Launching Your Kids Into AdulthoodSample

COLLEGE-BOUND KIDS Can children be over-parented once they leave home? Ask college administrators, and they’ll answer with a resounding, “Yes!” As parents, we love our kids and want what’s best for them, even when they head off to college. But some moms and dads stay a little too involved. Richard Mullendore is a University of Georgia professor. He’s watched students get confused during registration, call home, and tell their adviser, “Talk to my mom.” The problem is so widespread that Mullendore calls the cellphone “the world’s largest umbilical cord.” Some parents choose their child’s courses, resolve their child’s roommate disputes, or even complain to the cafeteria about how much salt is in the food. The desire to help is natural. But if parents don’t limit their involvement with appropriate boundaries, they may weaken their child’s ability to stand on their own two feet. I understand it’s hard to let go, but parents should strive to recognize that a college-bound child is entering their young adult years. Leaving the nest, establishing independence, and handling the demands of daily life are all normal rites of passage established by God in His design for the family. Even though it’s tempting to rush in to save them at the first sign of adversity, trust that the lessons you taught them growing up and the godly character you’ve worked to instill within them have prepared them to face new challenges. With faith and prayer, your young adult child will figure things out, and they’ll gain some confidence along the way.