<p>Hello again,</p>
<p>Thanks for all the good feedback. Am taking the edge off in our conversations, definitely lightening up when I talk to her about this. In other words, from the (mostly) helpful if not uniform posts I think it would be a great personal experience for her but it is not the make-or-break part of a college app I thought.</p>
<p>D wrote her essay, has decided to give it a try. Yes, she is the kind of kid who has to warm up to an idea. If nothing else it has been a good (if bumpy) practice for college apps. Now we have to see if she gets enough aid for us to actually afford it – if she gets in. It’s even good practice for college app’s if it doesn’t work, for either reason.</p>
<p>I promised her that if she really doesn’t want to go she can look for something local to do. Two days after our clash, the fast food job is no longer a big deal, she now says she will probably look for a new one anyway!</p>
<p>As for her boyfriend, I offered to bring him along when we drop her off/pick her up if she does the program but she can’t bear the thought of how we might embarass her on the car ride. </p>
<p>As for bribes, she looked at her summer wardrobe and realized she could use a pair of casual sandals. However, this is not contingent on her going or not going. I guess it’s just a way of my showing interest in her life this summer. Whatever she does. There is a great organic farm which she volunteers at and she could work at their summer camp. D also likes this idea. So I am definitely much less stressed. The main thing is to keep her occupied and focused on interests, and be prepared for…whatever the final chapter brings.</p>