Author’s Note: The post that follows was originally published on July 31, 2016. As we prepare for our youngest, Henry, to head off to college in a little less than a month, this piece feels particularly relevant again to my family’s circumstances. As such, I wanted to share it with others among you who may be navigating your way through the wild emotional ride that is the summer between finishing high school and starting college. -JST
The Summer Between
The summer between high school and college is a unique moment in time. It is punctuated at either end by massive life moments and a flood of competing emotions which cover the full spectrum, from pride and joy to nostalgia and loss. And confusion. And for parents, it is at once wonderful and awful.
High school graduation is simultaneously a celebration of achievement and the passing of a mile marker on life’s journey that requires special acknowledgement. It’s much more than successfully completing a prescribed set of courses and collecting a diploma on a sun splashed football field while an under-staffed school band croaks out a tinny version of Pomp and Circumstance. It is unmistakably the official end of childhood. And for parents, it is at once wonderful and awful. Continue reading “The Summer Between”