I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU AND I WAS IN THIS POSITION TWO YEARS AGO, TOO. 

So I know how it feels now and how fast this year and next year goes. I'd been warned by many folks that it flies but, omg, it REALLY did. Well like it or not, here we are, our babies (the first or not) are growing up and yes we will make it through together: the last first day of high school, the last birthday at home, last homecoming dance, last varsity game. I'm trying to hold it together just thinking of what's to come. 

But to lighten the load, I thought I'd offer up some tips and reminders of what's to come and what we should focus on: 

GET READY FOR THOSE DIGITAL SATS + ACTS

 Many colleges are starting to require them and you may be having them take the tests several times so look at the schedules and sign up so you can (hopefully) do it at your school. I literally just did this. Note: the last one they can take is fall of senior year.

MAKE A LIST OF COLLEGE CHOICES

 We liked Niche best for collecting information. It's a free resource (like Naviance)  Link is here https://www.niche.com/ If you're good at spreadsheets, you gonna want to make your own too.  

UPCOMING MONTHS

Visit colleges! Schedule tours during for spring break NOW cause they will fill up. What they think they want can vary widely and sometimes they just walk on the campus and get a bad vibe. If your kid has no idea what they prefer, make sure they walk on different campuses. We drove all the way up to New Hampshire and it was a no when we got out of the car. She just wasn't feeling it. We walked around and the only thing i could pin her down on was the architecture wasn't her fave and it was very spread out. Go figure. 

Make time to enjoy this spring break together as a family. And ask your teachers for recommendation letters soon.  They probably won't write them til summertime but it's good to ask them about it now. 

THIS SUMMER

 Write your common app essays. You'll thank me. Help your kiddo make a senior year bucket list and try to make those thing happen. Visit schools, I'll say it again. Catch an open house so it doesn't feel so empty. Maybe you can tie in a mini vacation to where the colleges they're interested are...? 

SENIOR PORTRAITS

Your school may be contracted to do a formal and a cap and gown shot. But if not, find out what the school requires in case you have to do that on your own. Some schools let you be more creative and hire a pro like me. Why not consider a unique portrait of you kid in a setting and environment that makes sense for them? Whether it's with me or someone else, now is a good time to contact a photographer and find out what they can do for you. With Joan Ford Portraits, we make sure your teen is comfortable with us and we have several times to connect so on session day, they know us and we know them.  We'll have pre session consult with kid and parent, questionnaires for you both and schedule everything out so things go super smoothly. We want this to be a no stress day for you both! 

AND we do our best to include mom, the pet or the whole family for a couple shots in the end. You never know when you're going to be able to do this again, so be ready! 

OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Gather up those baby pictures and old school photos. You'll want them for yearbook ads and slideshows for parties. It's also a good time to sort out their artwork and awards which (might?) be super fun to show off around graduation time.  And if not, you'll at least be doing a good clear out of stuff you don't want. 

LIFE SKILLS (just something good to be sure they know before they're off on their own) 

Deposits + Withdrawls +Budgets

How to do laundry! Come on now. 

Have a few simple meals in their arsenal that they know how to cook.

Flat tire/roadside emergency skills!

Talk to them about failure and how you've failed at things but are still okay. 

AND SOAK UP EVERY MINUTE

 Family dinners, even if it's in front of the TV, be together as much as you can now. 

Sit on their bed at nite. Listen more than you talk.

Ride together, you'll find they're more open to talking when you're not looking at each other. 

Go for walks together - either with the dog or cause the weather's nice. And you both can turn off devices. 

Weekend big breakfasts together. Remember when you'd make pancakes together? My kids bought me a belgian waffle maker for Mothers Day one year even tho I hadn't requested it! I'll bust it out and add lots of chocolate chips to the mix and they're gone in no time.

Give them big hugs and forehead kisses - just because. 

Don't work at nite when they're home. (note to self) Even if they're in their bedroom, maybe you can get them to come out and watch a Marvel movie together. 

LOOKING AHEAD

You'll start to notice more empty nest notices coming up on facebook and Instagram. I've found Grown and Flown to be really useful and helpful with little tips and reminders whether your kid is still in high school or almost out.  https://grownandflown.com/

LETS SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR THIS TIME WITH OUR KIDS. WE'VE POURED OUR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO THEM FOR 17 YEARS!

 If you're the parent of an upcoming senior in Marlton or other parts of South Jersey or Philadelphia, I would love to talk with you about creating your child's senior portraits. I for one treasure images of my daughter and our lives together BC (before college). At Joan Ford Portraits, we love working with seniors and their families in this crazy emotional and exciting time of life. To book a custom senior session, click the button below or give me a call at 215-266-1559.