<p>“. Still, it is sad to see your kids narrowing their lives when you’ve spent the last 18 years broadening it with sports and music and other enriching experiences.”</p>
<p>It’s important for us to realize that just because a student decides to drop an activity now doesn’t mean that they won’t go back to it later, perhaps decades later. Dropping an activity also may give them room to broaden themselves by exploring some new pursuits. They also may deepen themselves by using their newly available time to become more intensely involved with an activity they already are pursuing, but haven’t had the time to go into in depth.</p>
<p>My son was a soccer player from before kindergarten to 10th grade, including intensive travel teams, etc. I would say that for a large period of his young life his “self-idendity” was that of a soccer player. He did not play for the last two years of high school, because he did not like the coach or the team at our high school (with valid reason) and was not enjoying himself, but it was a very difficult decision for him to stop playing at that time. In fact, the decision to do cross country instead of soccer was the topic of his main college essay. Now, in college, he plays soccer on several IM teams on which he is considered one of the better players, and is talking about how he could join an adult league after he graduates. When he was home for several weeks recently, it was great to watch him in the back yard from my kitchen window, working out with the soccer ball as a full grown adult, just as he did for so many years as a kid and young teenager. So it is true that a person may go back to an activity to which they were heavily committed, after a break of long or short length.</p>
<p>I am so glad this thread was posted. My D. has written two songs and worked on two others. Its taken a year of back and forth collaboration. Yesterday was the day they were to record the demo and I thought I would stay home and let hubby take her but something clicked when I read this thread, and I went along and oh my I am so glad I went. What an incredible experience and her voice recorded better than I ever imagined it could. She was in the studio a long time and we only were in there to hear some sections…but the guy she is working with said one of the songs gave him chills and he was just thrilled…so you can imagine how we all felt…
Next step is getting the label ready for the demo and then go from there to try and interest the right person.</p>
<p>SRMOM3-
Your thread hit at the right time. My freshman D told me that she doesn’t really feel that the theatre program at her school is where she wants to be. I always had a feeling that she wouldn’t stick with theatre as a major so there was more emphasis on her going to a university instead of a conservatory type program. Still, when she told me of her decision, while I completely support her, I felt a little sad too. Then I had to remember how I went into college gung-ho on one major and after 1 sememster realized that it wasn’t for me either. I never regretted my decision to switch majors and know she won’t either.</p>
<p>SRMom - I know your feelings although mine is a bit different.</p>
<p>My oldest S graduated in May and played 4 years of college lacrosse (hence the name Laxmom) and when he played his final game in May I felt such a loss. I still do. He had played sports (football, wrestling and lacrosse) since he was 5 years old and now at 22 he is finished playing competitively. I think it’s a sense of finality that did it for me. DH & I’ve enjoyed watching him compete. To see his athleticism was always amazing to me. He made it look easy. </p>
<p>I know there will be a lot of “firsts”, but I spent my son’s senior year consciously aware of “lasts”: the last holiday concert, the last all-state music festival, the last rifle match, the last banquet, etc…I guess from hearing everybody here, it’s a common feeling.</p>
I remember that feeling well, and have started taking advantage of every social gathering my son’s HS is offering this fall. As for the college daughter, I’m pushing my husband hard for a fall trip to Williamstown, pointing out that this is our second-to-last fall with a student there. Obsessive? Not me.</p>