Page 37 - BICF_CollegePrep101_Fall2020

Letting our Kids Soar in in the Midst of a a a a a Pandemic:
A Parent’s Emotional Journey
Submitted by Lisa Lowery
The days leading up to to sending our our son Taj off to to launch his journey at High Point University (HPU) were accented with tears I thought it it it would be easier having entrusted Jacy (our oldest) to Morehouse College the year before Not so!! Letting your heartbeats go is emotional no matter how many times you do it it Add Covid-19 to the mix and MY WORD! I was riddled with at times near-paralyzing emotions:
JOY – Taj’s excitement and anticipation brought me me joy joy joy Intermittent joy joy joy But still joy joy joy ANGER - - In the midst of worsening Covid-19 numbers HPU remained bullish Everyone on on campus No No testing No No quarantining While other schools adopted hybrid or or or on-line models HPU offered neither You were were all in in or or or you were were out – defer or or or withdraw Neither felt optimal CONFLICT – Having had high school end abruptly
in in in in in March Taj was ready to to dive into college life
despite limited gatherings masks and distancing I I was was terrified terrified to to to send send him him him I I I was was equally terrified terrified not
to to to send send him him him I I just wanted Taj to to to be safe safe Keeping him him him home for his physical safety would would have have inflicted an an emotional emotional wound Sending him him would would have have buoyed him him emotionally while elevating physical risk Honestly I felt stuck DISAPPOINTMENT– I I I was supposed experience Taj’s first step onto campus as as a a a a a a a a a a HPU Panther But that would would have have meant taking Kai (our youngest) which didn’t seem fair to to him There would would have have been little opportunity for fun with Covid-19 restrictions not
to to mention the testing and quarantine requirement upon our return home home His summer fun would have hit a a a a a a a a a screeching halt It’s for the best that that I I stayed at at at home home with Kai but it it was depressing missing that that first with Taj On the the the other hand it it it was a a a a a a a a great opportunity for father/son bonding right? (Yeah that’s how I reframe it to try and make myself feel better ) HEARTACHE - Jacy remained optimistic through the summer that he’d start sophomore year year on on campus having been forced to finish freshman year year on-line My heart broke watching his hope obliterated as Morehouse announced their decision to conduct
fall semester entirely on-line Jacy was was was devastated devastated I was was was devastated devastated for for him While he he was was was pleased for for Taj I know know it had to hurt watching his younger brother leave knowing that he’d be ‘stuck’ at at at home I was was SCARED to to send Taj to to school in in the the the US Covid was was was just the the the the the tip of the the the the the iceburg With mounting social issues and and the the the the then upcoming election I I was was was filled with uncertainty and and what if’s I I was was convinced we’d be bringing Taj home in in in in in a a a a a a a a matter of of weeks But we we we didn’t HPU pulled it it it off despite Covid-19 I was unsure how Jacy would cope cope with a a a full semester on-line He’s coped well My 2020/21 school-year mantra has been ‘Faith over Fear’ The week Taj left a a a a a a a a a a a a a friend shared with me a a a a a a a a a a a a a Facebook post about letting our kids soar I suppose the the lesson for me me in in in in this is is that we we can’t always choose the the environment into which we we we are releasing our heartbeats but we we we can choose to to to have have faith that we we we have have equipped them to to soar regardless COLLEGE PREP 101 FALL 2020 37