Checklist Accomplished: Launching My Daughter Into the World

  • Thread starter lisab
  • Start date
In summary, as a parent, you have provided your daughter with all the love, support, and guidance she needs to grow into an independent and successful adult. From feeding and keeping her clean, to teaching her valuable life skills and being there for her during tough times, you have been a constant presence in her life. And now, as she heads off to college, you can proudly say that you have successfully launched her into the world. Congratulations on a job well done!
  • #1
lisab
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Feed her - check.
Keep her clean - check.
Read to her - check.
Play with her - check.
Teach her how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world - check.
Treat boo-boos with band-aids and kisses - check.
Be very silly with her - check.
Help with homework - check.
Ground her when she's bad - check.
Serve as taxi when needed - check.
Cover the refrigerator with her art and awards - check.
Comfort her when her heart breaks - check.
Encourage her to trust her judgement - check.
Teach her to drive - check.
Marvel at her independence - check.
Indulge her by buying books she wants - check.
Share her joy at getting accepted to her #1 choice college - check.
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!
 
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  • #2
Okay... with the exception of the college references, you just described my marriage. It makes me even gladder that she's gone than I was 5 minutes ago.
 
  • #3
:cry:
 
  • #4
rootX said:
:cry:

What? Miss mama! :biggrin:
 
  • #5
Danger said:
Okay... with the exception of the college references, you just described my marriage. It makes me even gladder that she's gone than I was 5 minutes ago.

:rofl:
 
  • #6
I'm amazed at how many of my daughter's friends - many with much better GPAs than she had - aren't going to college. Why? Money, other issues? No...most just didn't get around to applying.

I used to think that saying, "90% of success is just showing up" was a bit over stated, but maybe not.
 
  • #7
drizzle said:
What? Miss mama! :biggrin:

No,

Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

I believe this is the toughest and the saddest thing to check.
 
  • #8
rootX said:
No,



I believe this is the toughest and the saddest thing to check.

It was bittersweet. Mostly sweet, but yeah, tough.
 
  • #9
lisab said:
I'm amazed at how many of my daughter's friends - many with much better GPAs than she had - aren't going to college. Why? Money, other issues? No...most just didn't get around to applying.

I used to think that saying, "90% of success is just showing up" was a bit over stated, but maybe not.

"showing up" needs courage to take risks which is as important as any other thing.
 
  • #10
rootX said:
"showing up" needs courage to take risks which is as important as any other thing.

+1 Exactly!
 
  • #11
Lets see..

loan her money that she won't pay you back - check
have her crash over at your house for unspecified amount of time - check
have her boyfriend move in with her for unspecified amount of time - check
have her travel to europe on your expense - check
babysit her kids so she can go out and party - check
feed her kids - check
Keep her kids clean - check.
Read to her kids - check.
Play with her kids - check.
Teach her kids how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world to her kids - check.
...
 
  • #12
cronxeh said:
Lets see..

loan her money that she won't pay you back - check
have her crash over at your house for unspecified amount of time - check
have her boyfriend move in with her for unspecified amount of time - check
have her travel to europe on your expense - check
babysit her kids so she can go out and party - check
feed her kids - check
Keep her kids clean - check.
Read to her kids - check.
Play with her kids - check.
Teach her kids how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world to her kids - check.
...

Well that certainly explains your advice on the Relationship board.
 
  • #13
lisab said:
Feed her - check.
Keep her clean - check.
Read to her - check.
Play with her - check.
Teach her how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world - check.
Treat boo-boos with band-aids and kisses - check.
Be very silly with her - check.
Help with homework - check.
Ground her when she's bad - check.
Serve as taxi when needed - check.
Cover the refrigerator with her art and awards - check.
Comfort her when her heart breaks - check.
Encourage her to trust her judgement - check.
Teach her to drive - check.
Marvel at her independence - check.
Indulge her by buying books she wants - check.
Share her joy at getting accepted to her #1 choice college - check.
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!

Congrats mom and daughter for checking in with each other. :smile:
 
  • #14
Congratulations lisab. I'm glad to hear that the fetus is viable.
 
