I have been a school counselor for 19 years, and it was finally time for a senior in my own house to graduate! Now I can call my self an expert counselor because I have experienced everything I have been advising parents on, right? By no means an expert, navigating senior year with my daughter was somewhat of a breeze since I knew the ins and outs of college admissions, financial aid, and ACT/SAT stuff.
I am sitting here in the middle of summer, getting ready to take Julia to college in about 4 weeks. I am already thinking ahead about how quiet the house will be; how much I will miss her, and hoping and praying she succeeds in college. It is time for me to let her fly. I have no intention of being a helicopter parent, as much as I wish I could fly a drone over her campus to see what she is doing every day.
I know that I will see her often. Well at least for her first year. College has fewer weeks per semester than high school. I am well aware that she may end up spending her summers at college, or at a camp somewhere as a counselor, or another job that would give her real life experience. I am excited for her even though I will miss her very, very much.
My younger daughter is going to start her sophomore year, so I will have three years to focus on giving her the attention and guidance she needs. Julia, as the oldest, got to be an only child for her first three years of life. Stacey will get to be an only child for her last three years of high school. It will be different having an only child, but I know that kids growing up and moving on is a part of the cycle of life.
I am happy for my daughter to go out into the world, well prepared by her high school, and I hope, well prepared by her parents.
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