<p>As each of you knows, the college application process and accompanying events can be <em>very</em> stressful for parents. After all of the paperwork, waiting, and worrying about acceptances, there are the emotional aspects of “letting go” and watching a precious child saunter, soar, or stumble out into the the larger and less insulated world away from home. These can be very difficult times for us parents who have closely trailed our kidlets every step of the way!</p>
<p>As I was contemplating my second child’s making this transition within the next month, I realized that we could all use a general place for support and encouragement–a safe place to come for {{hugs}} and kind words, a place where debate and judgment are left at the invisible door, and the common languages are kind and gentle displays of support.</p>
<p>On top of college issues, many of us (myself included) have other challenging issues with which we are dealing. This is a place for you to ask for support around those issues as well, regardless of whether or not you choose to share the details publicly.</p>
<p>It can be a rough world out there <em>rofl</em>, so
Welcome to {Hugs Hideaway}!!</p>
<p>Life is always better when you realize that you are not alone in your struggles! :)</p>
<p>Sounds like a great way to start the day. I’ll take one. And give one, too!</p>
<p>Two of my kids are starting something new soon – the oldest daughter is off to college in Ohio soon, and daughter #2, starting high school will be attending a new high school to our family, a different one from the one her brothers and sister attended, and different from where all her friends are going – Should be exciting, but I wonder what issues are going to crop up there – we’re leaving the devil we know for the one we don’t . . .</p>
<p>Best wishes to all who are starting something new!</p>
<p>Welcome back Berurah!! Lots of us have been missing you and your amazing insights!</p>
<p>Since I am picking up my boys from camp on Sunday, I am a very happy camper…But I am sure I will be entering the {{Hugs Hideaway}} many times in the future! Great idea!</p>
<p>I can totally relate to your excitement <em>and</em> anxiety about your second daughter’s starting high school at a different school than your older children attended! This, especially, struck home:
After our family has attended FIFTEEN years straight at our elementary school, our principal has <em>finally</em> retired! She was a difficult woman, but after a rocky start (and some rocky interim years), she and I had finally settled into a mutually respectful relationship. She always honored my requests for specific teachers, even though she did it grudgingly <em>rofl</em>. Now, with only two years left before my youngest son is out of that school, we will be getting a new principal. I only hope that we have a smooth relationship from the beginning because I well know what it took to finally establish a good, workable one with the former principal. At any rate, I’d already made my teacher request for next year before she left, so I think I only have one year left to worry about! So yeah, I can definitely relate to the “leaving the devil we know for the one we don’t” sentiment! </p>
<p>Wishing you and your D best of luck in her brand new school!! I hope all goes beautifully for her. And yes, we can cry on each other’s shoulders about our oldest D’s going off to college (though mine will be much closer to home than yours…<em>sigh</em>).</p>
<p>curiousmother~</p>
<p>Thank you so very much for the kind words! I missed many of my friends here too, and I am very glad to be back! </p>
<p>I’m SO excited to hear that your boys will be home on SUNDAY! I’m sure that after the issues y’all faced recently, this will be an especially sweet homecoming! :)</p>
<p>{{binx}} You NEVER need a reason to get hugs from me here or anywhere else! They’re yours whenever you want 'em! And I really love the idea of passing 'em on…hugs are awesome medicine!</p>
<p>I’ll take hugs for being the mom of a 19-year-old son for the past 360 days. I’ve found this my hardest mom-year so far, with his 15th year a close second. He’s just so prickly and proud and kind of ugh, how can I say this nicely and with compassion, stupid. (Other moms of 19-year-olds know what I mean by this, I hope.) Luckily, he turns 20 in a few days and I’m hoping it’s better. Good riddance to 19, I say.</p>
<em>ROFLMAO</em>! ROLLIN’ HERE at your delicate wording! I will join you in bidding farewell to 19. BRING ON 20! I’d say that with my oldest son, the hardest years were 11-14. The older he’s gotten (read: more independent and farther away), the better! <em>lol</em> He’s darn delightful now at 20. Hope it brings the same for your son!</p>
<p>~b.</p>
<p>BTW, Wishing your son a VERY HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY! :D</p>
<p>I think this thread would be especially useful to new parents (lurkers?) to CC. It can be quite intimidating to come into this “world” of CC for the first time. A great thread for new people to get a foothold into this little community in a nice, welcoming way!</p>
<p>We call the 17-19 years “Smart, smart, stupid!” around here! Especially when boys are involved. </p>
<p>Me, I need those hugs today. Tuesday we picked up the car the kids drive which had been in the body shop for 6 weeks after my D was in a major collision. She was fine, except airbag abrasions, but the brand new car was about 60% damaged. Insurance company wouldn’t total it since it was new with only 4500 miles, so its basically brand new all over again. Today she backs out of the garage into a repair truck in the driveway…back to the body shop (on her dime this time.) Maybe 17 year old girls have the smart, smart, stupid gene too! What a day.</p>
<p>You DO need {hugs}, don’t you? Wow…what a string of bad luck! The best news, of course, is that your precious D is fine except for the airbag abrasions, but WOW…the poor new car has taken a real beating. <em>sigh</em> Here’s hoping they get everything fixed up QUICKLY…and satisfactorily!</p>
<p>~berurah
p.s. We’ve had our own string of car repairs this month, though no body work. We have had, though, about $2000.00 worth of various other repairs. :(</p>
<p>Oldest D is across country for 2 months this summer. Younger sister, a rising junior in high school, is away at COSMOS (living in UC Irvine dorm) for the month of July. The youngest must think calling home is lame, because we’ve only had one short call.</p>
<p>Just me and the dog…hanging out most days until the beginning of August.</p>
<p>Awwwww, ellemenope! It must seem SO quiet around there! Despite the fact that we consider our nest empty when we’re down to three or so kids <em>rofl</em>, I truly CAN imagine how you feel <em>sigh</em>. {hugs} to you. My oldest son is in summer school this summer, but even just without him, it seems somehow emptier around here (although many of his friends practically LIVE here, even when he’s at school). I’m so glad that you have your sweet pup to keep you company! Hang in there…your youngest will be back soon, OK?</p>
At any rate, I’d already made my teacher request for next year before she left, so I think I only have one year left to worry about! So yeah, I can definitely relate to the “leaving the devil we know for the one we don’t” sentiment! </p>
And I really love the idea of passing 'em on…hugs are awesome medicine!</p>