<p>@etondad yup! Although in our case it is kind of premature as our child is WLed but to be honest, as difficult as it was to see our child disappointed, there was a small part of me that was SO happy that child would likely be staying in her current very good, very affordable public school. I went to BS myself, and I hope things turn around for our daughter because I recognize the opportunity BS offers but oy will we miss her!!</p>
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<p>I believe it was, in fact, “The Odyssey,” a title that resonates amusingly in this particular context.</p>
<p>tortoise–yup, I corrected it in a later post–In fact BUA’s letter mentions that the admitted student would be on an Odyssey if they chose to come to BUA.</p>
<p>Clever. I think I like that place</p>
<p>chemmchimney, when we dropped our D at Exeter as a prep there was a session for the parents on homesickness–but unlike the other sessions 9and there were a number of them) this one turned out to be about the grieving that parents will go through when that place at the kitchen table is empty for the first time. The school understood that there is initial difficulties for both sides of the equation and that they were there to help–and gave suggestions on how to deal with it for both the child’s and the parent’s benefits.</p>
<p>It was the unspoken issue that was wonderful to have out in the open. I have always appreciated the Academy’s willingness to acknowledge it and to give support to parents as well.</p>
<p>etondad - yes. We thought our kids are several years apart. When the oldest was ready for college we thought we’d have “extra” time to adjust with the youngest being home. But she opted for boarding school. Took a bit of time to get used to the “silence” and walking past the empty bedroom. Several of her classmate’s parents asked the same thing - surprisingly more fathers than mothers. I remember the sad look on my husband’s face changing however when we were preparing to fly back home after dropping her off, and one of the Dean’s gestured him over, shook his hand and whispered something in his ear. I said “what did he say?” My husband got all teary eyed. “He said, don’t worry, we’ll take good care of your baby girl!”</p>
<p>So fill the empty space with “date nights”. We suddenly realized all the things we couldn’t do because they interfered with school schedules suddenly goes away.</p>
<p>But I envy you being so close. You can visit for events more often than those of us across the country. Plus, the vacation periods are so long it feels like they’re home a lot anyway. Actually, we commented that the “absence” of our daughter causes her to be more communicative about her life than when she was at home. :)</p>
<p>dear exieMIT alum, yes we have been with D and now S#2, but as my screen name indicates, our eldest was an ocean away. So I understand psychic dimensions of physical distance–I still find myself–and he has been in college back home for years–looking at my watch at 4 pm bc we would speak at 9pm his time during the week and I made my schedule accomodate that standing phone call for all the years he was at Eton.</p>
<p>You are right that somehow society excepts moms to mourn, but at least with our generation, it can be equally as difficult for dads–but the stereotype is to just suffer in silence-- good for that dean for recognizing your husband’s need for someone to acknowledge his emotional state.</p>
<p>in re. BUA’s letter:</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, it was something along the lines of, “I hope you will choose to embark on your own Odyssey here.”</p>