Going to college is a fascinating chapter in a teenager’s life. They get to experience a completely different lifestyle. The majority of them will leave their parents’ home and move into their dorms or rented apartments. They will be attending their classes, meeting new people, and hanging out with friends. All of it forming them into the grownups they will end up becoming. However, it can be a tough adjustment for parents.

When you become a parent, you know there will come a time in your life in which you will have to let your children fly solo and allow them to expand beyond the kingdom of your home. College is the first step in this direction and, although you are expecting it, it can be a challenging adjustment. Luckily, some experts can help you navigate this process better. Life Coach Alicia Trautwein is one of them.

Trautwein is the blogger behind The Mom Kind and has turned to the internet to share her parenting advice for many years now. Her quest began after her and her children’s Autism diagnosis. When searching online, she realized there was not enough information on autistic girls or neurodiverse families, raising kids with different diagnoses. For that reason, she created a safe space in her blog where parents can turn to when they need advice on varied topics related to parenting.

A while back, Alicia Trautwein wrote about the pain parents may experience when sending their children off to college. It does not matter how many months go by, this article is still relevant. Although reality changed when COVID-19 hit, many families are now getting ready to move their teenagers into college when the fall semester comes, and in-person classes can resume. Trautwein may not be able to take the pain and doubts away, but she can help ease these feelings with four very clever tips.

1. Stay in touch as much as you can: “If you want to know something, then you can give them a call or send them a text message. If you want a little chat or are wondering how they’re doing, you can get to them in seconds. Just don’t message or call too much – you’re not supposed to be overbearing anymore!”
2. Keep pictures: “If you have photos on your shelf and your phone of them, then you’ll always have those memories in front of you. Sure, your thoughts are great, but there’s something about actually seeing them in front of you that can make you feel a lot better.”
3. Consider how much fun they are going to have: “They will return to you so much more mature after all the fun and all the experiences. Just know that they won’t be missing you as much and that they need this kind of break from you.”
4. Do not sit around and think for too long: “Do something to keep your mind occupied so that you don’t overthink absolutely everything regarding their new life. If you sit around for too long, your mind can become a minefield that is packed full of negative hypotheticals. That’s not something you ever want in life. Don’t worry about things you cannot control.”

No one can ever prepare you enough for what your heart and your home will feel like once your children are in college. Your parents may have shared their own experiences with you, and that still will not be enough. But by following Alicia Trautwein’s advice, you might feel more in control of the situation. And truth be told, this is your time to have fun as well. Enjoy the alone time or the time with your partner and do things you might have postponed while raising kids.