<p>We just dropped our daughter at the train station for the trip back to school. I hate when these long breaks end and she goes back. The house is so quiet.
And, yet, of course, I am so happy that she has had this opportunity. Bittersweet feelings.</p>
<p>my son is just applying for school now. We're not from a prep school crowd - but he's a super kid and super motivated and when he saw an ad in the local paper for a local private school offering a scholarship, he asked if he could take the chance.</p>
<p>Well - he asked the chief school administrator from our school district (public school) to write him a recommendation. My son has been "on the road with the administration" to give 2 presentations as a rep for the school. So he assked both the superintendent and this chief administrator for a recommendation. Well - the administrator took my son and I out to dinner and then he told us that he didn't think we were reaching high enough. He told my son that he really ought to look at one of the better boarding schools. We walked away flattered and bit dazed and then we decided to go for it.</p>
<p>Now I spend my nights tossing and turning in bed wondering how I will ever let him go (should he be lucky enough to get in AND get finanical aid.) On one hand, I'm crossing my fingers for him - on the other hand, I'm nauseous as the thought of losing him. He's 14 and in the 8th grade- and he's the smartest person in the hold darn house. And he's the person I connect with the most. </p>
<p>My husband feels that my son (his step son) was always destined for something better than our public school (or we) can offer him. But tell me - how do you do it? How do you keep from being selfish? How do you give them the opportuity without being miserable for yourself?</p>
<p>You take it one step at a time. You let your son do the best job he can on applications, reaching high with at least some of the schools he chooses. After he's admitted you learn even more about the school, and it starts sinking in that it would really be a great opportunity for your child. You listen to whether he's excited about it. Then, if boarding school is the result, you drop him off and cry your eyes out.</p>
<p>It's very telling that the administrator feels so strongly about your son. I want to reassure you that there are plenty of kids at top boarding schools who are not from prepp school crowds, but from all different socioeconomic backgrounds. That diversity is something that is really great about these schools (Andover, which is needs-blind, is the school I'm most familiar with). Good luck to your family!</p>