Get to know other parents
Having open communication lines with other parents is vital to navigating the senior year. If you don’t already know the parents of your student’s friends, it is not too late to get to know them. Call other parents and take the time to get acquainted.

You will get the moral support of knowing that you are not alone as you face this critical year. Be open to their input and share your own thoughts. When your student complains, “Everyone else gets to stay out til 1:00,” you will have someone else to talk to and you will probably find that “Not everyone is doing it!!”

Start your own parenting group
Develop a parenting group and keep the relationships going by organizing a social get-together. Host a back-to-school party. Invite the students and their parents. Or try these ideas:

• Holiday get-togethers
• Start a golf league
• Organize a pre-dance dinner or post-dance party for the students
• Host a pre-dance picture taking event for the parents of your son/daughter’s group
• Plan a multi-family spring break. Click here for spring break planning ideas.
• If your students rent a limousine together for prom, plan a parents’ cruise during the dance
• Organize a shared graduation party. Click here for graduation party ideas.
• Attend sporting events and organize pre- or post- get-togethers

If these ideas sound like too much work, volunteer at the school. The senior graduation party is a great way to get involved and lots of fun, too!

Keep the social network going all year and maybe you will have friends for a lifetime. It’s nice to have friends who may be empty nesters, too. You will have a lot in common.