well as to help maintain healthy eyes, healthy bones, and joints, healthy lungs, and a healthy heart. I will also send her off with Biomega-3 which is the cold water fish oil rich in the important omega-3 fatty acids. That will keep her in tip top shape ! She's a pretty health conscious eater but we all know college students don't always make the best nutritional choices.
Laundry and cleaning products are from Biokleen - Laundry powder, chlorine free and color safe oxygen bleach plus, and Bac-out, my favorite stain and odor eliminator. It is vitally important to reduce the toxic load whenever possible, so I will stock her up with all of the best and safest products from my NEDlife inventory !
Now, here comes the shocking news of the day for me. I got a call from the pediatrician wanting to know if I needed information about the Hep B vaccine for her going off to college ?? I told him we had decided against the vaccine and she had sent a letter to the college saying that she wasn't going to receive it. He said he was aware of that and he had received a letter from the college wanting to know from him if there was a medical reason. He said he couldn't give them one and asked that I contact them. UUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called my friend and chiropractor because he has several great books on why we shouldn't vaccinate and how to get around the "required" vaccinations. He's doing some research tonight and I will talk with him tomorrow. Very frustrating! I thought the whole vaccine thing was behind us!! I'll keep you posted on this!
My daughter is excited about going off to college but today was a little weepy about going away. She came over and we had a snuggle and I told her that yes, it is scary to be going away to school but it is such an exciting time and the beginning of a new phase for her. We talked about family weekend at the end of September, followed closely by Colombus day weekend - the first weekend home. I predicted that she would be having such a good time that she probably wouldn't be wanting to come home an awful lot! She has many friends in and around the greater Boston area. She will have a ball and thinking back on my college experience, I am so excited for her!! I had the time of my life in college - what a wonderful experience. I have many friends from college and we still chat constantly and get together as often as possible. We even compare notes on what our teenagers are up to - it's a riot!
My daughter says - Oh! and my mother hasn't cried yet!! I breezed through her graduation and it didn't occur to me to cry. She and her classmates were having so much fun and it was a fantastic celebration ! Several of her best friends families and myself hosted a great grad party. One highlight was a game that the kids were playing - remember beer pong is college? They were playing it with cups of water and my sister and I started laughing when we realized what they were playing. We took on the boys and beat them soundly. They were amazed and we had a good laugh!!
I'll keep you up to date on college and will definitely report back on moving in day on Friday. Thank goodness John will be with me - I'll need a shoulder to cry on. :)
For more information on the products mentioned , go to www.nedlife.com/evelynwhite
Wow! It's happening so fast! My daughter leaves for college on Friday. Busy day today as we were shopping for all of the dorm room stuff...sheets, comforter, laundry bag, under the bed storage, towels, wastebasket, and the list goes on and on!
I have Mom's special stash in a pile - Sensé (self preserving formulas - zero preservatives) skin care products, as well as their bath and body - shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, firming body nourisher, and toothpaste (no fluoride). Also in this pile are her nutritional supplements- Usana Healthpak 100, which includes a daily pillowpack of vitamins - one morning and the other evening.
I figure she'll rip open a vitamin packet but she would never open several bottles. The Healthpak conveniently contains the Essentials (mega antioxidant and chelated minerals), calcium, proflavanol 90, and an antioxidant booster... for a busy college student this is a comprehensive nutritional program. The Healthpak was designed to provide an optimal balance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, as well as to help maintain healthy eyes, healthy bones, and joints, healthy lungs, and a healthy heart. I will also send her off with Biomega-3 which is the cold water fish oil rich in the important omega-3 fatty acids. That will keep her in tip top shape ! She's a pretty health conscious eater but we all know college students don't always make the best nutritional choices.
Laundry and cleaning products are from Biokleen - Laundry powder, chlorine free and color safe oxygen bleach plus, and Bac-out, my favorite stain and odor eliminator. It is vitally important to reduce the toxic load whenever possible, so I will stock her up with all of the best and safest products from my NEDlife inventory !
Now, here comes the shocking news of the day for me. I got a call from the pediatrician wanting to know if I needed information about the Hep B vaccine for her going off to college ?? I told him we had decided against the vaccine and she had sent a letter to the college saying that she wasn't going to receive it. He said he was aware of that and he had received a letter from the college wanting to know from him if there was a medical reason. He said he couldn't give them one and asked that I contact them. UUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called my friend and chiropractor because he has several great books on why we shouldn't vaccinate and how to get around the "required" vaccinations. He's doing some research tonight and I will talk with him tomorrow. Very frustrating! I thought the whole vaccine thing was behind us!! I'll keep you posted on this!
