Sophie will be graduating from high school this week (as I’ve mentioned countless times!) And I’ve learned a lot over the course of this year about how to prepare for your child’s senior year. I’ve got a few tips for those of you who may be following in my footsteps in the next few years.
Planning ahead will really pay off
I’ve written before about how to plan ahead for the prom. And all that planning really paid off- there was so little stress associated with getting ready. It was lovely, and it allowed us to enjoy the time rather than rushing around. But the lessons I learned in that experience apply for all aspects of your child’s senior year too. Buy the tickets (for whatever) early. Think about the outfits needed- early- and devote some time to locating them. Block time on your calendar to do all this pre-work, and trust me. This will make the last, busy months of your child’s senior year so much more enjoyable.
A few things that we did that have paid off:
- Bought one pair of comfortable sandals for Sophie to wear with everything- in March. The salesperson at Nordstrom commended us- “these shoes sell out every year- smart thinking to buy them now.”
- Made dinner reservations for various celebratory events- early. No worries about where we’re going to eat because everything is booked
- Booked appointments for hair cuts, etc early, and early in the day. The 9am appointments mean that we have most of the day free for other fun things
- Had family meetings on a regular basis to keep everything organized. Everyone brings their calendar, laptops, and list of pending items. (Yes, this is how I run my projects at work too! :))
But being flexible has advantages too…
You don’t want to box yourself into a corner with your planning. A few things- fun and necessary- have come up that require some flexibility. This could mean using cancellation policies or forgoing some activities. So you don’t want to be so thoroughly planned that there is no room for the spontaneous.
Some examples- Sophie needed to attend her school’s welcome weekend in April, which meant rearranging several activities. Luckily, we hadn’t overbooked those weekends, just in case. And because we had planned ahead with Sophie’s hair appointment for the prom, we could attend the home tour at the last minute. A win win!
Budget for more than you think you will need
I have been constantly surprised by the expenses that have “come out of the blue.” In reality, these expenses should not have surprised me. Hopefully you can be a bit better prepared during your child’s senior year! A few things I wasn’t expecting- tickets to the dance recital (didn’t we already pay for the lessons??), 350 paper plates for the senior breakfast, a contribution to the Grad Night festivities (on top of buying a ticket), multiple dresses for multiple events. Instead of trying to guess what expenses are around the corner, just set aside 25% more than you think you will need. And trust me, you will need it!
Enjoy every moment
This last semester of senior year has gone so fast. It feels like it was just yesterday that Cheddar and I were hiking in Windsor, waiting for Sophie to finish taking the ACT. And here we are, less than a week before high school graduation. More than any other advice for your’s child senior year, I advise slowing down and participating in everything. I am not a joiner! I frequently opt out of activities that I deem “boring.” And I am not afraid to say no. But in the last few months, I am urging myself to say yes. And when I participate, I am bringing my full attention. Because these are days of “lasts”- last school pickup, last drop off at Sophie’s after school job, last recital.
I think about how many “lasts” have come and gone without my noticing. The last time I picked Sophie up, the last time I changed her diaper. To say goodbye to some of these things felt like a relief- but what I wouldn’t go back in time for a day with Sophie as a baby! As a result, I am trying to appreciate everything now and I urge you to do the same. Your child’s senior year will whizz by; be there for all of it!
