First of all SaddrButWiserGal- You are a wonderful storyteller. As I caught up on the thread I was excited to find out the next chapter in your saga. I’m so sorry for everything you have had to deal with for your Mom and hope she is doing better!
My D also was a transfer. Against our better judgement she was set on attending a BFA Conservatory program, even though we were concerned that she would miss the academics found at a regular university. You guessed it- after one semester she was very unhappy and decided to move back home to figure out a new path. She attended our local CC for the next 3 semesters and earned enough credits to transfer into a BA program as a junior. However, when she re-auditioned, she threw in a mix of BA and BFA MT programs and did them all at Unifieds. While there, she ended up doing a walk-in at a BFA program that she had really not looked at closely before. Long story but even though it was a BFA program at a large university, they accepted her as a sophomore and she was able to graduate in 3 years.
I am so glad your D has found a new program that fits her better. I love your comment about “if your student can be described as occasionally “impractical” or “unrealistic” this is no time to step away and let them take care of Everything”, and you are so right. Even though transfer students are a little older, they sometimes need someone to help them set priorities and to bounce ideas from. It sounds like you and your husband did a great job. Best of luck!