<p>As the prospect of our middle child becomes more real, there is some real sadness on the part of her siblings, especially her older (by 2 years) sister.</p>
<p>How have other families dealt with this "splitting up" of the family?</p>
<p>I’m not sure I totally understand your situation. Is older sibling sad because younger not going to her bs? Or because she is still at home and younger sib is leaving?</p>
<p>I had an older son go off to bs and leave his younger sib behind. It was a good year for us - a lot of time spent one on one. However, he was adamant he was going to bs himself and the next year off he went.:)</p>
<p>Younger was initially a little sad to be home alone - but we took him with us when we went to events at older son school and spent a lot of time with him. It worked out fine.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Agree…with two children and the older going off to BS, it’s the younger child’s first opportunity to be an “only” child (at least in our case, where there’s some age separation).</p>
<p>we are a close family, but found with older C at BS, younger C blossomed. Gave him an opportunity to actually speak at the dinner table. And, with hs looming next year, he’s not inclined to go away to BS: wants to stay home for hs.</p>
<p>No getting around the inevitable change in family dynamics. We have been pleasantly surprised to find that younger sib is really enjoying being an only child for the first time.</p>
<p>We have one at home and one in boarding school. If anything they’re relationship is stronger now then when they lived under the same roof. The “split” was initially hard but we involved the sibling in all the planning and she came with us to a parent day so it was all good. She’s now her sister’s biggest cheerleader and they stay in touch by text, Facebook and Skype.</p>
<p>I’d say that we miss our son the most at the dinner table. Meals are a big part of our culture and the table is full of debates, jokes, conversations, etc. It’s a bonding time. It’s still strange not to have him there.</p>
<p>My older two are very close in age and were near constant companions until 7th and 8th grade, when they started to follow their own interests more. Still, their social circles overlapped quite a bit and they helped one another a lot. I don’t think either one of them really appreciated how much they relied on the other until my son went to BS. When he’s home, my house is never quiet. There are generally 5 to 10 teenage boys and girls downstairs and I have to stock up on frozen pizzas, chips, etc.</p>
<p>My little guy misses Brother but takes it in stride, as if it’s normal to go away to school. He assumes that he will do the same when he is older and has asked me if he will go to Exeter as well. (To which I reply, “not if you don’t starting reading books.” 
) If Sister finds a place for next year it will be a big difference for him. She takes care of him quite a bit. Overall though, I think my kids’ very strong attachment to one another is what makes the transition a bit easier for them. My son carries little reminders of his siblings around with him in his wallet to look at when he misses them. Generally, I think it’s harder for the sibling that is away than the ones who are still at home. The day to day lives of the kids at home doesn’t change that much, whereas the kid at school can feel very alone. Friends are great, but only a sister can tell you that that particular tie makes you look like a big geek or to stop doing something annoying - in way that doesn’t make you think they hate you. :)</p>
<p>What’s hard is when one gets to go and the other doesn’t. That’s a whole different set of emotions…</p>
<p>My youngest is going, her sister, a junior in high school is staying. The older sister never wanted to leave, and wants to stay in-state for undergrad despite Ivy-like grades, Summers in Brown and Cambridge and outstanding ECs. The soonest she can see herself being away for a whole year is Grad School!.
The youngest was wanting to spread her wings from toddler-hood! The two are close- very close- but so different!
The eldest was initially nonplussed by the younger sister’s decision, and felt slightly cheated by the younger sister’s thunder but this has now settled into the awareness that she will have her parents’ undivided attention next year. She is now very proud of her youngest sister and boasts of her to all.
They will skype/facetime and have already planned when they will contact each other, I do not have any concerns regarding THEIR relationship. I do however feel that dear old M and D will be VERY uninteresting all of a sudden.</p>
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<p>I was the baby of the family and a few years younger than my siblings so my mother had me at home alone during the day while my older sibs were at school. I broke her heart by not even letting her wait for the school bus with me on the first day of Kindergarten. 
I also went away to college right before my 17th birthday. By that time, though, my older sibs were no longer living at home.</p>
<p>I think youngest children tend to be fiercely independent. My little one certainly is, itching to do what the older ones have been doing for some time.</p>