wise words
senior parent to-do list
Before She Goes... By Angie Hayden, Editor
My oldest daughter is about to graduate,
and soon (too soon) we will be pulling
away from her dorm room and drying
our tears as we drive home without her.
Although I know she will come home on
some weekends and holidays, this is a
monumental shift and things will never
be as they were. So this summer, our
last summer together before things are
forever changed, I have put a few things
on my to-do list before she goes. I hope it
inspires you to create a list of your own.
SHOW HER I TRUST HER.
After all, in just a few short months she
will be making her own decisions about
how she spends her time, where she goes
and who she goes away with. Now is the
time to start letting her set boundaries for
herself and allow her to make the right
decisions or learn from her own mistakes.
BE A LITTLE RIDICULOUS.
Things can feel pretty heavy right now, so
I plan to allow for plenty of levity. Going
to the trampoline park is sounding like a
great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Spontaneous midnight trip for cookie
baking supplies in our pajamas? Why not?
TELL HER I BELIEVE IN HER.
College is a big deal with tons of new
pressures and responsibilities, but I know
she will handle it well. I believe in her
abilities and talents and I trust her
judgement and her heart, and I know
there are good things in her future. I don’t
doubt her for a second, and I want her to
hear that from me.
CREATE SOME MEMORIES.
Over this past year I’ve heard her casually
mention a few things she’d like for us to
do together “someday,” and I’m betting
your teen has done the same. Whether it’s
a road trip or a certain restaurant or some
adventure, this summer is the perfect time
to make a memory. I want her to look back
years from now and say, “Remember that
summer after high school when we…”
PASS ON SOME SKILLS.
Hopefully your teen knows how to send a
letter, get their oil changed, and the basics
of housekeeping and meal prep (or can at
the very least separate lights from darks
and make a grilled cheese sandwich), but
that’s not really what I’m talking about. I
also want to impart a few more preciou