1 Be smart about packing. Look at your child’s housing packet to learn about the university’s fire codes. They may prohibit hot pots, coffee makers* with exposed heating elements, and toasters. Some may also restrict string lights and extension cords. Why bring stuff that is prohibited only to have to haul it home? *Many DO allow Keurig-type coffee makers, which do
Emotional about launching your college student? You are not alone!
When did it happen? When did our kids grow up? I went from college and my first “real” job to marriage and then babies, who grew from toddlers to teens in a nanosecond. A household where diapers, lullabies, and training wheels turned into thongs, indie rock, and driver’s ed. Who knew I’d long for the days of chicken nuggets with
Cha-Ching! Discussing Money With Your College Student
Parents, if you’re like me, you realize that many things about college have changed since your coed days. College is big business. It’s not like the old days. Back then, if you had a pulse and a checkbook, you were accepted. Today, college is much more competitive. And expensive. That’s true for tuition and room and board, but it’s also
Great Grad Gifts 3.0
Got a grad? Trying to find a gift they will use AND appreciate? Here are great gift ideas for the high school or college graduate. Ink + Volt Planner Your student (or recent college grad) will stay organized, goal-oriented and super-productive with this planner from Ink + Volt. These high quality, well-appointed planners contain calendars, weekly time-blocking pages, journaling prompts
Sexual Assault: When Sex Is Not a Choice
Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, here’s an excerpt from Out to Sea: A Parent’s Survival Guide to the Freshman Voyage on how to help a student who has encountered a sexual assault. Sexual Assault: When Sex Is Not a Choice Not all sex on campus is consensual sex. Sexual assault is the broad term to describe a wide
Spring Break Safety Tips
Nervous about your student going on a spring break trip? You are not alone. College students may be ready for some fun and relaxation, but parents worry about the “What ifs?” and the choices students will make during break. Here are some tips to share with your student before they go: Be mindful about what you share on social media
PARENTS AS PARTNERS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Parents of college students and future college students: I have terrific news for you! Your students are in good hands. Please, let me explain… I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference for an association of higher ed parent and family program professionals. Who are they, you ask? What do they do? These are the staff on your students’
Winter break survival skills for parents of college students
Winter break is almost here. It’s the time of year when parents eagerly anticipate their college students returning home. They have visions of sugar plums and expectations of Norman Rockwell-like family moments—gathering around the fireplace, playing games, telling stories and eating popcorn. They will be disappointed. Winter break is often the first time students return home for an extended period
#RealLifeWonderWoman – Meet Lisa Erwin
I sat down in the auditorium for a parent orientation session–this time not as the keynote speaker or college parenting expert, but as a mom. A mom who was launching her youngest child. A mom who knows all-too-well the bittersweet feeling of letting go. Then SHE walked on the stage, her warm smile and bright eyes calming the nervous parents
It’s time to fill out the FAFSA application!
Stay strong, my friends. You can do it.