The Fun and Games of College Tours

Last week, I took my younger daughter, a rising senior, on college tours.

We had been on the Cape as a family, and my husband and three other kids flew back to San Francisco the day after we left to fly south. I know this sounds inconsequential — families, especially families with ever-older kids, do this — some going this way, some going that way. But this was the first time my youngest had ever flown without me.

The morning before I left I hosted a How to Travel with Meds symposium for my husband and oldest because we must always carry on a small, specialized pharmacy for my son and two of his seizure meds are liquids which TSA interrogates intensely every time — which is funny because these liquids are meant to prevent explosions not cause them.

They are going to want to take the protein shake away; tell them he needs it to take meds and then tell them they can open it and test it. Secure the caps when TSA returns the bottles to prevent leaks. Put a small napkin under the spoon on the tray when measuring doses on board. The more granular the details I provided, the more glazed over my husband got, a partner act we’ve perfected over the years. But my oldest was nodding along with best kid in the class energy because she’s wired just like me and not only would she absorb and store all this information, she would also know I just…