NSHSS is the National Society of High School Scholars, which was established in 2002 by Claes Nobel and James Lewis to support the academic advancement of high school students as they transition to college students and eventually into their career field. If you are not familiar with NSHSS, you can read an NSHSS review to learn more. It is an honored tradition, and acceptance is something to be proud of. It is essential to celebrate your teen upon acceptance as a parent because they have worked for it. Here are a few ideas to help you plan a celebration for your hardworking teen.
1. Host a celebratory dinner.
You don’t have to rent a hall and spend a lot of money. The goal is to let your teen know you are proud and their accomplishments are worth celebrating. The Big Green Egg in Dallas is the perfect grill for a large gathering of family and friends. You can grill your teen’s favorite foods and have a happy outdoor meal. Let your teen invite friends over to enjoy the cookout, and don’t place any expectations on them to cook or clean or help out. Just let them enjoy the dinner without responsibility for an evening.
2. Demonstrate your trust in them.
If your teen has been wanted to do something, but you worried they weren’t ready, giving them that option will demonstrate how much trust you have in them now. When your teens have worked hard and accomplished great things, it is okay to show them trust and respect by allowing them to do something.
Too often, the default is that teens can’t be trusted or can’t be responsible. For example, if your teen has been asking for the opportunity to go somewhere with just friends or wants to be able to drive their own, this may be the perfect time to let them. Tell your teen that their accomplishments have shown you how responsible and mature they are, which is why you are letting them do this activity.
3. Tell them that you’re proud of them.
When was the last time you had a sit-down conversation with your teen and told them directly how proud you are of the person they have become? While congratulating their accomplishments is very affirming and essential, reminding them that you love them and are proud of them for being a good human.
Let them know you are happy with who they are becoming, and you can’t wait to see where they go in life. Never skip an opportunity to tell your teens that they are doing great and you are proud of them.
4. Brag about your child.
Tell others how proud you are of your kids. Your teen might act embarrassed or like it’s no big deal, but young people want to know their parents love them. They need reminders that they are deserving of that love. Parents of teens tend to over-worry about their child and their choices when no one is around, but if they are accepted into the NSHSS, they are making good decisions on their own. They should be bragged about—they are doing great.
Being a teenager in today’s world is not an easy feat. If they are focused and determined to excel academically and go on to a great career, they should be recognized and celebrated. They sacrifice time with friends doing fun activities to study and do the work needed to accomplish their goals. They are practicing time management and life management, which is something most adults struggle with. They are determined to be successful in life, and that is admirable.