Senior Year Interrupted? How to make it special in spite of the pandemic.

Most of us have received the news that our kids won't be returning to school this year.  This is jarring and upsetting for all of us, but especially for Seniors and their families. Graduating is a significant transition and there is often some grieving that takes place. Celebrating the milestones that happen during the spring semester of a senior year help make the grieving process more sweet than bitter. So to have Prom, Graduation, and for some, Birthday celebrations taken away makes the jarring end of the school year that much harder for seniors. 
 Regardless of the pandemic, these milestones deserve to be celebrated! I gathered some resources to help your family find ways to make these milestones special in spite of the quarantine.

Graduation

Missing a graduation ceremony is not only hard for the student but family members as well. So go ahead and have a home celebration. You all deserve it!

• Most schools will probably mail the diploma so you can make a celebration of opening the envelope. Dress for the occasion, take pictures, and Skype with extended family members.  
• In place of a valedictorian speech, your child can share memories from school and what they are looking forward to next.
• In place of a commencement speaker, you can find an Inspirational TED Talk or famous commencement speech. Here is one that I recommend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c  You can also ask people who have played a significant role in your child’s life to say (or send) a few words. 
• Decorations always make a difference. Go ahead and make or purchase decorations for your front door. Allow your child to use window chalk or markers to decorate their bedroom window. And add additional decorations to the house or yard for their graduation celebration. 
• A few more ideas: a) a slide show of their favorite memories from school b) a memory table that can include awards, art work, writing samples, pictures, etc. c) a menu based on their favorite foods. 

 
Click here to get ideas for other milestones including Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Funerals.  https://www.uvmhealth.org/Pages/Coronavirus/Staying-Healthy/missed-milestones.aspx

Prom

Whether your teen’s prom has already been missed or not, there’s a good chance they have purchased attire. Go ahead and make it a special night with decorations, music, and food. It can be a family prom, or a virtual prom with friends. Here are some examples of how others have done this already: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUDGFNi-3gc  https://time.com/5805858/prom-cancellations-coronavirus/  
https://www.wbrc.com/2020/04/01/parents-throw-daughter-an-awesome-quarantine-prom/

Additional Resources

This is a hard time for teenagers, senior or not. As one of my clients put it, all of her favorite parts of school are gone and her least favorite part - homework - is all that’s left. There will be grief and anger and that’s ok. Be forgiving with them and with yourself. 
 Here are a few resources for getting through this: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gZrooTdtc&feature=youtu.be
https://www.chicagoparent.com/learn/general-parenting/high-school-seniors-covid19/