Mine moved to the US, spent time with family, shopped for dorm stuff, practiced her musical instruments, did some sewing, took a trip to her school to audition for music ensembles before she had her wisdom teeth extracted. She only had about six or seven weeks between leaving Asia and going to school, a job wasn’t really practical that summer.
She did earn a chair in both the orchestra and concert band by the audition trip. That didn’t affect her academically, but continues to be an important piece of her fun time.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel as a family for 6 weeks that summer. It didn’t affect her schooling (except the disadvantage of the missed chance to work instead) but it was lovely to have that time together without worrying about studies before the first kid moved out and the family dynamic changed.
My S went to Europe to visit a friend for a week in England soon after graduation. When he got back he worked for a traveling equine veterinarian for the rest of the summer taking about 2 weeks off just before he left for school. He read a book that was required for first year and studied a little chemistry. Other than that he hung out with friends, spent a last few weeks with his high school girlfriend (knowing they would break up because of distance), and read books. He also took a road trip with some friends for a long weekend just going wherever they wanted (ended up in 5 states) I think the relaxed time helped. He earned money, had fun and went into college with a great attitude. The work with the vet helped his animal science coursework.
@ChangeTheGame She was in Europe from midish June to mid August and came back to start freshman year about 8 days later, so yes, she was just home long enough to wash and repack. She is the youngest and has always been full of wanderlust.
I think your D will gain great confidence by taking these classes. She will already know so much by the time school starts for everyone else - she can be the mentor, may develop leadership skills from that, and on and on…ya never know. This could also lead to her doing something at another school/place next year, because she will know what is involved. Or she could decide napping all summer is the way to go. Either way, I think it is a good thing, but suppose you will already miss having her home!
@TheGreyKing My daughter did a summer program last year for 3 weeks and has been looking forward to this next stage of life for the last 2 years so I am not expecting any home sickness. But I do expect me and my wife to go through a little withdrawal although I don’t expect it to last for long.
@intparent I really believe in kids working and still can not believe that I have an adult child who has never worked. I felt that the class load and the ECs made a job impossible during the school year and the summers were busy as well. But she will find out about working soon enough and her work ethic as a student has been pretty good.
@momocarly I like how your child got a lot of things in and still seemed to get a little unwinding time before starting freshman year.
@CADREAMIN I am happy to hear from a veteran of helping kids move on because this is our 1st rodeo, so I have been fretting about things that I have no control over and are probably not even problems. Thank you for the wisdom you have shared.
You’re welcome. Us parents have to grow up as well, and we do that through our kid’s experiences. Wait till she is done with school and see how far YOU have come!
If my wanderlust girl had been my first, I probably couldn’t have handled her spending a summer in Europe on her own, but with her being my fourth, I am much better at handling the worry of travel or whatever else they want to do.
I’m finally getting over that dang movie, “Taken” - that freaked all us parents out - and particularly because I had to…I know my hubby “does not have a particular set of skills.”
@CADREAMIN For our little girls being in trouble, us husbands would have totally turned into Liam Neeson:) But glad that I get to save my daughter one call to housing at a time.
@ChangeTheGame wisdom teeth wasn’t bad. Dentist insisted we take her to the oral surgeon that summer because she didn’t have roots yet. Makes the extraction much easier.
@NorthernMom61 Good to hear! Mine needs hers out this summer too. She has an appointment with the oral surgeon next week.
My daughter loved working too and is bummed that she wont have the opportunity this summer but between the move, the travel, wisdom teeth extraction, and a camping trip with friends, there just isn’t enough block of time. She may see if she can be an emergency sub at the chain where she worked last summer but we’ll see.
My daughter worked as a counselor at a day YMCA camp. It gave her good experience working with inner-city kids. I think it made her appreciate her home life!
My son was offered a program to take classes in the summer at his college. They are not classes he needs for his major, he prefers to start with his friends, and I assume there is an extra cost.
He is also participating in a local theater production and probably hopes to spend some time with his girlfriend before leaving.
If he wants to earn some spending money for college, he needs to work.
@ChangeTheGame has no dentist mentioned a wisdom teeth consult yet? Maybe you are one of the lucky ones whose child doesn’t need them out. My dentist had been telling us to get a consult for a couple of years before I got around to doing it My DD will have hers out this summer. At the consult I asked the oral surgeon if they ever leave the wisdom teeth in (figuring they can always find a reason to take them out!) and he said they do. But both of my kids did not have enough room in their mouths so they had to come out.
DS wanted a hamburger that night LOL. I made him take it easy for a day or two but it really only took 2 days out of his life. Some folks may have different experiences but it was not the big huge life interruption that I was anticipating.
My DD will have hers out this summer. At the consult I asked the oral surgeon if they ever leave the wisdom teeth in (figuring they can always find a reason to take them out!) and he said they do. But both of my kids did not have enough room in their mouths so they had to come out.