*This is a guest post.
As kids return to school, moms may be harboring some bittersweet feelings about your teenagers entering their last few years of high school. Junior and senior years can be exciting and difficult times for families as they prepare for SATs, submit applications and visit universities to decide where their child should head after graduation.
Whether your child is considering studying at South University or attending Sacramento State, there are some practical ways that you can show them extra love as they move through this wonderful yet often stressful season.
1. Yum!
Everybody knows that teens love food. Quantity and quality are always appreciated by growing boys and girls. It may sound simple, but surprising your son or daughter with their favorite meal or a sweet study time snack can speak volumes of care and send the message that “I’m there for you.”
2. Organizational Help
When sorting through college application materials, scholarship brochures and test scores, teens can get a little overwhelmed. Taking a quick survey of the average teenager’s room will reveal that your young adult is most likely a novice when it comes to administrative and housekeeping skills.
While being thoughtful to allow them their own space and responsibility, offering a little extra help with keeping on top of deadlines and information may prove a welcome gift. Creating file folders for each potential college can prove an excellent way of helping your teen keep track of their contacts and manage the application process.
3. Don’t Add Pressure
While it is super exciting to visit colleges and dream about helping to decorate freshman dorm rooms, this can be a stressful time for your student. Make sure to keep your individual child’s behavior and reactions in mind. Your son or daughter might respond positively to the encouragement of you and your spouse’s excitement. But for another child, all of this hype might create additional pressure even though it is not intended in this way.
4. Prepare for FAFSA
After your child is accepted, January 1st will soon be approaching and this brings the opportunity to file for FAFSA government aid for tuition. Preparing your tax documents ahead of time will help to ensure early filing for to see if your family qualifies for government help with tuition costs.
5. Facilitate Communication
Although your teen may be reluctant to talk, now is an important time to make sure that your child knows they can approach you with questions and fears as well as exciting news. If your teen plans on leaving for college in the next year, then you will especially want to practice open communication now so that it is established for later when they have moved away from home. It is difficult to be a parent as your child begins to pull away. But providing them with extra grace along with appropriate boundaries can help to protect your loving relationship with them.
It is an adventurous season for both you and your college bound teen. But there are simple ways to focus on the excitement and joys of growing up and eliminate frustration, anxiety and stress.
*Author Bio: Author Abby Evans is a mother and freelance journalist currently reviewing health options for her family.