Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 417
December 14, 2016
Christmas Can Be Difficult With a Child at College
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I grew up in a house without many traditions, but now that I’m married with children and have reached the rank of second-in-command, my family has several Christmas traditions. With our oldest son away at college, though, we’ve already had to alter one of them.
Capturing Moments: The Lost Art of Waiting For Pictures
My twelve-year-old niece grabs my cell phone and photo bombs a litany of selfies in a matter of seconds. She makes a series of duck faces, silly faces, and adorable ones. Then she grabs the device and begins to look at her masterpieces. She’s part of the generation of instant gratification, instalike and Instagram and sometimes I wonder if she’s better off. I can remember a time of picture-taking that had different benefits.
My first camera was a thin, black Kodak Instamatic, with a string h...
December 12, 2016
College Gear: The Best Places to Shop This Holiday Season
From care packages to Christmas gifts, college gear is sure to be on your shopping list at some point in the near future. We have rounded up some of our favorite stores where you can find the perfect collegiate merchandise. Here is a sample of some great stuff to consider for the college fans in your family.
Now I Understand Why My College Daughter Flew The Coop
It was only four months ago that I was nearly inconsolable after saying goodbye to my college daughter. However, as much as I have missed my daughter’s presence in our home, her five-week college winter break gave me a major dose of reality. I understand now that when most children reach 18 years old, it is time for them to fly the coop.
I loved having my daughter home, and yet there were some tense moments which made me realize that an inevitable shift that had occurred—a shift for her, for...
The 10 Most Useful Posts on Grown and Flown in 2016
Here at Grown and Flown, we hope parents will find wisdom, laughter and understanding. But we also aim to be useful. We often seek the advice of experts, teachers, psychologists and counselors to bring to our readers the information they most need. Here are some of the most useful, practical and informative pieces from Grown and Flown.
10 Most Useful Posts on Grown and Flown in 2016Lots of people are happy to tell you what to buy. We tell you what NOT to buy. Dorm shopping is expensive, here...
6 Things All Parents Need to Know About Winter Break
Brace yourself, winter break is right around the corner.
It is long
Your child has been away for months, with maybe a short break and a couple of days home at Thanksgiving. The little time you have spent with your daughter seemed way too short and you are looking forward to having her home for almost a month. It sounds idyllic. Until that time comes. Winter break can be like summer vacation with small kids. Remember how much you longed for the school year to be over, to plan fun activities, s...
December 11, 2016
Why It’s Ok if My Daughter Doesn’t Get Into College
In this season of school application deadlines, I am frequently reminded of our society’s bittersweet love affair with achievement. It pushes us forward, drives us to set goals and meet them, and keeps us going. Achievement is attractive, and it feels good.
My daughter is convinced that if she constantly achieves and gets into the school that she wants to attend, then her life will be perfect. This is yet another example of how our culture has led us to believe that a child’s worth is wholly...
Was Your Kid Deferred? 6 Ways to Strengthen an Application NOW
Deferred feels awful. You wanted your child to be done with this, and now the process will drag on through to the spring. I implore you not to feel helpless. Think of getting deferred as an invitation to send Admissions the info they have not asked your child for. I call this the “Follow Up Communication.” This info, described below, demonstrates your child’s commitment to the school and why they should be reconsidered.
Most students are too exhausted and overwhelmed by schoolwork and upcomi...
December 10, 2016
The Pressure to Drink In College (and Beyond) is Real
The first time I got drunk was during my sophomore year of college. I was at a party where they were serving grain alcohol. At the time I didn’t know what grain alcohol was but we were packed in like sardines, the room was hot and I was thirsty. That night the drink of choice was being “served” out of over-sized plastic garbage cans and it tasted like Hawaiian Punch so I drank deeply. Without remembering how I got there I ended up back at my dormitory in the communal bathroom, sprawled out on...
This is What I Miss Most About Christmas Past
Just a few days ago I wrote aboutwhat I really want for Christmas.It was a list of all the things that, in a perfect world, would be different around my house. That list is spot on. I stand by that list. And yet, as I look back over it, I can’t help thinking about how different that list is from one I might have written ten years ago – when all of my children were small. And the truth is, it made me sad.
Sure big kids are great. They like to stay up late and watch holiday movies with me. The...
