My child is leaving for college this month and I have mixed feelings and emotions. While your child has a lot of preparing to do so we do as parents, not just financially but also in the mental department.
Once you accept that your child will be fine without you and that this is a great stepping stone in life for them and that it’s probably best if your child lives on-campus during their 1st year in order to make friends and mature; you also will be fine, but then comes “the talk”.
Yes, every parent and child dreads “the talk” but every normal parent will have one. It usually starts by reminding them about their physical safety but then it goes into advice about dating, rape, drug and alcohol use and how to manage their money and finances, especially because we worry they won’t have enough money to eat or that they will solely indulge in junk food. However the drugs, alcohol, sex & dating are major topics, please make sure you go over how you feel on all of these topics but make sure you are being supportive and not judging them. Make sure they know you are just a text, email, Face Time or call away. While many colleges do go over these topics with them it’s important that you as a parent do as well. As far as the food goes, don’t’ forget you can always send them healthy care packages and even their toiletries.
If you failed as a parent to teach your child basic survival skills such as cooking basic foods, laundry, ironing, and cleaning up, and then you best hurry as you still have a few weeks left. Then comes the fun part which is shopping; keep in mind while our kids need basic housing things and I won’t go into detail them as there are plenty of lists and usually the college supplies one let’s not forget to also buy fun things so that your child doesn’t feel as home sick.
This is a scary moment for both you and your child but it’s also something that both of you have worked for more than 12 or 13 years. You are at this stage of life because you have great students you are great parent(s). It’s also ok to be the annoying parent with all the post and pictures, I know I will be one and a very proud one.
By Rosa J Parra
