Before move-in agree upon a plan to stay connected to your college student during those critical first few days/weeks and then agree to communicate again how to change that communication plan; perhaps to not be as often but a scheduled time to communicate about all the wonderful, scary but exciting life changes happening. 

Do not ever be afraid to ask the university a question (or several questions) about how the university will help guide your student's successful journey to degree completion. There are key milestones, even performance predictors within the college student career, that can help students. Encourage your student to ask questions to the various campus resources.

This is your student's experience. Try not to compare their journey to what you read or see about other college experiences. Every student experience is going to be unique and in four years you will see their personal transformation and appreciate your college student followed their own road, even those bumps along the way.

Kim Robinson is pictured with her son, Adam, a recent Widener business marketing major ('22) and current Widener MBA student ('23); and daughter, Emma, a Widener psychology major ('24). 

Copy link to share this advice: https://pridefamilies.widener.edu/fam/resources/parent-advice/appreciate-your-college-student-follows-their-own-road