Some combination of the following statement is often said over and over, “Don’t blink. Your children grow up way too fast, before you know it they will be a _______ (fill in the blank.)”
Here we are with a senior daughter. She did grow up way too fast. I realized I need to fasten my seatbelt because this year is flying by faster than any other year. While my husband and I are trying to be still and soak up every minute at every activity of hers, the days left until graduation keep diminishing quicker and quicker.
Preparing for Graduation Starts Now
I know we still have eight months until graduation and life beyond high school, but we will need to start checking things off of our to-do list, as I like to be prepared and our daughter takes her time in making decisions. And while our daughter is enjoying her senior year and stressing out about her dual credit classes, I pretty much need a few lessons from the book “First Time Senior Parents: How to Survive.”
I quickly remind myself of all of those rule-following, first-time parent things I messed up on the first time around, such as when to introduce fruits and vegetables or even when to allow her to jump in mud puddles. I have decided to stay away from all of those first-time senior parent books, websites and articles. We are creating our own family “graduation to-do” list with the help of our high school senior daughter.
The Graduation To-Do List
For those first-time senior parents out there, if you have no idea when this or that need to be completed, I am sharing our to-do list with you. The items listed include both to-dos for us as parents and our daughter to complete. This list is continually being added to, however, it is a great start for those of us who are graduating our first born.
In October
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
By November
- Visit final colleges one last time
- Set a budget for the graduation celebration
- Make senior picture final decisions
- Finalize graduation invite list
- Create and have graduation invites printed
- Start filling out scholarships
By January
- Plan decorations and table centerpieces
- Purchase all paper products
- Continue filling out scholarships
By February
- Determine foods that will be served
- Continue filling out scholarships
- Create graduation video
During March
- Order desserts
- Mail out invites
- Print out pictures that will be displayed at the graduation celebration
- Plan out help for the day
- Finish applying for scholarships
During April
- Finalize foods to be served
- Prepare grocery list
- Finalize college choice (if our daughter has not made her decision)
- Create picture timeline display and keep it simple
- Determine how guests will sign in and leave an encouraging message
May
- Thoroughly clean our house and manicure our landscape
- With the help of Grandma Jo and others, set up for the graduation celebration
- Celebrate our daughter’s graduation from high school
Two months into the school year, here I am with the to-do list on my devices and my seatbelt fastened. Yet, the most important to-do list that I make sure I check off daily is the written note: be still and enjoy.
Shelly Mowinkel
K-12 & Teens
My husband and I have three kids. Our oldest is a freshman in high school, and our youngest is in second grade. Most days, I feel like we are a “tag-team chauffeuring” service, yet I wouldn’t have our life any other way. Not only I am a business/technology teacher at Milford, I am also the district technology integration specialist. I love teaching because I get the opportunity to make those around me better. My hope is that, through my blogging, I am able to inspire, encourage, and share with you my adventures of being a wife, mother, and professional.
