Musings from a middle school reading specialist. I encourage my students to read, talk, write, and have fun!
I parent two amazing young-adult daughters with my husband of 30+ years.

March 7, 2016

The Real Adult is Home #SOL16 7/31

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My husband usually travels each week for work.  This week he will be at home.  My 17 year old daughter is beyond stressed.

When Dad is home, Alli is highly encouraged to get into the shower before 9:00 p.m.  Then she is strongly encouraged to get out of bed in the morning the minute her alarm goes off.

Yes, executive function tasks are strengths for my husband, but they are not a strength for my daughter.  He has a linear sense of time, her sense is circular, wavy and spiral!

She is looking forward to leaving home and attending college this fall (go, Redbirds!) where she can be on her own schedule (hope she realizes freshmen are more likely to get 8am classes) and make her own decisions about food, sleep, showers and level of mess in her room.

Will the next few months be rocky for all of us as we try not to tell her when to wake up, go to sleep, and highly encourage her to get to school on time?

Absolutely.

Will she be successful this fall? 

Absolutely.  

6 comments:

  1. That's what parents are supposed to do - make life miserable for our teens! She will succeed as she ventures out on her own and will remember all those special reminders over the years.

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  2. She should know that it comes from a place of love...I bet she will miss all the "comforts" (yes and even "reminders") of home.

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  3. Hmmm ... wonder where she picked up all the circular, wavy, spiral?!? Little gentle reminders won't hurt as well as the reminder that those gentle reminders won't be happening this fall. :) I know she will figure it out!

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  4. Oh dear... I'm not looking forward to the teenage years. I'm trying to savor the little ladies I have right now. But you are right, she will absolutely succeed!

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  5. Sometimes we succeed because we have to. She's ready! This is an exciting time for her!

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  6. It must feel very reassuring to KNOW she will be successful! Not all parents can say that when sending their child off to college.

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