College lifestyle if often hectic and stressful. Of course, any parent wants to help their kid to get used to it in the most effective way.
Keep it calm, dear parents, it’s not like you’re sending them to Mars forever. Though it may feel like it. One day your precious pumpkin is living with you, sharing his/her worries and exciting stories, and the next day your kid is just gone.
First and foremost, you should be happy that your child managed to enter a college. This is a great school of life. Not only will a college provide them with all necessary professional skills but also give them an opportunity to become mature adults.
Before we come up with some psychological tips and advice from more experienced parents for you, let’s figure out what’s happening with you. It’s okay to be worried, but it’s not okay to show that nervousness before your kid. Don’t scare the little immature creature.
What is the main concern of yours? Perhaps it’s an assignment overload, or a possibility of drug abuse (because you’ve watched all those teen comedies), or a toxic relationship.
We have one awesome suggestion for you that will easily solve at least one of the abovementioned problems. There is this college homework helper which will make the life of a student more bearable.
Those home assignments are rather overwhelming nowadays. So, I guess, we can cross one trouble out of your list of worries.
Let’s cross out the others.
We Need to Talk
Nobody likes this phrase, and teen psychologists claim that it’s definitely a bad idea to start a conversation with a child like this. It’s very intimidating, and it causes a massive flow of anxiety. But you need to talk anyway.
Your main goal here is to show support and understanding. You need to convince your child that they can trust you and address you in a time of need without hesitation. Tell a relatable story from your university life experience to point out that we all make mistakes from time to time and it’s okay.
Yes, it may happen that a kid will end up at the police station, for example. He/she shouldn’t be afraid to call you and ask for help. If you treat a college student as an equal, you’ll get respect and trust in return.
It’s a Dirty Part of an Adult Life
If your kid is going to live on a student campus, you need to teach him/her how to cope with the basic household chores. If this little genius is familiar with all activities already, it’s great. But often teenagers don’t bother learning how to cook or to do their own laundry.
Use the time before the college for teaching your child how to keep the home clean and the stomach full. In case of emergency (like a knife cut) or an illness (like cold), students are supposed to know how to treat themselves. Mom won’t always be there to cook a chicken soup for a poor sick baby.
A Toddler Would Handle It Better
We’re talking about money. You see, the relationship between cash and college students have never been easy. They usually have two levels: when a student is broke and when “all the shots are on me”.
When a teenager first tastes real freedom, all the hell may break loose, so the issue with money management should be discussed beforehand.
Teach your kid how to manage bank accounts, credit cards, what to do with the balance, and how to handle their financial situation in general. Of course, they’ll come around with that knowledge with time, and a few “zero balance” messages from a bank will teach them a lesson. But the knowledge about money can never be superfluous.
It’s Packing Time!
Perhaps there are some things that your kid would prefer not show to you while packing, and this is absolutely alright. Psychologists claim it often happens that parents think they know their kids, but it turns out that they were living with total strangers.
Don’t freak out. Help them pack, buy all necessary stuff together. Check the college website, it has to provide information on the dorm’s essentials.
All in all, it’s almost like packing for a camping trip. It is a good bonding exercise and a way to show your support. Besides, it’s an opportunity to make sure that your silly puppy actually packed the towels.
Hello, It’s Me
Don’t go over the top with phone calls. Understandably enough, you’re going to be as nervous and worried as you’ve never been before, but it doesn’t mean that you can terrorize your kid with calling or texting him or her every five minutes.
Set the exact time when you’re going to have a phone conversation. College life is rather busy, and there is a huge chance that your call may have a wrong timing. Be patient and develop mutual respect.
May Cost an Arm and a Leg, But It’s Still Worth Them
Buy a meaningful (yes, perhaps expensive) present for your kid. It can be some piece of the most up-to-date technology, a fancy watch, diamond earrings, etc. Of course, the price doesn’t mean that much. It can be something handmade, something to remind your student of home.
This present will become a symbol of a start of something new and big in the life of your kid. This is a way to show that you’re proud of him/her and that you want to mark the beginning of the new era.
