This summer, your child may be experiencing the joy and excitement of preparing to go to college. For parents, this is often a time of ambivalence: optimism about all the opportunities for growth during college, combined with a sense of loss, dread, and even deep worry.

Recognize that summer is a time that you can begin to prepare for your child’s departure.

It takes a while to adjust to this major transition, so take time to care for yourself as your student gets ready for college. Focus on activities you enjoyed doing in the past, and try to connect more with your friends and family members. You will need their support this fall. Be increasingly aware of your emotions, and allow yourself some time and space to express the different feelings you may experience during this transition. Consider ways to help yourself feel restored and hopeful about the future. Also, make time to simply laugh and enjoy fun recreational activities this summer.

To balance out all the emotions, consider attending to more practical matters this summer to help you and your student feel more prepared:

• Have some practice sessions teaching your student to do laundry (including stain removal!)
• Shop together for a first aid kit, including a thermometer, throat lozenges, band-aids, pain reliever, and packets of Emergen-C.
• Help your child create a plan to handle spending money for living expenses and school supplies.
• Go to the grocery store together and create healthy snack options they can enjoy while at college.

The closer you get to your student’s departure, it is possible that you may see your student less. While every student is different, this is likely the time your student will want to spend with their friends. It is helpful to allow them this special time to be together with familiar friends before they transition to all the new people and experiences during college. Chances are that your student will turn to you later in the semester for support. They will need you to listen well and to believe in their potential to learn and grow during this pivotal time in their life.

Tips provided by Dr. Carol Dell’Oliver, Director at UP’s Health and Counseling Center.