<p>I remember well this rough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas - my school like DD's had the semester break at Christmas, and every year that period was the worst of the year in terms of workload. I didn't hear complaints last year, but this year my daughter is taking an overload and I can tell she is feeling the pinch. </p>
<p>Is anyone doing anything special to encourage their kids for this rough spot??? Would love to know!</p>
<p>My D is a HS senior this year… we did as much as we could ahead of time for college visiting and narrowing down her list so she would just have applications to focus on. She started early on her essays, and she kept a list of her ECs through the years to make that section of the Common App easier. I am helping with some of the “secretarial” type work on the app as well (just getting all her colleges added, providing her with a list of essay topics for her supplements, etc.). And I keep a spreadsheet task list/calendar of all the senior year “stuff” – from yearbook photo and ad due dates to due dates for financial aid forms, scholarship applications, etc. It currently has almost 200 tasks on it… it is crazy. 
But without it we would be even crazier.</p>
<p>Not much I can do about the school workload. She has a heavy schedule this year, no study halls at all, but seems to be handling most of it pretty well. After a rough week, I might wake her up with breakfast in bed of chocolate chip pancakes (after checking with her the night before on what time she wants to wake up!).</p>
<p>Care packages are always welcome once they are at college, D1 was always happy with those! One year I sent her a little “christmas tree in a box” with a couple of small presents in early December. And tiny felt stockings for her doorway.</p>