Letter to a Parent of a High School Freshman

Dear Parent of a High School Freshman,

This is big.  Freshman year is here!  It’s the beginning of a new chapter of your child’s life (and yours) and is just the start of some big changes.

The days, weeks, months, years leading up to this year for your child may have flown by, so take a moment to reflect.  Reflect on the ups and downs that got your child (and you!) to this milestone.

You might think that this is just something that all kids do.  Yeah, most kids end up as a high school freshman at some point.  But those kids aren’t your kid, and they didn’t accomplish what your kid did, and they didn’t go through the ups and downs that your family did, and they didn’t experience the fun and non-so-fun memories that got your kid to this point.  So it’s necessary to take that moment of reflection and a deep breath and be proud of yourself, your family, and your child for getting here.

And in the weeks leading up to your child’s first day of freshman year, you may have had a thought or two that sounds something like, “Are they ready?”

Yep.  They are.  YOU helped them every step of the way to ensure they are ready.

And the beautiful part of being a freshman is that there is still so much more room to grow.  Really, the growth is just beginning. Get ready to see your child truly blossom as they start an exciting journey of self-exploration.

My advice for you is to stay involved as a parent.  With that beautiful self-exploration comes opportunities for new social groups, trying new activities, and dealing with new academic rigor.  While all good things, that world is mixed with the world of drugs, alcohol, and sex, which your child might not have been confronted with in middle school.

It’s a lot - both for you and for them - so do not hesitate to TALK to your child.  Ensure they know that you are a safe place, no matter what happens. You are there for questions, for tears, for venting, for stressing, for laughter.

As each child is different, it might take a month for your child to find their footing in high school or it might take the whole year.  The good part is that there are three more years, so that’s okay!

You might be expecting the struggles that come with their first year of high school or you may not, but just know there will be challenges that are new to your child.  They can handle them, and you will be right there to help them figure it out.

You can look your child in the eye and know that they are right where they are supposed to be: still under your watchful eye ( ;) ) and exploring a new world.

Here to support you,

Carly