Moments of dread for parents

[Katzateer]

What did you, as a parent, dread going through with your children? My youngest went through #3 today and I am so glad to get that behind us.

1. Getting learner's permit and drivers license. I hate that feeling of staying calm (on the outside) and being a passenger with a teen driver!

2. Leaving after moving a freshman into a dorm. That first semester away from home is such a learning experience.

3. Getting wisdom teeth removed. Seems to be something no one forgets.

4. Letting your 5 year old get on a school bus for the first time ( I admit, I followed the bus to the school the first few days, to watch my girls get off and go into the building)

[cer]

We are living #1 right now. It is sooooo hard.

[VWL Mom]

Survived #1 with both boys, wasn't as bad as expected but the younger still has to text me when he arrives at his destination.

#2 cried when I left the older one, will experience the second in September. Dreading it because now they'll both be gone.

Haven't experienced #3 yet.

Wasn't bad with #4.

Adding #5 to the list: Prom Weekend at Seaside Heights. Hate it!! Counting the hours until it's done.

[Kenny1113]

#6 that moment when your sweet cuddly baby turns into a teenager.

One day this week I had left the house before the kids got up and didn't see my oldest DS (13 today!) until my DH had brought him that evening to my youngest's baseball game. When I saw him from afar he stopped and waved and proceded to go see if any of his friends were at the park.


Eta- I know this is not that bad. Thank goodness we haven't hit the stage with nasty attitude.

[RedSoxFan]

Adding #5 to the list: Prom Weekend at Seaside Heights. Hate it!! Counting the hours until it's done.

Agree with the Prom. My boys have been to prom and have all graduated college so I've experienced all of the above and then some.

However, Kourtney (17) is going to her first prom tonight and I'll be glad when it's over and she's safe at home. But it's also exciting as she can't wait and all the girls are coming over later this afternoon to get ready. And it's also bittersweet; as we are moving to Georgia in July and she will be doing her senior year in a new school (she's excited about moving) and leaving her friends.

[MNNHFLTX]

#2 for sure. Driving away from the university that first time without my kid just felt so wrong and yet we knew it was time. Four years later I still get that moment of dread every time he heads back to school after a weekend at home. You're glad that they're becoming independent, productive adults, but there is always that bittersweet moment as you wave goodbye.

As far as prom, my moment of dread came not from my son's attendance of it, but the fact that the girl he invited (a junior in high school when my son was a senior) got grounded a week before prom and was not allowed to attend. To my son's credit he went off with his friends anyway, but it was all I could do not to call that girl's parents up and give them a piece of my mind for choosing that particular punishment that ended up disappointing my kid. I still shake my head thinking about it today.

[Melanie]

We're going through #1 with my oldest right now. I'm not loving the experience.

I've dreaded the middle school years the entire time we've been experiencing them. Happy to say that in a couple of weeks, we'll be done with them forever, AND we got through them relatively unscathed.