Tips for Parents Dropping Off Their Young Teen at Boarding School

Many people (including some of our friends) told us we were crazy to send our son, Charlie, away to school at the age of 15. But the fact is he is going off to embrace an amazing opportunity for growth and independence at boarding school. Both my husband and I chose a similar path of boarding school for high school, and we both truly loved our experiences. I think that helps us as his parents feel more at ease about this big decision. Of course, my heart hurts from dropping Charlie off in his dorm. As I unpacked his clothes and helped make his bed in his new room, I kept thinking about all the milestones he has hit along the way — his first day of Kindergarten, the first time he rode his bike on his own, the first time he learned to ice skate, the first time he jumped off the diving board. It all flashed in front of me while we were in Charlie’s new small living space that he now has to learn how to share with a complete stranger, his roommate. 

Read more