All recommendations submitted and downloaded. Transcript, too. All applications final. GULP. Reality is hitting this mama. Hoping the process is as gentle as possible for you and yours (and mine).
Relax, you’re just watching your child leave your home, a place of nurture, support and safety for the past decade or two, in favor of an unknown world of stress, loneliness, alcohol, drugs, sex, academic challenge, second guessing and brain melting expense located half way across the country. What could happen? Honestly, have you ever known your child to mishandle change or challenge or failure or opportunity?
Yeah, you’re not the first, just the latest, but you’ve found a tribe to share the ride with, so welcome aboard.
You’ll be fine. Congratulations, Mom, for getting this far!
re post # 1. I suspect HS has not been that cocoon but rather closer to the college life depicted, except for the away from home part.
Congratulations- your kid got things done in a timely manner. Ours was a midnight CALIFORNIA time (2 am local) for one application deadline maker on a school night. Years later I can see it wasn’t his first choice.
Relax and enjoy the rest of the year. Plenty of college drama will come later when choices are made by schools and students.
Enjoy this time of possibility and anticipation, because you will blink and your college hopeful will be a junior flying across the country for internship interviews. Sometimes, I don’t recognize the kid we crossed our fingers for 3 years ago.
I’m with everyone on this thread - half way done the application list and it is all becoming too real. Amazing where the time goes?!?!
Yeah my daughter has 6 of 11 done. Very weird to think she will be living somewhere else next year.
Wait until they have to pick a college!
With one kid a college freshman and the other a high school senior, its way easier the 2nd time around. There is nothing better than dropping off the young adult at college. A precious moment indeed. So proud.
I’ve told my friends that I can’t wait to find out where DD decides to attend college… I just don’t want her to actually go. 
All applications in, I think. The time is flying by. I agree with you all. I am excited for the future, know this is the right path but just don’t want the kid to actually leave
It’ll certainly be weird when D19 goes off to college and it’s just us and S22 at home, especially since it’ll be a relatively new home and community. We’re moving back to the U.S. next summer after six years overseas, to an area we’re familiar with but haven’t lived in. Still, the prevailing mood is excitement. D has chosen a great school (haven’t heard yet, but it’s a safety for her) that should prepare her well for her intended career – or show her why she should change her plans. And she’ll be far enough away to encourage independence but not too far for the occasional weekend visit.
It’s an emotional process. Between the applications (stress), the decisions (pride, elation and sadness) , the summer waiting to move (anxiousness, excitement, the drop off (immense pride and an odd form of grief), the check ins (success and happiness - fortunately things have been great), the visits (pure fun and pride), the home for break (another form of strange - I need more sleep)
The thing is, at least for me, you can’t imagine them not being home, Then you get used to it. Then they come back and your new normal is disrupted again, and then you kind of want them to leave. They have this new late night schedule that doesn’t coincide with me getting up at 5:30 am. More importantly, you know how happy they are in their new environment (at least that’s our experience. We have friends where that’s not the case and it’s sad) and it’s great to see them thrive and blossom.
Sooner than you may think you’ll begin the process of relocating to the new school. That big deal will require planning for moving, finances, personal care and healthcare. Up next will the start of college next Fall and some anxiety and uncertainty for you and your kid. That’s all ahead of you. But a lot of it is fun (or it was to me)! And it’s an adventure.
For now, take a deep breath, take time to smell the coffee; you’ve reached an important stage though you’re not quite at the end of it, and many adventures will come your way.