I love being a parent to a high school senior. Senior year of high school and all of the various traditions that each school has is so much fun. I am the type of person who likes to go into a situation informed and prepared. So of course I am researching what our specific school does for events, making a list, and also making sure that my friends don’t miss anything either. One thing that totally helped my sanity the first time through this process was group texts. Get a group text together with some other senior mom friends. There is power in numbers and with friends, you are more likely not to miss anything.
Our high school principal is amazing and sends out an email with links and important dates before school starts. In fact, I received this year’s email while I was creating the checklist for this post. You just have to have a huge appreciation for a well organized leader that also communicates well. We sure are lucky.
The year can look so different for each family, but some things are universal no matter your situation. I have gathered a list of things to consider for your last year with your child. Some are practical and a lot of them are fun. Some of these we did ourselves with my oldest and some of these were cute ideas I saw my friends doing.
Practical Ideas:
- Schedule any remaining school visits. This includes community college or trade school.
- Write down / enter into Google Calendar all college and scholarship application open dates and deadlines.
- Write down / enter into Google Calendar all school days off and early release dates and school events like senior parade and yearbook order deadlines.
- Budget an amount for senior year spending. Including fun money for you to spend one-on-one time together.
- Make a list of adulting skills you would like your child have before leaving home and practice them throughout the year.
- Have the proper forms ready for when your senior turns 18. We used Mamma Bear Legal.
- Check to see that your child is registered to vote.
Fun Ideas:
- Create a special senior year photo folder where you have photos from past years to use for senior signs, events and announcements.
- Talk with your senior about how you will celebrate graduation. Party, trip, money?
- If you will be hiring one, research and book your senior portrait photographer.
- Set a family activity for at least once a month. This doesn’t need to be expensive! Game night, movie night, brunch, ice cream out at your local favorite spot…
- Plan out what pictures you would like to take this year. Do you want to take pictures in front of each school your child attended? Will you be taking them yourself or will you be hiring a photographer?
- Collect t-shirts from your kids, in order to make a t-shirt memory quilt if you plan to make one and start researching memory quilt makers.
- Search on Facebook for groups relating to your situation. College Dorm Ideas, College Athletes, FAFSA, or Grown & Flown Parents.
- Plan out one-on-one time with your senior. Taking them to get their favorite food is usually an easy win and talking in the car seems to be the easiest for some kids.
- See if you can arrange a phone call or even a job site visit with someone in the field of what your senior wants to study in college or the job they want after graduation.
- Collect encouraging notes and advice about life from important friends and family members to give to your senior at graduation.
You are going to see families and other schools doing things that you are not doing. Remember that you are creating the best experience for YOUR family and YOUR senior. Nobody will have exactly the same experience and that is okay. Leave a lot of white space on your calendar to allow for spontaneous events. Have a cushion in your budget for things that will pop up. Try not to have to have “every” event go perfectly and any time you can spend with your senior that pops up, TAKE IT!
