Throwback to April 27, 2013.

1. No more writing tuition checks.

2. We can remove him from the auto insurance policy.

3. Maybe he will take some of my old furniture away when he moves.

4. Maybe he will take some of my ever-growing collection of artwork by College Girl to decorate his new place.

5. Yet another excuse to visit IKEA.

Throwback to April 12, 2014.

1. Vacuum your car! Your date does not want to sit in that mess!

2. Do you know where to put your hands when you dance?

3. Wrist corsages are the best idea ever, because I have seen how guys’ hands tremble when they try to pin flowers to your dress.

4. Don’t forget to tip your server at the restaurant. Eighteen percent would be nice.

5. Remember the line about “leaving room for the Holy Spirit?” Yeah. Do that.

6. Make sure you say hello to her parents. Make eye contact. You may want to throw in the fact that you’re an Eagle Scout.

7. Yes, she’s very tall, but she is probably wearing flats. Get over it.

8. You are so lucky that that gorgeous girl agreed to go with you.

9. Drive carefully.

10. Say a prayer that you and all your friends stay safe tonight.

Throwback to April 11, 2016

1. When he asked me to stop talking about our children, I stopped talking about our children. Until the next day.

2. For every visit I planned to a botanical garden or a historic home or an art gallery, I included a visit to a car or plane or train museum.

3. I tried to be interested at every car or plane or train museum, I really did.

4. We toured a brewery.

5. I chose bed and breakfast inns in a variety of styles (such as Victorian and Craftsman and beach house) to spare Husband from a lace-and-doiley overload.

6. I assured Husband that even though the B and B decors inspired me, I would not be re-modeling our home. Or at least not until the kids were done with college.

7. We took turns choosing our shared appetizers and desserts.

8. We took turns being the designated driver.

9. Better still–a few times I selected B and Bs close to downtown, so that we could walk to supper and not worry about the driving.

10. When the tipsy yet sweet retired couple sitting next to us at the bar started slow dancing and playing kissy-face right in front of us, I controlled my impulse to nudge Husband in the ribs and say something like, “See that? That had better be us in 15 years!”

Throwback to March 30, 2013

1. Youngest Child is on a cruise to the Bahamas with the band peeps (all puns intended), so the nest is empty.

2. The interval between last-snow-of-the-season and Easter is too short, so I am not in the cotton(tail)-picking mood.

3. Since the only way we will see College Kids is to actually go to Richmond, we are going out to eat Greek food on Easter Sunday with aforementioned College Kids and a few chicks they have befriended.

4. I believe in adding egg-citement to our lives by varying routines and basking in the unexpected pleasures.

Happy Easter to all!

Throwback to April 4-6, 2012

1. Teenagers love rats who play basketball.

2. The family has, through the years, purchased half of the “science” toys that every museum gift shop sells.

3. Regardless of #2, teenagers still must visit gift shop to buy a gizmo not yet owned by family.

4. Six dollars’ worth of popcorn is barely enough for a teenage boy.

5. Six dollars worth of popcorn does not last through the entirety of an IMAX movie.

6. Son knows way more about physics than I ever did.

Throwback to April 18, 2014

1. Did you get highlights in your hair?

2. Is it true that Obama and his wife are getting a divorce?

3. Isn’t your son going out with *********?

4. Would Jay-Z make a good President?

5. Why wouldn’t Jay-Z make a good President?

6. Why would people not think that Jay-Z would make a good President?

7. Do you think that Jay-Z would make a good President?

8. Wait, Episcopalians are Christians?

Throwback to April 24, 2014

1. Visit art museums.

2. Ride the subway.

3. Order wine with lunch.

4. Order a cocktail with dinner.

5. Walk through Times Square at midnight.

6. Watch over only one young person.

7. Cuss.

8. Take photos of my offspring.

Throwback to April 9, 2015

DIFFERENT:

1. Grad School Man and College Girl could not join us.

2. We did not have to rent a mini-van, only a sedan.

3. No one needs supervision in the hotel pools.

4. No stuffed animals accompany us.

5. We look at the books in the gift shops and not at the stuffed animals.

6. We can eat at restaurants that do not have a kiddie menu.

7. No one needs help with putting on hiking boots.

8. No one is whining about putting on sunscreen.

SAME:

1. I keep yelling, “Drink more water!”

2. I keep yelling, “Don’t stand so close to the edge!”

3. I keep yelling, “Don’t climb so high!”

Throwback to April 21, 2015

1. The school is up and coming in rank and reputation.

2. Only 5,000 students.

3. Mom and Dad will pay in-state tuition and loans will not be necessary.

4. $1 billion in capital improvements and new construction in the past 18 years, so everything is fresh and glossy.

5. Due to proximity to rivers, the bay, and the ocean, research opportunities in environmental science and conservation are available.

6. The campus is considered “suburban” with bigger cities nearby.

7. Big sister– and her car– are just an hour away.

8. Mom and Dad are at least 2 hours and 15 minutes away and maybe even more because of traffic.

9. He can join the Marching Band, which will be participating in the next St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland.

10. Mom and Dad will likely pay for this trip to Dublin.

11. He can join one of the choirs, which perform in venues in Europe.

12. Mom and Dad will likely pay for this trip to Europe.

13. Small class sizes.

14. Residence halls (you know, the places we called “dorms”) are ridiculously luxurious.

15. There are several a capella groups on campus, so surely one will have an opening.

16. A beach is 30-45 minutes away.

17. The girls are very pretty.

18. Since so many things at CNU have a nautical theme (“The Captains”), it will be acceptable to talk like a pirate. Arrr.