Moving into the dorm room is one of your child’s first fleeting steps into collegiate life. What can you, as a parent, do to help make this transition a smooth one? Follow the 3 BEs! Here are some tried and true tips for smooth sailing on move-in day taken from Out to Sea: A Parents’ Survival Guide to the Freshman
10 Must-Haves for the Dorm
If you’ve got a student heading off to college this fall, then you are probably elbows deep in lists and worries. But one thing you don’t need to stress about is what to pack for the dorm. I’ve got you! There’s a complete checklist of what to pack (and NOT pack) in my book Out to Sea: A Parents’ Survival
I’m her mother, not her friend
I just returned from the trip of a lifetime. It wasn’t because I went to some exotic tropical destination or to a ridiculously expensive resort hotel, but because I had the privilege of spending five days alone with our daughter Brooke to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime event, her graduation from college. She and I (just the two of us!) flew to
#RealLifeWonderWoman–Meet Amy Skjei
When I met today’s #RealLifeWonderWoman, it was on the tennis court at women’s league. Little did I know that the kind woman with the killer serve was also a classically trained concert pianist, composer and recording artist. Like Wonder Woman, Amy has depth and character. She’s multi-faceted and multi-talented, with a heart of gold. These days, Amy’s traded in her
Wear Sensible Shoes and Other Observations of College Graduation Day
Our oldest child graduated from college over the weekend. I wasn’t sure what to expect, which may sound silly since I’m a college graduate myself. I graduated several decades ago from a mid-sized public university in the era of Aqua Net and patent leather pumps. I remember the fashion, but honestly, I can barely remember the ceremony. It’s likely sandwiched
Great Grad Gift Idea
Looking for a fun and inspirational grad gift? Look no further than Dr. Seuss! His books may be disguised as children’s books, but underneath the quirky rhymes, bold colors and whimsical stories, they are filled with valuable life lessons. Dr. Seuss has a lot to teach us about life and character qualities that matter. He addresses things like integrity, self-care,
10 Things to Teach Teens Before They Move Out
If you’re a parent of a recent high school graduate, there’s a good chance your child may be moving out in the upcoming months. Wait! What? This is the same kid who is incapable of getting dirty socks into the hamper. How will he keep up with his own laundry? She has no idea how to read a map or
Anxiety and college students
College can be stressful. Students must juggle school, work, friends, and finances, all while trying to figure out the trajectory of the rest of their lives. Feelings of loneliness, uncertainty and isolation can overwhelm even the most well-prepared students. They become stressed. Anxious. As adults, we know anxiety is a normal part of everyday life. It is often a natural
‘Tis the season…for homesickness
Your phone buzzes. You’re thrilled when you see it’s a text from your child—the one you dropped off at college four weeks ago. But, when you open the message, your heart sinks. I hate it here. I have no friends. I want to come home. The collegiate honeymoon is over. Your child is homesick. And this text seems to come