<h2>From a January 2011 thread, we talked about handling M10 news, who opens mail, that sort of thing. This was my post, which I still support. It was aimed at parents whom you could tell were even more amped than their kids. I had visions of applicants, already nervous, watching their Mom and Dad exhibit behavior that made it clear that bad news was going to be more than simple rejection; it was going to be parental sadness, disappointment etc.</h2>
<p>"Opened up your kid's mail? Yikes. I think that's wrong on a million levels - sorry to be a wet blanket on this. Acceptance and rejection, however exciting or disappointing is a fact of life and this is often your kid's first taste. This news doesn't make your child a better person or worse, it is not a comment on them as individuals. "Of course we know that," you say. But given the charged tone of some of the comments on this thread, it would be impossible for the kid to distinguish the difference in your reaction.</p>
<p>I counsel making it clear to your kid on lots of occasions between now and March that the news will be interesting, "may" offer some excellent school options, cannot be predicted or even worried about, and does not bear on their success or failure etc. I would avoid being the one to bring the subject of boarding schools up. Your kid will know by how much you talk about it how important it is to you. Your actions will speak very loud. The last thing you want to do is have them feel you're disappointed in them, in their waitlist, their rejection etc.</p>
<p>Acceptance is something to be celebrated, but not so much that they think it was more important to you than to them."</p>