I don't think anyone enters a holiday season on a mission to feel stressed, yet most of us experience increased pressure during school breaks and holiday celebrations.  For our pre-college and college age students, whether they are living away at school or at home, the holidays typically offer a mix of comfort and tension. 

 

Imagine how many times at a family gathering your child might be asked, "So where are you going to college?" or "What are you going to major in?" or "Where are going to get a job in this economy?" These questions might seem pretty benign, as casual ways for family members to connect, but there is often a societal expectation to give a definitive reply.  Answering "I don't really know yet," often causes our children discomfort, because they are interacting with a world that presumes that they should already have some of these future plans in place.

 

This month's article is about supporting your children when they don't yet have answers about their future, because when our children feel that it is truly okay not to know, they can travel farther and deeper in their journey to discovering who they are, where they want to be, and what they want to do.