Sending your child off to college for the first time can be emotionally draining and stressful for parents.
Many parents put their own feelings on the back burner to focus on helping their student make the transition to college and don't fully process the change impacts them until weeks and months later.
Here is a little food for thought for new parents of college students to keep in mind as they make this transition with their student.
Normal Reactions to Have When Your Student Enters College
Sense of loneliness
Independence
Depression
Adjustments You May Experience
Adjusting
to fewer people at home
Re-establishing your personal identity
Having
separation anxiety from your student
Trying to
fill a void
Relinquishing control
Being left out of your student’s daily
activities
Concerned with
student’s new independence
How Your Relationship With Your Child May Change
Provide support
and freedom to your student
Develop new
interests of your own
Trust your student
to be a young adult
Guide
rather than pressure your student
Allow for
mistakes
Determine
appropriate expectations
Offer
advice when asked and listen
Support
your student’s problem solving skills
Realize
your student’s life is his/her own
Accept your
student’s limits and strengths
Expect
change
Stay
connected to your student
Be patient
and give your student time to adjust