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I swore to my daughter that I wouldn’t spend her entire senior year saying “It’s your last (insert holiday/activity here)”, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been thinking about it: her last birthday at home, her last high school football game, her last track meet. I mean, it was just yesterday that she said her first word and took her first steps. And in the blink of an eye, here she is, almost ready to leave for college. One of my strategies for coping with this roller coaster year is to really concentrate on all the fun and exciting things that she will have to look forward to in college next year. But there are definitely some things that I want to do before she flies the nest. I thought that we would have all the time in the world, but with college on the horizon, NOW is the time to make sure these things happen! Here is my list of “lasts” before college: A Bucket List for Senior Parents
Teach your high school senior about life skills
Teach your senior how to budget and manage finances, how credit cards work, how to get stains out of laundry, what medications to take when you are sick, how to refill a prescription, how to return an online purchase, getting/renewing a passport, etc.
Our kids are so smart, but we sometimes overestimate their ability to figure things out on their own. They still need our guidance, and actively teaching them to take care of themselves will go a long way to creating confidence in your teen when they are off at school.
Teach them how to cook the basics
Teach them how to cook the basics, and share coveted recipes of their favorite dishes. I’m sure the homemade macaroni & cheese my children make for themselves won’t be exactly the way I make it, but at least they will have one real meal in their repertoire. Even if they never really find the joy in cooking, they should at least know HOW to chop an onion, boil an egg, and tell if a piece of meat is actually cooked.
Have your entire family photographed together
Yes, I am a photographer, but this is not about self-promotion. Once your child is away at school, the logistics of planning a family portrait session is insanely difficult. Families constantly change and grow – don’t let this moment in time pass you by. Capture your family together as you are today so that you can enjoy these memories when your kids are away. You will NEVER regret it, and these memories only become more precious with the passing of time.
Be a tourist in your own town!
Do the things you’ve always wanted to do but never got around to doing: museums, restaurants, events, beach picnic, etc. I’ve lived in Charleston for 17 years and there are SO MANY things we’ve been meaning to do. Now is the time to make new and meaningful memories with my family.
Take a trip that you allow your senior to plan
Within some amount of reason, have them research, plan the logistics and stick to a budget. This will help them flex that independence they are craving and give them something FUN to look forward to this crazy year.
Try to have a family meal at least once a week
This is a tough one, I know. Schedules are crazy, and everyone is scattered to the wind. Maybe it’s Saturday morning pancakes or Friday pizza, but put it on the calendar if you have to. Regular time spent together helps us all catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives in real time.
Go to school events and support your children’s friends (and your parent friends!)
My girls obviously don’t play for our school’s football team, but I love attending games and hanging out with my friends who have boys that play and girls that dance and cheer. It’s fun to support school events, and it helps foster a sense of community and friendships that I know I will appreciate even when my girls no longer attend school there.
Spend one-on-one time with your senior doing what THEY want to do
Do I necessarily want to binge Season 3 of OBX with my senior? Not necessarily, but it’s not about WHAT we do, just that we do something TOGETHER.
Welcome their friends
I’m not going to lie – hosting sleepovers was a drag back in middle school. I felt like I needed to have the best entertainment, the best snacks, the cleanest house. And then I finally realized that none of it really matters (also because they can now drive to get whatever they want if I don’t have it). Having a pile of girls upstairs in my house makes me so happy because my daughter is happy and she is HERE. I may not be the coolest mom with the best food, but I love that my daughters’ friends feel comfortable enough to make our home their home.
Don’t hold back on affection and hugs
Tell them you love them and how proud you are of them. Have those late-night talks (because, inevitably, all the best ones happen after 10:30pm). Leave them notes of encouragement and tiny little unexpected gifts. This year is HARD for them, and they need us. We need it, too.
Figure out the legal stuff once they turn 18
I was blindsided when the nurse at my daughter’s dermatologist told me she couldn’t discuss anything with me on the phone. You’re going to want to look at: a HIPAA waiver for medical providers, FERPA consent for access to information at your child’s college, reviewing insurance coverage, considering a power of attorney, etc. Check with your family attorney or pop over to Mama Bear Legal Forms (NOT sponsored!) for more information.
Celebrate everything!
Life is very much about the perspective you choose – this year could be sad and hard or exciting and fun! Yes, there are components of all of these things, but choosing joy and relishing the little things is a great way to make this year a positive one. I mean, how much longer will I get to go out for “good report card ice cream”?
Printable Bucket List for Senior Parents
I hope that this list has helped inspire you to spend quality time with your senior and cherish this year together as a family. If you’d like to print up this bucket list and hang it by your desk to remind you each day, click here to download. Happy senior year, parents!!