06 Mar From Solidcore Shakes to Crayola Jackets: What Kind of “Admissions Mom” Are You
This morning, I wasn’t sipping coffee—I was catching my breath. I just finished an online workout with my OGs from Solidcore, Abby and Rachel. We’ve been together since 2016, sweating through the pandemic and building a friendship that proves age has absolutely no boundaries.
As we were cooling down, Rachel started talking about her latest fashion choice: matching Crayola crayon jackets that she wears with her five-year-old daughter. She proudly dubbed herself the “Crayola Jacket Mom.”
To me, that label is everything. It’s fun, it’s playful, and it’s a reminder not to take life’s little stresses too seriously. Our conversation quickly turned into a fun “laundry list” of all the different types of moms we see navigating the world today:
- The Lily Pulitzer Mom: Classic, colorful, and perfectly coordinated.
- The Alo Yoga Mom: Living in high-end athleisure, always ready for a workout or a green juice.
- The Tiger Mom: Fiercely protective, highly driven, and focused on the win.
- The Crunchy Mom: All-natural, mindful, and probably making her own sourdough.
- The “I Don’t Give a Damn” Mom: Refreshingly honest, keeping it real, and just trying to get through the to-do list.
It was a hilarious way to end a workout, but it sparked a deeper reflection for me: How does your “mom style” translate when your child hits the second half of junior year?
The Pivot: From Exploration to Execution
Whether you identify as a Crayola Jacket Mom or a Lily Pulitzer Mom, we all hit a crossroads when the college admissions process shifts from “fun exploration” to “substantive execution.”
Right now, my junior families are moving into the heart of the journey. We are past the introductory phase and into the real work. And while every parent wants to support their child, this is the exact moment where the best thing a mother (or father!) can do is change the dynamic.
The Philosophy of the “Productive Struggle”
At Academic Access, my primary role is helping students build a strategic college list. But my broader mission is ensuring they are actually prepared to thrive once they arrive on campus. To do that, we use our one-on-one sessions to develop three critical life skills:
- Project Management: Moving from reacting to due dates to proactively managing a complex timeline.
- Breaking Down Goals: Learning how to take a massive objective (like a college application) and turn it into manageable weekly steps.
- Finding Their Voice: Gaining the confidence to advocate for themselves and manage their own professional correspondence.
Why I Want Students to Take the Lead
I know how tempting it is to jump in and help. Whether you’re the organized mom who wants to fix the spreadsheet or the high-energy mom who wants to speed up the pace, jumping in actually robs your child of what I call the “productive struggle.”
I am now asking my students to take the lead on all our communications. Even if a response is a bit late or an email is a bit unpolished at first, I prefer to hear directly from them. That struggle is exactly where the growth happens.
When a student manages the process independently, they naturally shift from being a passenger to being the driver. They own their to-do list, they ask the questions they are actually worried about, and they start to trust their own judgment.
Ownership and the Safety Net
Stepping back isn’t about being an “I don’t give a damn” mom. It’s about being a “supportive safety net” mom.
My goal is for your student to feel full ownership of this journey, knowing they have a safety net of support from both of us. It is a privilege to guide your children through this transition—from the fun of 9th grade to the grit of 11th.
So, what kind of mother are you in this process? Whatever your style, the best gift you can give your junior right now is the space to find their own voice.