Grace graduated high school, as noted previously. Then turned 18. Then had a big graduation party at our house. Then had a new student orientation day at the University of Delaware. Finally, after two years of pandemic related shutdowns, Julia is working 3-4 shifts a week as a server at a local retirement community's dining room. So...lots of stuff going on...
The whole "kid going to college" thing is new for us. There are deadlines, forms to submit, online acceptances and waivers to complete. Almost all of which, due to her age, go to her and not to us. We ask questions and prod her to do things. Her answers are pretty much always some form of "I did it, I'm on it, or I've got this." And she does, and we are proud.
But the "starting to let go" is a thing... And of course, the "we need to see your financials page so we know what tuition to pay and by when" is also a thing.... So one of the things she needed to do was grant us access to portions of her student portal. Portions. Which means we need to get over being in total control of all aspects of her life. Which is good. Really good. For her and for us.
Grace's New Student Orientation session in early July was exciting. There is a whole process for finding a compatible roommate, and she and another girl decided to be roommates in the Honors College dorm. So on NSO day, Grace got to spend the day with her new roommate (in person for the first time, having scheduled their NSO on the same date) while her mom and I got to spend the day with her roommate's mom.
They are nice people, and it seems like everything should be good. Fingers crossed. It's a far cry from back in the day when you showed up on move-in day and met your roommate...
How is it that you go from this:
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| Little Grace |
To this:
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| Bigger Grace |
So quickly...?
