No matter how old we get, we will always be our parents’ babies. As we’re undergoing some of the most life-changing events that we will go through in life, they’re experiencing them right there with us. Except sometimes they aren’t with us. And that’s where the fear comes in. When we were small, they could easily scoop us up when we fell down, throw a bandaid on it, and kiss it until it was all better. As young adults, Mommy and Daddy can’t always fix us when we “fall down.” We start to learn that life is hard, really hard, and we have to make mistakes intended for us to learn from on our own. Our parents can only protect us for so long until they are forced to let go.
So as you’re moving into college for the first time or going back to school, keep in mind that your parents are going through a loss too. They’re losing the time spent with you that they can’t ever get back. They’re happy for you, absolutely, but be kind and empathetic for the reason that they’re most likely hurting too. Enjoy college and everything it has to offer, but don’t forget, call home to your parents every once and awhile to see how they’re doing. It’ll make all the difference. Maybe not to you (which it should), but it’ll make all the difference to them.
