As Your Teen Leaves for College

The first year at college can be a challenge for even the most studious teen — and parents! Whether going down the road or across the country, a little preparation will ease the way.

Being the parent of a first-year college student can be tough. The schedule that was once the weekly routine no longer exists, disrupting the family structure. Family attendance at school functions and extracurricular activities comes to a screeching halt. Parents engaged as volunteers within the school district sever those ties, and personal relationships with families of your child's friends soon evaporate.

While the weekly grocery bill may drop precipitously and the house may be quieter with less phone calls and young people dashing in and out, there will likely be a little less laughter filling your home and heart. And if that's not enough, the relationships you have with your spouse and children who remain at home will change.