Senior Year

Hey everyone! Its been a minute.  I hope you are all managing through this Coronavirus and that you and your families are all safe and healthy.  The kids and I are all home, trying not to get on each other’s nerves.  Just like everyone else, we can’t wait for this to all be over so that we can get to our new “normal”.
 
My daughter reminded me last week that if not for the coronavirus, she and her friends would have been in France for Spring Break.  I have to tell you; I really feel sorry for my daughter and all the other graduating seniors.  They worked so hard over the last four years, expecting to enjoy big moments this year, only instead to find themselves being quarantined at home.  My daughter is currently on Spring Break and was supposed to be in France with her classmates.  Every year, her school plans a trip overseas.  My daughter and her friends were able to convince us parents to pay for them to enjoy all that France has to offer.  And why not?  My daughter and her friends hadn’t been on any of the other overseas trips, and this is their senior year.  My daughter works hard, makes good grades, and really doesn’t give us any problems.  She deserved to go.  This trip was her reward for being a great daughter.  You can only imagine her disappointment when the trip was cancelled.  
 
Not only was the Spring Break trip cancelled, but so was her last season of outdoor track. It looks like prom will be cancelled as well.  And, graduation is not looking too good right now either.  
 
For my daughter and other seniors, this time of year was supposed to be full of fun and excitement.  The seniors were all supposed to be hanging out with their friends, making memories to last a lifetime.  Instead, they are stuck at home, “seeing” each other by Zoom or Google Classrooms, making a different kind of memories.
 
Well, times change, and we must change with them.  Unfortunately, some of those changes will be disappointing for our kids … and for us.  I hate to see my kids disappointed, but disappointment is part of life.  We have to help our kids navigate how they handle disappointment because unfortunately, this will not be the last time that they will be disappointed.  This is a teaching lesson for our kids.
 
So, now you know, and you can … Consider Yourself Warned!
 
Parents, how are you helping your kids cope with the disappointments that they are experiencing now?