What do I do, Mom? That is what I am hearing from my high school senior son! He doesn't know WHAT he wants to do for the future, so how is he supposed to know WHERE he is to apply for college! When he mentions a college "just for the basics" I flip out saying it is just a party school. My defense as "Mom" is that this particular college DOES have a reputation as a party school, and with my son's "no focus at the moment" mentality, I do not want to see him bomb out his first semester. Is it I don't have faith in him, or is it more likely that I have been to college myself! I know the pitfalls! I have seen the failures! I TEACH college students, for goodness sake! But, I am "THE MOM." What do I know?
At lunch with another up and coming Senior's Mom, we brainstormed. THIS Mom had the following suggestions: List your child's interests, apply to as many colleges that have those majors offered and be able to sit down with the acceptance letters, choose one and then GET GOING on those scholarships apps! This did help! I came home, approached my son, and we actually got excited TOGETHER, with my agreeing to allow him to apply to even those schools that I did not think were the best. I think it made him felt like it was his decision, which ultimately, like the REST of his young adult life, it will be! It is so hard to let go! We Moms are such "fixers" or at least we try to be! Sigh!
