My youngest (who is a Junior at the University of Texas) is going back to college today. His dad took him to Office Depot last night to help him stock up on printer paper, etc.

I think how important it is to be organized in life and I want to stress to him that he will be so much more successful at school and in life if he finds his own way to be organized and he practices and develops it to an art so that it supports him.

It's not like he doesn't know ACT!. He's helped me with some projects in the past and has done many of the screen captures on two of "The Official ACT! by Sage QuickStudy Guide" books I have written. However, he currently uses the calendar on his generic cell phone to record due dates. While I don't think that is the best way to do this, he is the one that has to be comfortable with the system he uses.

That ultimately is the most important skill that any of us can develop. Each of us needs to find an easy organizational system that works for us. Then we need to work that system so that it supports us and helps to reduce stress while keeping our lives on track.

I want to say all these things to him on our last day, but I know he would only roll his eyes. Instead I say "Keep up with your homework and tests. Keep your grades up. But don't forget to have fun. You're only young once. Don't let this time pass you by, sweetie. I love you. Call me when you get there."  And of course he will forget. What's a mom to do.