  • #15
lisab said:
Feed her - check.
Keep her clean - check.
Read to her - check.
Play with her - check.
Teach her how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world - check.
Treat boo-boos with band-aids and kisses - check.
Be very silly with her - check.
Help with homework - check.
Ground her when she's bad - check.
Serve as taxi when needed - check.
Cover the refrigerator with her art and awards - check.
Comfort her when her heart breaks - check.
Encourage her to trust her judgement - check.
Teach her to drive - check.
Marvel at her independence - check.
Indulge her by buying books she wants - check.
Share her joy at getting accepted to her #1 choice college - check.
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!

Congratulations to you and your daughter.

Now it's time to go to Disneyland! What do you plan to do with the empty room? Is the empty nest syndrome setting in?
 
  • #16
lisab said:
Feed her - check.
Keep her clean - check.
Read to her - check.
Play with her - check.
Teach her how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world - check.
Treat boo-boos with band-aids and kisses - check.
Be very silly with her - check.
Help with homework - check.
Ground her when she's bad - check.
Serve as taxi when needed - check.
Cover the refrigerator with her art and awards - check.
Comfort her when her heart breaks - check.
Encourage her to trust her judgement - check.
Teach her to drive - check.
Marvel at her independence - check.
Indulge her by buying books she wants - check.
Share her joy at getting accepted to her #1 choice college - check.
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!

9:37 am here, you made my day :biggrin:

Congrats to all of you.

And when I wrote about kitchen, I didn't necessarily mean place where you are preparing food. Plenty of other opportunities around.
 
  • #17
cronxeh said:
So how long you have left?

Undetermined at this point. Four months ago, my doctor gave me 6 months. So far, I'm defying the odds. I honestly think that I can squeeze out another year or so.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #18
Danger said:
Undetermined at this point. Four months ago, my doctor gave me 6 months. So far, I'm defying the odds. I honestly think that I can squeeze out another year or so.

You're doing a great job, Dan. Please let us know how we can help you achieving that goal and maybe even more?

Hang in there, pal
 
  • #19
lisab said:
Feed her - check...
...
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!

Ah yes the pre-launch checklist, as Cronxeh stated, better keep your checklist standby for the post take off check, cruising check, pre-recovery check. Not done yet.

Dinand is now 15 months, we're busy with step six here of the sequel checklist. Explaining the wonders of life

16c807o.jpg
 
  • #20
lisab said:
Feed her - check.
Keep her clean - check.
Read to her - check.
Play with her - check.
Teach her how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world - check.
Treat boo-boos with band-aids and kisses - check.
Be very silly with her - check.
Help with homework - check.
Ground her when she's bad - check.
Serve as taxi when needed - check.
Cover the refrigerator with her art and awards - check.
Comfort her when her heart breaks - check.
Encourage her to trust her judgement - check.
Teach her to drive - check.
Marvel at her independence - check.
Indulge her by buying books she wants - check.
Share her joy at getting accepted to her #1 choice college - check.
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!
Congrats to your daughter and you, lisab, and dad too. Well done!
 
  • #21
lisab said:
Feed her - check.
Keep her clean - check.
Read to her - check.
Play with her - check.
Teach her how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world - check.
Treat boo-boos with band-aids and kisses - check.
Be very silly with her - check.
Help with homework - check.
Ground her when she's bad - check.
Serve as taxi when needed - check.
Cover the refrigerator with her art and awards - check.
Comfort her when her heart breaks - check.
Encourage her to trust her judgement - check.
Teach her to drive - check.
Marvel at her independence - check.
Indulge her by buying books she wants - check.
Share her joy at getting accepted to her #1 choice college - check.
Take her to her college and leave her there - check.

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Look out world, she's been launched!

I love that except for the grounding. I think that's a pain to deal with and everybody stays mad for a time. Maybe something like, "Show disappointment when she's bad." I would think that would work some if she loves you a lot.
 
  • #22
jackmell said:
I love that except for the grounding. I think that's a pain to deal with and everybody stays mad for a time. Maybe something like, "Show disappointment when she's bad." I would think that would work some if she loves you a lot.