My daughter is excited about going off to college but today was a little weepy about going away. She came over and we had a snuggle and I told her that yes, it is scary to be going away to school but it is such an exciting time and the beginning of a new phase for her. We talked about family weekend at the end of September, followed closely by Colombus day weekend - the first weekend home. I predicted that she would be having such a good time that she probably wouldn't be wanting to come home an awful lot! She has many friends in and around the greater Boston area. She will have a ball and thinking back on my college experience, I am so excited for her!! I had the time of my life in college - what a wonderful experience. I have many friends from college and we still chat constantly and get together as often as possible. We even compare notes on what our teenagers are up to - it's a riot!
My daughter says - Oh! and my mother hasn't cried yet!! I breezed through her graduation and it didn't occur to me to cry. She and her classmates were having so much fun and it was a fantastic celebration ! Several of her best friends families and myself hosted a great grad party. One highlight was a game that the kids were playing - remember beer pong is college? They were playing it with cups of water and my sister and I started laughing when we realized what they were playing. We took on the boys and beat them soundly. They were amazed and we had a good laugh!!
I'll keep you up to date on college and will definitely report back on moving in day on Friday. Thank goodness John will be with me - I'll need a shoulder to cry on. :)
For more information on the products mentioned , go to www.nedlife.com/evelynwhite
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
I can't believe my oldest is off to college at the end of this month! It seems as though I have just blinked and she's gone from a beautiful newborn to a beautiful eighteen year old!
She's off to college in MA. and here is the scoop on the "Important Health Information" packet that is required by the school. As you probably know form reading the blogs of other NEDlife coaches, the vaccination debate continues. MA colleges "require" the meningitis and the HepB vaccine. There is a waiver in the packet for meningistis because there is currently a huge shortage of the vaccine. I haven't sent in my packet as my daughter just had her physical last week. I received a 4 page letter from the college pointing out that they had not received her health information and the importance (2 full pages) of the meningitis vaccine. I noticed that there was not a waiver for the Hep B vaccine, so I called the school. Wow, did that phone call take on a chilly tone! After being told that she could die if she contracted HepB I reminded the nice lady that she is neither a prostitute or an IV drug user and I didn't see contracting HepB as very likely. She is required to write a letter and explain why she won't be vaccinated.
I have read research on this HepB vaccine and there are far too many cases of permanent neurological damage as a result. The same goes for meningitis...we were on a head coach conference call last week and one of the effects of the vaccine was a near death experience with regressive autism as a result. The girl that received the vaccine as she was going to college was a fun and athletic student and sounded exactly like my daughter- what a tragic result! She is recovering and cod liver oil is one of the main reasons. (Cod liver oil is available through NEDlife at www.nedlife.com/evelynwhite) My heart skipped a beat when I heard that! Please realize that I am not suggesting that you don't vaccinate - it is a personal decision for everyone. I encourage you to do the research and make your own decision! As for me, I am comfortable and confident with my decison and look forward to seeing my daughter go to college and have the time of her life! I am sure I'l be blogging about the college experience...stay tuned. :)
She's off to college in MA. and here is the scoop on the "Important Health Information" packet that is required by the school. As you probably know form reading the blogs of other NEDlife coaches, the vaccination debate continues. MA colleges "require" the meningitis and the HepB vaccine. There is a waiver in the packet for meningistis because there is currently a huge shortage of the vaccine. I haven't sent in my packet as my daughter just had her physical last week. I received a 4 page letter from the college pointing out that they had not received her health information and the importance (2 full pages) of the meningitis vaccine. I noticed that there was not a waiver for the Hep B vaccine, so I called the school. Wow, did that phone call take on a chilly tone! After being told that she could die if she contracted HepB I reminded the nice lady that she is neither a prostitute or an IV drug user and I didn't see contracting HepB as very likely. She is required to write a letter and explain why she won't be vaccinated.
I have read research on this HepB vaccine and there are far too many cases of permanent neurological damage as a result. The same goes for meningitis...we were on a head coach conference call last week and one of the effects of the vaccine was a near death experience with regressive autism as a result. The girl that received the vaccine as she was going to college was a fun and athletic student and sounded exactly like my daughter- what a tragic result! She is recovering and cod liver oil is one of the main reasons. (Cod liver oil is available through NEDlife at www.nedlife.com/evelynwhite) My heart skipped a beat when I heard that! Please realize that I am not suggesting that you don't vaccinate - it is a personal decision for everyone. I encourage you to do the research and make your own decision! As for me, I am comfortable and confident with my decison and look forward to seeing my daughter go to college and have the time of her life! I am sure I'l be blogging about the college experience...stay tuned. :)
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