Menopause Circles 2, 32 x 40 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2009. For sale at www.ovbrant.etsy.com.

This week we went to Pittsburgh to visit the University of Pittsburgh because it is one of the 10 schools India is considering attending.  Reportedly, it has a wonderful sports medicine program, and that is India’s current, stated goal in life.  As we toured the college and the beautiful city that Pittsburgh has become,  it hit me. The college search process is worse than menopause!

Menopause is marked by mood swings, extreme body temperature changes, stress and this general feeling that life as you know it is about to change. So it is with seniors in high school who are worried about getting into college.

One minute my teenager is extremely confident.  The next minute she is sure no college in America will let her in. Then she wants to go far away, but the next day she is sure she wants to be close to home. Trying to be helpful, I suggest, “How about a nice women’s college?”. She looks at me like I have just sprouted horns.

Yes, the college selection process is much worse than menopause. I can handle menopause. Pray that I survive choosing a college.