Parent Survival Kit
As a parent, you may have mixed emotions about your teenager’s transition from high school to college. Though you may be filled with pride (and perhaps relief) that he or she is about to accomplish a major milestone in life — graduating from high school — the prospect of your child leaving home and embracing independence may leave you feeling sad.
To combat these conflicting emotions of excitement, anticipation and impending emptiness, we’ve pulled together some helpful tips and advice to help you survive and thrive during this period of tremendous change.
1) Giving Your Child Wings
College is the first real chance for your teenager to get a taste of independence. Though they may still rely on you for certain things (a home-cooked meal, some extra spending money here or there, perhaps a shoulder to lean on if they’re feeling down), they will, for the most part, be embarking on a new adventure: life on their own. Now is the time to let go. Encourage them to be self-sufficient and learn how to make decisions on their own. They may surprise you with how easily they adapt to their new independence and freedom from your protective guidance … after all, you’ve taught them well!
2) Covering College Expenses
College is an expensive yet worthwhile investment in your child’s future. Beyond tuition and books, there are also living expenses to think about: food, entertainment, perhaps even a new wardrobe.
- Take advantage of the Budget Calculator to figure out the estimated cost of college.
- Exhaust all your options for financial aid (from scholarships, grants, loans and even family resources) to ease the burden of paying for college. Depending on your family situation, financial need and your child’s performance in high school, you may be able to cover a significant portion of the costs. DeVry’s financial aid specialists can help you.
- Encourage your child to work part-time to help pay for tuition and earn extra spending money.
3) Staying Connected
Just because your child is entering a new stage in life doesn’t mean they’re leaving you in the dust. Rather than the end of an era, think of college as an opportunity: to evolve your relationship and strengthen the ties that bind you.
- Email: Email is one of the best ways to keep in touch, send your support and calm any fears you might have.
- Snail mail: As tech-savvy as your child might be, he or she will still be delighted to receive a letter — or better yet a care package of goodies during exam week — in the mail to remind them that you’re a constant during this time of change.
- Phone calls: Remember, you’re just a dial away! Give your child a phone card or sign up for a family mobile plan to stay connected while minimizing costs.
- Visits: Attend your child’s initial college orientation to meet other students, teachers and counselors, and become acquainted with campus facilities. After that, visit every now and then for a brief catch-up session, a well-deserved dinner outing or perhaps a brief shopping trip — but don’t over do it. Remember, your child has his own life now and you need to respect and encourage independence.
4) Focusing on Yourself
You’ve been taking care of your child for so long that you may have forgotten how to “do your own thing.” But now is the perfect time to get reacquainted with YOU. Instead of worrying and wondering what your child is up to, reconnect with your own interests, take a class, find a new hobby or rekindle your relationship with your spouse/significant other — you might find that your child may not be the only one going through discovery and transformation.
