Saying goodbye to a child heading off to college is bittersweet. You are so proud of your college-bound child. All the tough years of parenting have paid off, and you’ve successfully gotten your child to the next phase of their development. You’re also a big mess because you’re going to miss your baby like no other, and the house will not feel the same without him or her there. There will literally be an empty space where he or she once was. It’s totally natural to feel full of joy and dread at the same time.

It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions that can be broken down into three phases:

  1. Before the Drop Off
  2. Drop Off Day
  3. After the Drop Off

I’ll help you navigate these turbulent waters in this three part series. Today’s post will focus on “before the drop off”.

Key takeaways:

  1. Don’t take it personally if your college-bound kid is picking fights, not spending time with you, or being generally difficult to be around. They’re trying their best to figure out how to let go. Sometimes that means making things miserable so it’s easier to say goodbye.
  2. Use the summer to plant seeds about things you think your emerging adult is going to struggle with. You can drop little hints about helpful campus resources, time management, etc. But don’t lecture! This will just annoy your child.
  3. Take time to process your own feelings regarding your baby leaving for college. Don’t live in a state of denial and then unload all of your heavy emotions and anxieties on your emerging adult on drop off day. That’s too much baggage to unload on your child during an already stressful transition.

Click here for more information on College Transition and Gap Year Consultation.

Worried about your child’s transition to college? Contact Dr. Crystal I. Lee for a free 20 minute consultation to see how she can help.