This past week, millions experienced one of my favorite times of the year: Graduation.  It is the culmination of a child’s high school experience rising to a colossal defining moment.

The building is a buzz and there is an eclectic energy that cannot be replicated or duplicated. Seniors are in their best attire with half-zipped robes, getting the cap and tassel just right as they rush to the gathering area. Families are beaming with pride packed in the lobby with flowers, balloons or some kind of token. School staff is excited to see the students they have poured into the last few years take their final bow.

Then the highlight of the day begins: receiving the diplomas.

Kids strut across the stage waiting to hear their name called, while at the same time looking into a sea of people they call family to engage in high-pitch verbal celebrations and the yelling of that special nickname. The day ends with a barrage of selfies and pics with grandma waiting to be posted on social media.

Just a glorious day!

All of this sounds fabulous, but to be honest most of the time it’s a big headache to get to that day. Some kids are self-motived and get there with the average high school hiccups and make it happen. And for some it took all of Jesus, the 12 disciples, Pharaoh, Moses, Noah and The Pope to get them there.

There are some that never get there.

 

If you have  never been hated by your child,  you have never been a parent.” -Bette Davis

 

Personal Parent Experience

I have seen hundreds of family dynamics and approaches to the end of the rite of passage called high school. I have conferenced with these families, conducted workshops, and set personalized plans for their students. I see the pressure that parents go through trying to get kids to go to school, do and turn in homework, deal with relationship drama and every other obstacle you can think of.  I have seen the pain, frustration and embarrassment that parents go through as they try so hard to save face and ask for help.

But, I didn’t really get it until I became a parent going through the process. Before my oldest daughter started her senior year, I said “I was born ready for this. I got this whole college application process down pat!” How naive was that?  Whether my daughter meant it or not, under her breath and in the words of the great philosopher Kevin Hart, she said “You’re gonna learn today!”

She took me through it!

It’s not that she had intentions of stressing me (she was an A/B student with good behavior), she just had her own way of doing things and they didn’t always go along with MY plan.  So let’s just say there was a lot of compromising.

With all of the experience and assets of being an educator under my belt, I still was not prepared for the stress and anxiety that went along with getting my children out of the house, I’m sorry, off to college (that sounds nicer, right?). There were a ton of things that I learned on the parent side of life that I didn’t have to sort out with my students. I began to doubt myself. Then my worst nightmare that I didn’t even know I had come true–I was the one trying to save face in the school counselor’s office.

I then had a taste of how my parents felt!

 

Begin with the end in mind. Envision what you want in the future so that you know concretely what to make a reality.-Stephen Covey”

 

Begin With the End in Mind!

So with that being said, let’s get down to business! Some of the drama that goes on with teenagers during this time I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Some of the things that happen are situational and you don’t see coming. But the majority of it, you see coming like a freight train and can be avoided.

The goal of this site is to reduce the likelihood of your family having the experiences that ends in no or delayed graduation, no scholarships and poor post-graduation plans.

The core issues that will be discussed on this site are:

• Parent Advocacy, Engagement, and Enabling.  Learn how to work with your child’s school and be proactive instead of reactive when situations arise. Learn how to obtain and utilize the resources available to keep your child on their A-game.
• The College Application Process.  Learn the key years to strategize, how to find FREE resources and how to work with the school to explore all of your educational options.
• Senior Year expectations. Learn how and when to engage your student to avoid enabling, how to properly connect with staff and maintain regular contact with your school.

So start planning now!  Regardless of where you are in the process, let’s get these kids off to graduation! Check out the site, tell me know what you think and let me know what you would like to see here!

 

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