Although the start of college life is often a challenging transition for a student to make, it is sometimes overlooked how onerous a transition it can be for the parents. Parents are expected to be strong and steady - a well of confidence and reassurance to their venturing children. For many parents, however, there is an underlying uneasiness and deep lack of certainty which attends this important event. The effort to manage these conflicted feelings can be an emotionally exhausting and confusing experience. One difficulty which you will need to contend with - and it is, perhaps, the most essential difficulty - is how you can, as a parent, most effectively and meaningfully participate in your child's college life without working against their developing independence and autonomy. The following information is designed to help answer this question: it provides some time-tested advice and a number of web links which you should find helpful.
