What helped your teen with senior fears/worries?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a senior and lately has been really worried about leaving home for college and college in general. She also worries a lot about the future — whether she’ll find the right career, the right spouse who’s a great fit for her, etc.

She has spent a lot of time crying about this, and it hurts to see her hurting.

For parents who went through this with their teens, what actually helped?

[Anonymous]

I didn't go through this as a parent but I think getting several early and varied acceptances would be a good idea. Get all materials in in August, hear in Sept or Oct. Schools of various distances away.

Expand out from there.

[Anonymous]

Does she have anxiety? I don't think it's normal to spend a lot of time crying about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through this as a parent but I think getting several early and varied acceptances would be a good idea. Get all materials in in August, hear in Sept or Oct. Schools of various distances away.

Expand out from there.

I think the kid is leaving for college in the Fall (current senior).

[Anonymous]

OP, where is she going? How far from home? What friends are also going to the same school?

My guess is, for ordinary seniors, there is something else going on. There is a boy. She is heartbroken about something. Or there is a BFF who she no longer feels close to. Or there is a friend group that she no longer feels a part of.

But probably a boy

[Anonymous]

I don't think that much crying is normal, to be honest, OP. Was she always anxious in general?

It's natural for kids to be stressed about leaving home... but most of them process it and get over it. As for worries about career and family, wow. That is definitely far outside the norm, OP!

She needs to be evaluated, but you don't have much time before she leaves.

[Anonymous]

Does she have a boyfriend? Or may have had a sexual, on some level, experience?

[Anonymous]

OP. She doesn’t have a boyfriend, and she’s not having friend issues. She’s not normally anxious either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. She doesn’t have a boyfriend, and she’s not having friend issues. She’s not normally anxious either.

Maybe too much social media? Girls her age often watch influencers who tout the importance of mothers raising their children and not working, etc. Others push education at all costs. Maybe it’s overload.

[Anonymous]

^^ good point about social media. Sometimes knowledge of other peoples' experiences is not a good thing! Too much borrowing trouble!

Does she have something she's excited about before she goes away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a senior and lately has been really worried about leaving home for college and college in general. She also worries a lot about the future — whether she’ll find the right career, the right spouse who’s a great fit for her, etc.

She has spent a lot of time crying about this, and it hurts to see her hurting.

For parents who went through this with their teens, what actually helped?

Also, for an 18 YO girl, a lot of it is likely hormonal.