{"id":66,"date":"2010-04-09T18:24:47","date_gmt":"2010-04-09T18:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hub-dev.bates.edu\/magazine\/?page_id=66"},"modified":"2017-09-06T11:38:43","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T15:38:43","slug":"connections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/magazine\/back-issues\/y2008\/fall08\/departments\/connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Connections"},"content":{"rendered":"

YOU’RE HAPPY, I’M HAPPY \u2014 Good feelings abound during Parents & Family Weekend<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parents & Families Weekend Slideshow<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

As far as landmark Bates weekends go, the Parents & Family Weekend vibe is distinct, differing quite a bit from, say, Reunion\u2019s happy feel. During the latter event, alumni tap into deep reservoirs of shared memories to fuel their camaraderie. But at a parents weekend, the goodwill seems freshly discovered.<\/p>\n

Ira Waldman \u201973 and Laurie Waldman of Playa del Rey, Calif., have sent both of their children to Bates \u2014 Shayna graduated in the spring, while Ethan is a sophomore. Besides five consecutive parents weekends, Ira has experienced countless alumni gatherings. A Los Angeles attorney, he\u2019s happily rabid about Bates. “Ira can sell Bates to anyone,” says his assistant. “I would be very<\/em> curious about the school if I listened to Ira.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At top, parents Susan and John Wilson share a laugh with daughter Keller \u201912 (right) of Darien, Conn., during the first-year seminar “Ancient Myths, Modern Movies,” taught by Associate Professor of Classical and Medieval Studies Lisa Maurizio. Photograph by Phyllis Graber Jensen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bates parents are happy when they visit their Bates children, Waldman says, for the same reason that a baby\u2019s first smile electrifies mom and dad. “Parents get here, especially for the first time, and find how much their child loves the school,” he says. “That makes them incredibly happy and proud.”<\/p>\n

Sherry Eldredge, mother of football captain Coleman Peeke \u201909, appears on this page cheering \u2014\u00a0really<\/em> cheering \u2014 for her son during the game against Williams. She phrases Waldman\u2019s parenting truism this way: “You\u2019re only as happy as your saddest child.”<\/p>\n

Bates parents are happy when they visit their Bates children, Waldman says, for the same reason that a baby\u2019s first smile electrifies mom and dad<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sherry Eldredge P\u201909 cheers on the football team, captained by her son Coleman Peeke. Photograph by Louisa Demmitt ’09.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a conversation, Eldredge is quick to apologize if she\u2019s ever “horrified” anyone with her cheering. “Then again, I graduated from Alabama when Bear Bryant was there,” she laughs. “I understand the fan thing.” Still, she says, “I tell myself to sit on the sidelines. But it kills me. I have to cheer. I watch them, all the boys, work so hard. They don\u2019t win much, but they do not give up.”<\/p>\n

Waldman is asked if the parents weekend routine has gotten stale. “No, because there are always surprises,” he says. “Ethan told me he was trying out for the Crosstones, and I told him he\u2019s a singer like Bob Dylan is a singer. Then he says, \u2018I made it.\u2019 There he was this year, performing and doing a solo. And he was good. That\u2019s just…wow.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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