SURPRISE Letters!! : easing the transition for your first year college student

Last summer as the beginning of the Fall term loomed I was a bundle of mixed emotions. My oldest son would be moving out and heading to the dorms. His first time living away from home. I knew he was ready and excited! But I was a bundle of mixed emotions: excited, nervous, sad, happy, proud, manic: you name an emotion and at some point during that summer I felt it.

We had worked most of  the summer on gathering his stuff. You know all of the necessities a college student can't live without: the bedding, bathroom stuff, mini fridge, microwave, oh and let's not forget the Keurig coffee maker!! But I wanted to send him off with something more, something that would be meaningful and encouraging. 

I enlisted the help of my family : aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and of course his immediate family. I emailed them all and asked them to write Ian a letter. It could be full of advice or memories. It could be funny or serious, whatever they wanted it to be. I also told them that I would NOT be reading them so to make it authentically themselves. The letters began arriving immediately! I was excited, but kept quiet. I wanted it to be a surprise! As each letter came in I placed it in a large envelope and hid it out of view.

The Awesome Letters!

On moving day I tucked the envelope inside one of his boxes. After a LONG and exhausting day and while Ian had stepped out of his room, I placed the envelope under his pillow. I couldn't wait for him to discover it when (and if) he finally went to sleep! 

The Secret Envelope!

Later that night I received a text from him telling me he'd found the envelope and just finished reading all of the letters. He was stunned by the outpouring of love, advice, and funny stories from everyone. It made an unfamiliar place a little more like home.

This idea was so simple and easy to do. I encourage you to try it or something similar to it when you have a loved one heading off to college. It's just a little taste of home as they set out to conquer college life and beyond. 

~ XOXO jules  

It's Senior Picture Time!

This upcoming school year my youngest, my baby, will be entering his senior year of high school. As we started talking about his looming senior picture date we struggled to come up with an idea that would be interesting and meaningful. Let's face it, the whole photo shoot idea was not something my son was looking forward to at all. He insisted I book one of the smaller sessions with the fewest wardrobe changes, props, and backgrounds. In his mind, the sooner it was over the better. In my mind, senior picture day comes once in a lifetime. Other than when he gets married, when will I ever have him in front of a professional photographer? So I racked my brain trying to come up with something.... anything. Then it hit me!
SUPERMAN!

After my father passed away I had asked my mom if I could have his Superman shirt. To me he was Superman and thinking about him in that shirt kept him close to my heart. So how could I incorporate this shirt AND get my son to agree to it? It was easier than I thought. Once we came up with the idea of what we wanted the pictures to look like, my son was all in!

At the shoot my son was a real trooper and really got into it. I have to admit the pictures turned out great! And they have true meaning which makes them even better. I can't wait to show them to my mom. I know she will be as touched as we are.

By keeping it simple, meaningful and fun the pictures turned out so natural. I just LOVE them!  If it's time for your child's senior pictures try to think of meaningful props, poses, or outfits. Aim to have photos that will stand the test of time and stir the fondest of memories. I know I will treasure these forever.

~XOXO jules