Throwback to November 13-December 12, 2011

1. Think in relative terms. Sure, you may not be thrilled with the newly-pierced tragus, but at least a tattoo was postponed. For now.

2. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for all the teachers who have agreed to write letters of recommendation. Better yet, say several prayers, because these dear people are over-worked and under-paid, yet remain so supportive of our kids.

3. Buy new file folders. Start organizing FAFSA documentation now, since it’s due January 1 for some schools, and you don’t want these papers to get lost among the holiday bills.

4. Be grateful you kept old folders, because at least one school wants to know the date we registered to vote in Virginia. Really? And the exact date we moved into our house. And the date we registered our vehicles.

5. When she asks for a hug, just give it; don’t question the reason, just do it.

6. Appreciate the irony of life. So today you screeched at her a bit about her (admitted) lapse of judgment. Then 15 minutes later you open the mail to see that she’s been invited to join the National Beta Club because of her “academic achievement, worthy character, and commendable character.” Hmph!

7. Remind her occasionally that lapses of judgment could result in loss of car, gas money, and cell phone. Remind her that you pay for life as she knows it.

 8. Allow her to have a “campus weekend” preview when College Boy’s sweet female friends invite her to spend Friday night/Saturday with them. Marvel at the fact that College Boy no longer minds that his little sister is “tagging along.”

9. Pat yourself on the back for not asking (prior to her road trip to see her brother) if she remembered to pack everything, if she had money in her wallet, and if she had enough gas in the car. And upon her return, wait for her to volunteer details, even if you’re dying to know gossip about College Boy.

10. Don’t volunteer too much information about what you did at 18. For example, when she reports that a campus party she visited was serving mulled wine, don’t look at Husband and gush, “Whatever happened to the jello shots and 151 we used to drink?” Oh, I did say that out loud, didn’t I?

11. So when she gets really excited about a private university that has accepted her, take a deep breath before you look at the tuition. Remind yourself that you encouraged College Boy to go to a private school. And that your parents encouraged you to go to a private school. And somehow, the family did not have to resort to ramen noodles for each meal.

12. Remind yourself, as you help Daughter with math homework that involved derivatives and radicals and quadratic equations, that all this mental activity is helping your middle-aged brain to stay healthy.