Guess I'm a bit more old fashioned, I have not the slightest hesitation to punish a kid who's crossed the line.

Mad? Actually it was very rare to be mad - it's not my style or my daughter's. As far as I can remember, every time she was grounded (which was probably fewer than 10 times total), she agreed that she completely deserved it.
 
  • #23
lisab said:
Guess I'm a bit more old fashioned, I have not the slightest hesitation to punish a kid who's crossed the line.

Mad? Actually it was very rare to be mad - it's not my style or my daughter's. As far as I can remember, every time she was grounded (which was probably fewer than 10 times total), she agreed that she completely deserved it.

Good for you Lisa. You know what's best for yours. Just wanna' keep them safe, healthy, smart, and sharp. I wrote something about grounding some time ago, "Dad dreams about one thing these days." Guess I'll keep the title. Sorta' gives it away though, huh? Anyway, your thread made me think about it. Maybe you'd like it enough to think again about grounding. I'll post a link to it when I clean it up if that's ok to do here.
 
Last edited:
  • #24
jackmell said:
Good for you Lisa. You know what's best for yours. Just wanna' keep them safe, healthy, smart, and sharp. I wrote something about grounding some time ago. Your thread made me think about it. Maybe you'd like it enough to think again about grounding. I'll post a link to it when I clean it up if that's ok to do here.

Good, I'd like to see it :smile:.

Btw, I think the type of punishment depends on the kid and the circumstances. When I was a kid, whenever my sister was grounded it was like punishment for the *whole* family - she was often insufferable, and our house was small :frown:.
 
  • #25
lisab said:
As far as I can remember, every time she was grounded (which was probably fewer than 10 times total), she agreed that she completely deserved it.

Which means there's lots of times you didn't ground her that you should have!

:biggrin:
 
  • #26


As cronxeh mentioned, there are still a few items left on your checklist. Paying for college, ... Your money woes are far from over. True DINKhood is a ways off.

However, handing a grandkid in need a change to your daughter ("this smells like your job") or spoiling your grandkids rotten (belated revenge for when your 5 year old daughter said "I love Nana more than you") can be kinda sweet ...Congrats, lisa!
 
  • #27
cronxeh said:
Lets see..

loan her money that she won't pay you back - check
have her crash over at your house for unspecified amount of time - check
have her boyfriend move in with her for unspecified amount of time - check
have her travel to europe on your expense - check
babysit her kids so she can go out and party - check
feed her kids - check
Keep her kids clean - check.
Read to her kids - check.
Play with her kids - check.
Teach her kids how to swim, ride a bike, do a summersault - check.
Explain the wonders of the world to her kids - check.
...

I can relate to this post. Except substitute "bail her boyfriend out of jail" for "have her boyfriend move in with her for unspecified amount of time" and delete paying for trips to Europe (although I did fork out for a non-refundable plane ticket to visit me and have her cancel her trip).

I enjoy it, though.
[PLAIN]http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/9007/dscn1080.jpg

[PLAIN]http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/8701/dscn1091a.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #28
One of my sons is married but told us "Don't hold your breath on the grandkid thing. That ain't happening for a long time." I told him not to count on birth control, to instead do the math on the reliability of birth control and the number of times they rely on it. He was quite taken aback. (Telling him that he or one of his brothers was a surprise package added to the shock.)
 
  • #29
It will be interesting if Molly also makes a checklist for what she learned from you.
 
  • #30
Kids don't do that 'til they hit 21 or so. From age 12 to 20 kids know their parents are dumber than dirt.
 
  • #33
Go Molly Go Go Go! :biggrin:


Now mom's checklist wasn't that bad, was it?... *Waiting for Molly's checklist* :tongue2:
 
  • #34
Danger said:
I just found that I'm not 22. I do believe that, but don't like it.

I have pretty much stopped believing that I age. :tongue2:
 
  • #35
rootX said:
I have pretty much stopped believing that I age. :tongue2:
You stop aging the year that you first have to start calculating your age.

"How old am I? Uh, let's see. Born in '64... this is '10, so..."

Happened to me at about 44.
 

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