The Countdown is On...and my kid is making me nuts!

[LissaB]

Is it just me? Please tell me it's not just me. My hard-working, responsible, driven kid who will begin her NROTC journey at Virginia Tech next week is driving me NUTS! She has been replaced by a sullen, disrespectful, adolescent unengaged in preparations for college and just generally a PIA. I seriously don't know who this young human is. If you're experiencing anything similar please let me know I'm not alone

 

[AROTC Parent]

Is it just me? Please tell me it's not just me. My hard-working, responsible, driven kid who will begin her NROTC journey at Virginia Tech next week is driving me NUTS! She has been replaced by a sullen, disrespectful, adolescent unengaged in preparations for college and just generally a PIA. I seriously don't know who this young human is. If you're experiencing anything similar please let me know I'm not alone

Search in this forum for 'soiling the nest'. I had no idea there was a term for what you are experiencing. It was a discussion within the last few months.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Here is a link:

"Soiling the Nest"

Psychologists call this “soiling the nest.” It's a term that simply describes behavior teens often show during the weeks or months before they move away from home. Though this behavior is normal, that doesn't make it any less difficult for you to handle as a parent. Anyone else experienced or...

www.serviceacademyforums.com

 

[cb7893]

Is it just me? Please tell me it's not just me. My hard-working, responsible, driven kid who will begin her NROTC journey at Virginia Tech next week is driving me NUTS! She has been replaced by a sullen, disrespectful, adolescent unengaged in preparations for college and just generally a PIA. I seriously don't know who this young human is. If you're experiencing anything similar please let me know I'm not alone

If your "Hard-working, responsible, driven kid who will begin her NROTC journey at Virginia Tech next week" is just that, she will soon learn that her many achievements have landed her on the first of a succession of false summits.

Congratulations and best of luck to her!

 

[LissaB]

Here is a link:

"Soiling the Nest"

Psychologists call this “soiling the nest.” It's a term that simply describes behavior teens often show during the weeks or months before they move away from home. Though this behavior is normal, that doesn't make it any less difficult for you to handle as a parent. Anyone else experienced or...

www.serviceacademyforums.com

Yes! Thank you and thanks to @AROTC-dad I know it's "normal but it's definitely no fun for anyone in the house.

 

[LissaB]

If your "Hard-working, responsible, driven kid who will begin her NROTC journey at Virginia Tech next week" is just that, she will soon learn that her many achievements have landed her on the first of a succession of false summits.

Congratulations and best of luck to her!

Thank you! She was humbled and invigorated by her NSI experience and has been working her tail off this summer but shew! This last week has been something.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Yes! Thank you and thanks to @AROTC-dad I know it's "normal but it's definitely no fun for anyone in the house.

Actually, my 1LT Army Officer is the last of four children to leave the house. Now they are scattered all over. (no grandkids yet).

It is way too quiet now, and we miss all the "soiling" more than you know. (especially when DS was deployed in a combat zone).

Enjoy the craziness while it lasts.

 

[Heatherg21]

Thank you! She was humbled and invigorated by her NSI experience and has been working her tail off this summer but shew! This last week has been something.

While this is a normal process, it's also okay to take them aside and tell them that you love them, and you understand what is happening and why, but that they need not be a jerk, and leave everyone wishing they would just go already.

It is a tough time and tends to occur in a smaller fashion when leave is over and they are headed back.

 

[kebDDVolunteeredMe]

Is it just me? Please tell me it's not just me. My hard-working, responsible, driven kid who will begin her NROTC journey at Virginia Tech next week is driving me NUTS! She has been replaced by a sullen, disrespectful, adolescent unengaged in preparations for college and just generally a PIA. I seriously don't know who this young human is. If you're experiencing anything similar please let me know I'm not alone

How is your DD doing? Mine did the same thing the last 2 weeks she was home. She worked her tail off at 3 jobs all summer. And was off 1 week to pack... instead she played with friends, stayed out way to late... and started packing at midnight the day we left to drop her in New Mexico. It was an interesting 22 hour car ride with her sister and her stuff. And tonight... I am once again awake waiting to her the garage close... knowing she does not come home until Christmas.