<p>Hey Parents!</p>
<p>Feeling like I needed to share this and the sooner the better...</p>
<p>I'm sure I never would've seen the light at the end of this tunnel, had it not been for so many of your wonderful posts and thoughtful private messages. To say that many of you helped talk me off the proverbial ledge on my more challenging days would not be an overstatement, either. Such a devoted group you all are- it's really quite amazing. You've shared such personal stories: incredible highs and also the inevitable lows. So many of the stories you've shared made me go back and dissect my decision at least a million times. Thank you for that. It helped me to truly understand what our family was searching for and with that 3 letter word ever present in my mind, we finally found the school we loved and that loved us back. The perfect FIT! Yipee!!!</p>
<p>So, with the application process behind me now, my mind immediately turned to :count down mode." I know the calendar will not be my friend in the days leading up to our cross country trek this August and I admit I'm feeling a little panicked. Not because he's leaving as much as what I may regret not doing...before he leaves. Now, I know there are plenty of practical things to consider and I am already scouting those threads. </p>
<p>What I'd love to hear from you all are the things you'd wish you'd done (or would do), if you had just one extra day with your kid. </p>
<p>What would you... make more time for, do more of, be more present for, blow off, take on, let go, explore, dismiss, revive, do away with, share???...Before that red circled date on the calendar arrives. Let it be whatever you want to make it: serious, funny, sad, happy, whatever. Could be a special memory you wish you could relive or something you hope you'll do this time around. I want this to be a source of inspiration, (as well as a constant reminder) that we shouldn't wait until the last minute to start "collecting these moments." 'Cause something tells me that I'm sure gonna need 'em to fall back on, come autumn. Cheers, everyone!</p>
<p>So, I guess I’ll start…</p>
<p>I want us to spend the whole day at the beach, just goofing around and without an iPhone or watch to be found. No schedule at all. I want a whole “Take off my mom hat-relax and enjoy this great kid” day at the beach! And if I’m feeling extra greedy, maybe even a discussion about the stars, if I can stretch out our day into night.</p>
<p>We received a summer letter with advice for a new student, which I thought was very helpful to prepare a student for boarding:</p>
<p>Buy them an alarm clock loud enough to wake them up, tell them to use it, and let them get themselves up in the morning and on time (to whatever) all summer. BIG CHALLENGE for us!!</p>
<p>Go over how to do a load of laundry, and how to clean different items. Have them start to do their own laundry.</p>
<p>Take pictures of pets, family, and mount/posterize/print/frame them for hanging in their room or placing on desk or bookcase.</p>
<p>Great advice 2prepmom! Thanks for sharing and I will definitely mull over all the practical tips before we head off in the fall… :)</p>
<p>But I really want this thread to be about the time you’d spend with your kid, if you had than extra day before they left. What moments would be important to you and what memories would you hope to make? Ya know, some happy candy to munch on.</p>
<p>And feel free to include your significant other’s thoughts too…</p>
<p>We are planning to take both of our sons to Martha’s Vineyard and sit on the beach and look them in the eye and tell them how much we love them, how proud we are of them and that we will always support them!</p>
<p>The best thing we did before kid1 went to prep school was to drive across the country.</p>
<p>But in all honesty, the times we’ve had since both kids went away, during breaks and visits, have been some of the best memories of all. We have had a blast all over the Northeast and at home in the west. We have a new family sport called Yelping. We use Yelp in new places to find the “best of.” Great times. </p>
<p>All this is to say that the best may be yet to come. Your time as a family doesn’t end when the kids go away. I could argue that your time only gets better as you all cherish the time more.</p>
<p>@wcmom</p>
<p>Agree 100%. Definitely looking forward to those mements to our “collection” :)</p>
<p>You know, I’m a rehabber of a 100 year old house. My kid before boarding school - not so much. But she got the bug, gets motivated to be creative when home on break. So she gets in the spirit, she picks a project, we go bond with Habitat ReStore for expensive supplies - cheap - and then do one together while talking about her day, her dreams, etc. Now, every time I pass a project (a wall she painted, something we installed) I think of her and the things we talked about while working together. That or cuddling up and watching bad reality TV while doing running commentary on the characters. On second thought, Scandal comes on tonight. I may cuddle up with her and a big bowl of popcorn and watch fun TV together. 
Nice thread, thanks for putting the thought in my head!</p>
<p>…one extra day…go for a walk and talk. The best times I’ve had with my kids have been on silly no-real-purpose walks. Or a family pile-up on the couch. Or the drive home from our one day a year of skiing when we stop in the middle of Colorado and say hi to the Milky Way. </p>
<p>Thanks for the thread - put me in a good mood too.</p>
<p>Loving these responses. Please keep 'em coming! Making me smile and also giving me some great ideas.</p>
<p>My daughter and I are taking a mini vacation with no other family members. Almost unheard of for us. Extended family are always present at our vacations. So a mother/daughter vacation will seem like a privilege.</p>
<p>Sending a young adult off to boarding school is a big step. As parents my wife and I have made a significant investment in our 3 kids. Not with material things or fancy vacations, strictly with giving them as much of our attention as possible. Our social life is our children. We knew we had limited time and we took advantage of every minute. We also put their needs before ours and there were so many times where we just hung out watching TV or playing a board game. I believe the result is I have imparted to my kids the wisdom I have acquired throughout my life and I feel confident that they are equipped to face the world and they will make good decisions. They know we love them unconditionally and no matter what happens, we will be there. So what would I do with one extra day, spend the whole day together. The greatest gift you can give your children is your time!</p>