I choked up when I read yesterday's NY Times article about The Getaway Car, a father's recollection of a final trip with his daughter pre-college. I am sure all parents with teens did.
But thankfully, for the millions of kids who go to overnight camp each summer, their - and their parents - prep for the home-to-college transition - starts early. I remember starting the camp rite of passage with my kids and thinking, wow, college is next! With at least 10 years in between:). It did help for everyone.
What I took away from this article was let your kids separate on their own, and find other things to keep you busy. If you did your job well, they will be excited and transition well. Of course there may be some small speed bumps along the way, but summer camp experiences do create a strong foundation.
Don't run to solve their quandries; rather offer a (your) perspective, and let them digest it. Either they will embrace it on their own, or discard it for their own, which may or may not work. But that is okay; because skinned knees are life lessons.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with their new world; don't judge. Because if you want to be part of their new home, you need to accept their terms and parameters. Remember this is their experience, not yours.
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