Back to School Preparations

Back to School hasn’t taken on such significance for me since Murphy’s early school days. This fall it’s off to College for the first time.  We just went to College Orientation and it was so great to get some of the unknowns addressed, especially for Murphy.  He started out the morning nervous and stressed and ended it excited and smiling. 

He spent his first night in the dorm and his roommate for the night was quite the social butterfly. Apparently it was a little hard to sleep with visitors coming and going until the wee hours.  The kids and parents split up to learn about a lot of the same stuff – but addressed from our differing perspectives.  Drama students acted out some of the phone conversations that many kids and parents exchange early in the college experience – you know like, “Mom, I’ve made the worst mistake of my life,” or “Dad, send money now unless you want me to starve, “ or “I can’t keep up with my classes– but my social life is great,” or “My roommate and I aren’t speaking,”  or “I’ve made my own plans for Christmas Break – but I need you to make my reservations and pay for it,” etc, etc…. They helped us plan ahead as parents and students for some of the inevitable transitional issues that are just around the corner. 

And of course, we learned about meal plans, dorms, philosophies of a Jesuit education, talked to other parents, and saw a bunch of kids who didn’t look old enough to be going to college. 

All in all, I am SO PROUD and THRILLED that Murphy will have this kind of opportunity.

Oh, and he started his summer job working at a restaurant – it was a banner week!

Debbie

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