Raising kids is like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions—you’re just hoping it turns out functional in the end. And if you think the diaper stage is hard, just wait until you hit the college prep years. Honestly, I’d take late-night diaper changes over late-night college application stress any day.
The real madness began freshman year of high school. Apparently, kids these days have to build a “college resume”—as if surviving puberty isn’t enough. Clubs, volunteer hours, leadership roles—who knew getting into college was like applying for a CEO position? When I applied, my biggest concern was remembering to mail the application on time. And let’s not even talk about choosing a major. I was still deciding between Taco Bell and McDonald’s for dinner, let alone my life’s career path.
But my daughter? She’s had it figured out since day one. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to decipher FAFSA forms like I’m hacking into the Pentagon. Between dual enrollment, SATs, ACTs, financial aid, and endless campus visits, prepping for college is practically a full-time job.
That’s why we’re kicking off a new series to help parents navigate this glorious chaos. Sure, schools have college counselors, but guess what? Parents are often left out of those meetings, which means your teenager—who once thought eating glue was a good idea—is now making major life decisions solo. Starting the conversation before high school helps kids build their academic “street cred” early and avoid taking random electives that won’t help them land a job (looking at you, Underwater Basket Weaving).
Am I emotionally ready for my daughter to head off to college? Absolutely not. Will knowing she’ll be local for her first four years help soften the blow? Maybe a little. In the meantime, I still have my boys to prep for high school, so I’ll be in the trenches for a while. And when that first day of college comes? I’ll be the mom ugly crying in the parking lot—while secretly Googling “How to cope with an empty nest.”
