It is 60 degrees out, unseasonably warm, and I have to remind myself that I am writing the December issue of Successful College Parenting Strategies. It is hard to believe that the fall semester will be over in a matter of weeks, though the school calendar on the fridge provides the daily countdown to December vacation. 

 

On a day like today, I am reminded about two important insights that students shared with parents at a workshop I conducted this fall. The students spoke about feeling out-of-sync when they are at home during school breaks. This is due in part because they aren't tied to the intense rhythm of the school day, and also because at home they feel "caught between two worlds" -- the one in which they exert great independence, and the one in which they are a parent's child. When our children are at home during school breaks, it is important as we parent them to recognize that they are likely experiencing a certain amount of stress.  While they enjoy the comfort of home, after catching up on sleep for a day or two, they may seek to spend a fair amount of time out with friends.  As parents, we can support them by celebrating their growth and change and by consistently providing the guidance they need to navigate their emergence into adulthood.