Are they really ready for college?
Apr 15th, 2009 by ellendonna
Now is the time of year when college seniors are visiting the colleges they have been accepted to, to decide which one to choose. The decision can be agonizing.
“Where will I be happiest?”
“Where will I feel at home?”
“Can I live in a dorm that has no air conditioning?”
“What will I eat if there is no pizzeria withing walking distance?”
“Do I really need 3 Starbucks within 1 block of my dorm?”
“The people at the school seemed really nice - I can see myself here”
“That guide was really weird - is everyone at this school like that?”
In the end, there will be one place that just feels right, and that is the right choice. But are our kids really ready? They have taken challeging courses in high school, they’ve learned how to study; maybe they even konw how to make a bed and (!) do laundry (maybe not on that one). But there are a few things that they do not learn in school:
- How to mail a letter (no the pre-k trip to the post office doesn’t cut it)
- How to do laundry in a washing machine that is different from the one at home
- How to buy something with a debit card
- How to deposit a check in the bank (and banks are not open on Sunday afternoons!)
- How to change a light bulb
- How frequently do you wash a comforter?
- Does peanut butter need to be refrigerated? What about bread?
- There are so many vitamins in CVS - which ones should I buy?
So many of the day to day things that we do without thinking are new adventures for our kids. But, they learn quickly and, with a little guidance from Mom & Dad, somehow manage to do quite well!