We just sent ours on a plane for the last term as well. Tempus fugit.
Interestingly, CaliKid intimated that the first two months of the fall term were rough. Not so much because of academic obligations–though those were meaningful too–but mostly because of the adjustments associated with meeting and interacting with new people and high school drama. CaliKid didn’t want to tell me earlier for fear that I would have gotten sad but felt like it is OK now that those times have passed. Kids sometimes put too much on themselves.
@CaliPops, my DS was similar. I think it was over Christmas break he said that it had been a big adjustment in the fall (bigger than he had expected) and very challenging getting used to being away from home, making all new friends, etc. Of course at the time he was saying everything was “perfect.” Of course we knew it would be a huge adjustment and didn’t want to stress him out by focusing on it ahead of time. But they made it! Over this break we were talking about how totally different it will be to go back next fall.
@CaliPops@CTMom21 DS is a sophomore but also had a big adjustment this fall. In his case, it was caused by balancing the social and sports with the increased workload/hw of soph year. He was having trouble keeping all of the balls in the air. A meeting with the advisor helped - he was able to have some more facetime with ds once he was are of it. From the adults’ points of view, everything looked fine. DS acclimated well- just to took some time. I am trying to remember that as I predict he will have another period of adjustment to start Jr year.
Just wanted to put that out there in case you run in to a similar problem.
@carpoolingma, good to know! DS struggled a little this winter having more free time and a less demanding schedule (going from a fall varsity sport to rec in the winter), and he ended up having to dig himself out of a hole grade-wise. We’ve been in touch with his advisor, and I am hoping that he will get back on track in the spring. I think being back in his element – outside on the playing fields – will be a help. I suspect next year will be easier in terms of no longer being new, but we’ll be prepared for the work to ramp up quite a bit.
@carpoolingma – wise advice. In retrospect, I think that each of the years had its own little bumps in the road, which is all part of the process. I think that a lot of kids – especially the ones who are the independent types who want to go to BS – want to solve these things on their own and I think that they often want to “protect” their parents from some of their pain. Personally, I wonder if I may have signaled that to DS by always asking how I could help when something was wrong. (That’s what parents are for, right?) But I think he picked up instead that I always wanted everything to be right for him. (Which I do even though I know that’s not ever going to be the case.) I dunno – it’s really hard to be supportive and yet to also convey that sometimes, there are just going to be bad patches and just “be” in those. it But this is also one of the reasons that parents are really good at supporting each other here on these boards (and also one of the reasons that I take a fair amount of the “this is what the environment at XYZ school/college is” with a grain of salt – we don’t live there!)
@CTMom21 – DS went through a slump pretty much every year in his one “off” season. It seemed that the structure of the day, the physical exercise, the feeling that time for work wasn’t endless, whatever – was better when he was playing a sport. It’s a good lesson for college when the time comes, though…
@gardenstategirl and @CTMom21 - Same problem here. Grades dropped in winter when he wasn’t playing a sport. Needs more structure and being busier helps with time management. He was only sharing good news and not the bad. He is in spring sport now, has more clarity of mind, and is doing better already (I think).
Oh boy! You all are scaring me. SwimKid isn’t playing a “sport” this season. Hopefully the fact that he has class till 6pm instead will keep him under a time crunch. He does have a sleep in every day though! So he should be well rested even if he needs to stay up doing HW
I think the winter is just emotionally tough. They arrive at school to beautiful autumn weather, relatively longer days, and the ability to gather outside with friends. Losing that is tough, but they’ll slowly get it back in the spring.
@gardenstategal, well stated. And thanks to all for sharing.
Definitely, @CaliPops – the winter was long, cold, dark, and frankly a bit of a downer. I don’t know if it will truly be “warm” before about mid-May, but just seeing the grass, a little more sunlight, and getting outside for lacrosse will be a welcome change. I know I am looking forward to it.
@momof3swimmers, I know my kid is particularly prone to falling apart when he isn’t over-scheduled…I think he’s an extreme case! He has typically played on 2 sports teams each season, so it’s his norm.
We are coming from formerly swimming 9 practices a week before boarding school, including 4:45 am before school. We have already seen the slide due to free time! I don’t want it to get worse!!!
We had our first friend home for Easter!!! It was so nice to host a friend for a sleep over like we used to pre boarding school as well as really get to know a friend!
@buuzn03 our daughter flew to Texas for the weekend to go to the rodeo with a friend from school last month- they were in a Texas less then 24 hours- but it was long enough to go to the rodeo to see a concert , eat Krispy Kreme’s, go in the jacuzzi, and warm up in the beautiful Texas weather.
DD’s school had revisit day this week. I wondered what it was like from a current student rather than admitted student perspective. I called DD tonight and asked, “Did they tell you to be all happy and cheery and friendly?” she laughed at that - but up note - they don’t prep the students to be something they aren’t.
@makp715 SMS didn’t prep kids either…they just let them be themselves. DS said kids who weren’t even designated helpers or guides stepped in and offered help, joined groups to answer questions at lunch, etc. he had a great time as an admissions ambassador.
Out of curiosity…has anyone gotten their reenrollment contract yet? We still have not and I am stressing big time regarding FA. Our first payment would be due May 1. What if I can’t afford it? I wouldn’t even. Be able to sell my car in that short of time!
Different school but ours came to most in Feb. we had to wait until April because DS applied to switch to boarding. Deposit is in. No more due until July.