<p>This is our first time dealing with the long winter term. I have heard from many, including the d's bs that this most difficult time of the year. Short days, cold, longest time away from home. My d will not return home until spring break. I am visiting at the end of January for a performance, but that still leaves almost 2 months without physical contact.</p>
<p>My concern was put to rest somewhat when d called to say that she went to Vermont to ski today, her first time....and she has decided to do rec skiing next winter as her sport!</p>
<p>Any suggestions for helping a first time student/parent get though this time?</p>
<p>Any suggestions for long weekends, when the parent cant visit?</p>
<p>I have few ideas but love to know what the bs "Vets" think or have done in the past.</p>
<p>My suggestions are to keep a watchful eye for depression. Since I am not able to visit at all my daughter does get depressed during the winter term. She already told me she is not liking it at all. She wishes it was spring already. For the long weekend in February I am hoping a day student she stayed with over Thanksgiving will invite her home. That would be ideal, she had a great time there and adopted the younger brother as her own. Otherwise when she has been stuck at school over the long weekend I have contacted her advisor and asked her to intervene and make sure she attends the social activities provided as one year she just planned on staying in her room. The fun activities help quite a bit - one year they had an oreo stacking competition.</p>
<p>Otherwise be available on the phone/skype etc. Send a care package with the arrival date on the Friday before the long weekend - care packages always help.</p>
<p>Photo Op is right on point with the care packages. We are affiliated with an organization with students in nearly every BS in the country and care packages are sent to each student at the end of January. The org recognizes this can be a challenging time of year.</p>
<p>Be sure to remind your daughter to take the little things people say and do in stride. This is the time of year where roomies easily irritate each other and some BFFs from September are no longer speaking. In addition, teachers and administrators may be a little worn as well. Now’s not the time to ask for an extension for that research paper. They may not be as forgiving as they were in October or will be in May. </p>
<p>Son’s school schedules a mini mid-winter break the first week of February where all students are strongly encouraged to go home (or go somewhere) for a five day week-end and little R&R.</p>
<p>My son’s school also schedules a mini mid-winter break in early Feb. When they get back, there are only four weeks until the very lengthy spring break. Thankfully we’re in driving range, though the weather could always be a problem.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I didnt think my d was the “packages-from-home” type kid. But she told me before we left in September that she wanted care package every other week–well that isnt going to happen. But I try to send one every 3 weeks instead.</p>
<p>I do send silly stuff, stuff I find on sale and stuff I find around the house that she has lost. She has admitted to me that she feels sorry for some kids who have never gotten a package from home. How sad.</p>
<p>In my experience it is great for BS kids to get off campus for a few days in the winter, either long winter weekend, or some other random time. If they can’t come home then encourage a visit to someone else’s home. We are a day student family. My D’10 would often have a pack of girls over for the weekend. They went to the grocery store, made pizza and chocolate chip cookies, watched TV and stayed in their PJs until mid-afternoon. Normal things for a non-boarder, but a nice break from the dorms.</p>
<p>One of my pet peeves is that they will schedule a long weekend with Monday off, only to schedule JV/V sporting events at 4:00 on the preceding Saturday afternoon. After the long drive home on Saturday night, they get Sunday to relax (and work on homework). Need to be in the car early Monday to be back in time for late Monday sports practices and homework. Not much of a break. If they want to give the kids a real break, cancel all Saturday sports on the long weekend, and mandate no homework/projects/papers due on the Tuesday following the Monday break. Not just a Winter issue – same problem in Fall and Spring. If they can’t make it a real break, don’t bother. It only makes the term seem longer when they can’t really participate in the scheduled break.</p>
<p>I hated Jan - March at my NE boarding school. I have to confess my envy for the kids attending the SoCal schools like Cate and Thacher. Sunny and 70 degrees for the next ten days. Aaaahhhh!!!</p>
<p>Embracing winter (and snow) with a welcome heart is the key to surviving long winters without depression. Heck, Eskimo’s ( now called Inuit) have survived for several thousand years without undue suffering! Anyone can pick up nordic skiing, and there is no better fitness program. My daughter is on her schools ski team (downhill ) and while she is the least experienced, she is enjoying it tremendously!</p>
<p>My son’s complaining about the lack of “decent” amounts of snow…and I think really misses his old ski team. So I agree with Sadie; if they’re lucky enough to have more white than brown, the best thing to do is to embrace it! Even an oldster like me has been known to hop on a saucer sled when the winter starts feeling long. :)</p>
<p>I, too, recall the short days and long months of winter in the Northeast. My d is experiencing this for the first time and I am hoping that all the snow drama is helping add some levity. This feels like a long time for us to be apart, and I won’t see her until March. I will send more care packages for sure. Good to hear others talking about this.</p>
<p>What is in a care package? In one of the last ones we sent, you’d find a magazine that had just come in the mail, a picture drawn by little sister, some drink mix packets, random pieces of candy pilfered from the other kids, and couple of the little sister’s fruit snack–the ones he was always stealing at home, and a photo or two. Nothing big–just little bits of home.</p>
<p>Ditto care packages. We print out labels online to bring the cost down (even flat rate is cheaper that way). We remind my D to drink water even in the winter because the heat is dehydrating. And to eat protein and get sunlight. Found a brand of herbal tea she loves (Stash “Passion” tastes like a fruit juice) and send a box or two. My hubby randomly sends her $5 or $10 with a note as a surprise. She’s also addicted to a brand of candy bars.</p>
<p>Mostly - since they’re pretty much frozen (it’s sooooo cold in that region right now) see if you can skype more often. She was giggling and we got to listen in on girls dropping in and out of the dorm room. The girls in the dorm seem to be awfully resourceful about finding things to do together (baking brownies, etc.) to starve off winter blues. So we try to put things in a care package that can be shared.</p>
<p>For long weekends - we’re giving her permission to go home with another student so she won’t be stuck on campus. I think that will help a lot. </p>
<p>And - yes - I’ve heard from her and from some of the faculty that there are students who get no care packages (or few) and whose parent’s don’t visit. Those are the ones I really worry about.</p>
<p>Heh, heh…I suppose we do get a natural disaster now and again… - you got me there! But that’s still not the same as 3-4 months of cold, slushy, dreary, stuck-indoors, stir crazy, claustrophobia! Yes, yes, I know…nothing beats a beautiful, white snow blanketing a New England landscape, but that only lasts a day or two before reality sets in again.</p>
<p>You’d be amazed at the positive impact of a warm, sunny climate on the spirit of a school community!!</p>
<p>You are so cruel! We’re moving in with you! They’ve shut down the airports and major highways here. I can’t even see across the street. I’m lobbying the DH for a relocation to somewhere balmy like Hawaii but Ojai is sounding pretty great right now! :-)</p>
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