Tips for Parents of New College Students

Tips for Parents of New College Students

It is already August. Many college students are going back to school. Several new students are beginning the college journey for the first time. It is so exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time for both the parents and the students. So how do you as the parent make the most of helping your child pack for their new adventure? How do you let go of your child leaving for the first time, to go to college? Some of you will shed tears, some of you parents will change the house locks (Just kidding), and some of you will be so anxious. Most of you will have mixed feelings.

What do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

It was a question that has progressed in different answers, and more mature answers, as your child has grown up. They always gave such cute answers as a child, from a pro basketball player, a rockstar, Superman, to answers like a teacher, an engineer, a lawyer, etc. What was your child’s answers as he or she grew up? Did you record those answers, to preserve in a keepsake? If you recently had a baby, do not have regrets later that you did not save these precious answers in a journal, or a baby time capsule, for your child to open, at graduation, and read how he/she changed answers over the years. You can get your decorative Baby Time Capsule from https://www.timecapsule.com/product/babystimecapsule/

“Let it Go” (as the song sings in the Frozen movie)

No matter what your child is doing after high-school, whether going to college or pursuing other job opportunities, it is always hard letting go. We have put together a helpful list for you as the parent to say goodbye for now, as your child starts their new life journey. Sometimes you really do not know what you have until it or he/she is gone, so preserve your memories of your child now in the Baby Time Capsule. It is not only a gift to treasure for your child, but for you as the parent to reminisce while your child moves on in life.

The College Checklist – For Parents

You have worked so hard to prepare your child for the real world. You may even have memory flashbacks of going to college yourself, as you see your own child in their new dorm room for the first time.

• Pack your child’s favorite candy, snacks, organizing tools, music, and inspirational quotes

• Copy old family recipe favorites for your child to take to college.

• Talk about your own college or after high-school stories, and what that experience was like in your life. Talk about the pranks, exams, roommates, etc. These are all great stories to save in a time capsule to pass on to your child, as a way to prepare them for this milestone moment in their lives.

• Schedule a special day and time out of the week, when you can expect a phone call from your student (this will help with the homesickness from your child, and the empty nest syndrome from you the parent).

• Be prepared to just listen, be their confidant available for them, when times get tough and for the good times.

• Prepare a college survival kit for fun (as you can read about next)

College Survival Kit – For Students

For additional help, make a cute gift basket and call it the college survival kit for your child. Get ideas of what to put in your kit at http://alexfahey.blogspot.com/2013/05/freshman-year-survival-kit.html You could even put some of these items in their own baby time capsule to open when they graduate high-school.

What would you put in a college survival kit for your child? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

www.timecapsule.com