The first "Visit"---

So, the oldest boy and I visited OSU today, dragging The Mimmy along. Oh, wait, a little background history.

I am 37, my sons are 14 & 17. So i will be sending the oldest off to college September 2009. yeah!! Hopefully he will make it then, if I don't kill him and hide the body before then. No really......I'm VERY proud of him, even though he is one of the most egotistical 17 year old kids I know. So, for the past 2 months we have been gearing up for college visits, testing, applications, figuring out how to pay for it, yadda yadda yadda. .
The Boy has been playing band since the violin in 4th grade, then he moved onto a raggedy old trombone that I played all through high school. I must say, he has DEFINITELY made his mama proud. He has a pure talent. A natural ear. He is a zillion times better than I ever was, and I'm glad for that. And, to make me even prouder, 3 years ago he decided that music was what he wanted to do with his life. Last year, music education was the ultimate decision and he has kept with that decision. THAT I am truly proud of.
Aside from the raggedy old trombone holding him back, he still has grown and developed to become a wonderful musician with tons of potential. Im excited about that.
Moving forward........his college choices have varied, but from the getgo I have told him that I would die a VERY happy mother if he were to march Script Ohio. THE Ohio State University. One of the most competitive marching bands to get into, ESPECIALLY as a freshman. Albeit a very good school of music. Originally his first choice of colleges was OU, but due to what I remembered OU to be, I nixed that idea immediately. I have since learned TONS about the school, and THAt is my first choice of where I want my money AND my son to go. Not to mention, the high school band visited for Band day to march with the OU 110, and boy!!! That band kicks some butt!! He would have so much fun, and the opportunity for The Boy as a freshman is so much greater at OU, that OU has become my first choice for schools for him---for MANY reasons. Education, opportunity, gets him out of my house and on campus, responsibility for him to mature more living farther from home, yadda yadda yadda.

After the marching bands day at OU, he wanted to go there, too. So we were on the same page! Yeah for us!! I started seriously checking into everything about the school. I even bought school apparel! I thought (was hoping) that we were set. Little did I know.......

We needed to schedule actual campus visits. We scheduled 3 visits so far. OSU, Miami University and OU. OSU was yesterday. Yeah for me. (sarcasm) I LOVE the marching band and the football team----hate the campus and the crime , the competitiveness, the fact that he wants to live on campus 15 minutes from home and how much that will cost me-----and the list goes on. So, what does he decide?? That OSU has moved to the top of his list, and he apparently doesn't care if he marches his first year. The "tour ambassador" made OSU seem like heaven. Keep in mind, we were the ONLY local family out of about 25 kids. The tour guide didn't discuss the crime rate down on campus, the parties that happen on campus during game days, etc. All of the things us local to Columbus know about from the news. The things that parents would want to know.

We argued all the way home. The Boy says it is his choice. He is correct. But I have FULLY supported him for 9 years to get him to this point. I have missed work to support his band activities because he wanted me there. I have cheered him on during competitions, and sat through losing football games to watch a band show. For crying outloud--I bought him an expensive professional level trombone so he would be a better player. (Expensive as in thousands of dollars) LOL

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Band Mom. Through and through. I believe that I go to a Band Show and a football game breaks out. But I am completely heartbroken. I do NOT think OSU is a good fit for many VERY valid reasons. I don't think he will have the same quality of opportunities there, as OU. And he just doesn't see that.

I cried over this last night. I feel cheated. If he goes to OSU I won't be able to attend games to continue to follow his band functions and support him like I have been. Am I supposed to stop when he goes off to college??