This is a great way of putting it! Moving from being the driver to a passenger is a challenge, but definitely worth it in the end because you get to see and enjoy the path that’s being taken more.
My daughter is very self sufficient. Never have to remind her to do anything. She’ll have that part down. I’m more worried about her communicating and seeking help from professors, coaches, or us if she’s struggling in any way.
We have psuedo senioritis in our house. D26 is honoring her commitments and on time for stuff, but is kinda just going through the motions.
She’s anxiously waiting for her ED1 admission decision. If she gets in, YAY! If not, back to the recruiting cycle.
I’m not sure I’d call it senioritis because D26 is actually doing a lot better this year so far than any other. A lot of it has to do with taking classes that actually interest her, but I think some of it is maturity creeping in. But she definitely sees the finish line.
Our issue right now is the cold that won’t go away- she was up all night coughing and had to stay home today. 
My daughter has to leave the house by about 645 to be at school on time. She’s been leaving at 6:50 and sometimes 655 so that, while her advisor won’t mark her late because she’s a friend of mine, everyone she gives a ride to gets marked late. And she misses breakfast at school. And the kids are too nice to her about it because they are just grateful to not have to take the bus. I’m ashamed to say that I’m still in bed at that time so I only deal with it way afterwards when I see the time that she got to school on Life360.
Same here. She never needs reminding for assignments or test, studying, etc. But, she needs for example of sports physical for school by January 4. I told her to call the doctors office and make an appointment. It’s an automated system and then you just schedule the appointment. It’s way too hard for her. Or she got her haircut at my hairdresser and I asked her when her next appointment is. She never made another appointment! Those things are what’s going to trip her up
Aww I wish my D26 had senioritis kicking in!!! I fear she is trying to keep too many balls in the Air! They get the whole week off for Thanksgiving and boy does she need a break! I am still trying to teach her to say No and for others to understand No is a complete sentence.
Oh dude, this would stress me out, lol. And it would stress my kid out if other people were relying on her for rides!
When D26 was in middle school, she rode to school with my D22. But, high school started at 8:10am, and middle school started at 8:00am. And my older one was always running late, so my younger one would have to sprint to class to get there on time, while her sister could then go park and walk in leisurely by the high school bell.
There was more than one squabble about it in our house, believe me. 
I would still be in bed, but our mornings are most peaceful if I get up and make a Carnation instant breakfast and then wake up D26 and hand it to her to drink while she’s sitting in bed. I also play a song for her on the Echo – and it’s a personal goal to go through every possible 80s song 
– but after that, she does get up and get dressed and leave the house without a hassle. She just takes forever to do her hair, lol.
lol you D26’s friends must really hate the bus. My D26 drives her brother to school and sometimes grabs others but she would never ever drive her brother again if he made her late!
Some good news. D26 learned that she got a pay raise at her Wally World job. But the funny thing is that nobody ever told her about it. It just sort of showed up. 
The bus is in 2 legs and comes at 6:02!!! It’s awful. Huge district and we are the farthest from the school.
D26 has senior privilege first period so she doesn’t have to leave until 8:40. And she still just squeaks into class!
That does sound dreadful!
Ohh my word. My kids would revolt if I made them ride the bus at that hour.
My S25 had this last year during his senior year, too! He had to show up for second period which was at 9:15, I think.
He could go to bed at midnight and wake up at 8, then have plenty of time to shower and eat breakfast and dawdle and still make it to school in time. It made for such a peaceful senior year – in previous years, he was an absolute beast in the mornings if he felt rushed.
I do wish we paid better attention to teenagers’ later circadian rhythms – but then, my high schooler often gets home at 6:30pm after rehearsal for band or theatre. I can’t imagine if that were shifted an hour later to accommodate a later school day.
And, a-ha – THIS is why she doesn’t have senioritis!
That’s insane. I can see why everyone wants a ride!
My kids run out the door at 8 and they complain about that. 6:02 would be a nonstarter around here.
It’s actually been an incredible barrier to success for some of our exchange students we’ve hosted. They are used to getting up at 7:30 and being at school five minute walk from their house by 8:30 or nine. To have to get up about 5 AM and be on the bus at six was tough. I actually ended up altering my work schedule so I could drive kids in recent years. And now that our own kid drives, it has made it easier. And it’s probably why we agreed to get her a car immediately after she was licensed. It’s still early but at least it’s not 6 AM early.
What time does school actually start?
Until D26 finally got used to driving about a month ago, it was drama in the mornings at our house too. I drove her because the bus picks up waaaay too early. But because she knew she didn’t have to be there until 9:07, she dawdled getting ready and I was late to work every day. I finally told her if she didn’t start driving herself, it was bus time!
D26s school starts at 7:40 
Way to early- but she is an early riser so that helps out a lot!! (S20- whole other story - lol)
Luckily, we are only a mile away from school- so if she rides her bike- she is there in under 10 minutes.
If she takes the car in- she has to leave at least 30 minutes before, or traffic will be too terrible to make it in time.
She prefers the bike- it is a very nice ride through the neighborhood that leads into a nature trail behind the school. She does have a few run ins with nature (coyotes and such) but so far, no actual issues. The ‘nature’ seems to understand to stay off the actual trail- for the most part 
