BS experience vs. parental guidance

123mama
Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:28:53 +0000

This is the third time I’m trying to reply on this thread. For some reason, it hasn’t taken my posts.

Bottom line, families are all different, as are the children within those families. This is my second go round with BSs, and this time we looked at different schools. Not because of a poor experience, but because of personality/learning style differences btw DC1 and DC2.

You do miss out on some experiences when your child is boarding, but you also gain others. Part of this is distance related. DC1 went to a school less than 2 hours away, we were still able to see all major performances, and he was able to come home for weekends semi regularly. DC2 is looking at schools further away, it won’t be so easy. Cell phones, email, skype…these are amazing tools, I can’t imagine being the parent of a boarder without them. Each school is also different in built in structure of how/how frequently they communicate with the family. I highly recommend making sure your son quickly finds an adult they feel comfortable with. Even if it isn’t the assigned advisor, it will help you AND him to have a trusted adult on site.

It’s hard when they’re sick, and you get the call from the health center. It’s harder if/when you get a call saying, “We’re on our way to the ER…”

There’s good and bad to all options, public, magnet, private day, parochial, boarding, and homeschooling. I assume a lot of thought went into the decision to support your son applying to bs, and then more thought on which schools seemed to suit him. Trust that, trust that the schools want kids who will fit in and thrive…but then make sure all reasonable supports are in place.

DC1 is finished with bs, in the first year of college now. I can honestly say we are incredibly close, and don’t believe we’d have been closer if he had gone to a local school.

If you ask specific questions, I’ll try to answer. Also, check out the “hostility” thread, it addresses some of the thoughts you might be having.