Parenting Content // Kids Going To Uni? A Guide On How To Cope*

It can be a stressful and strangely emotional time, but it is one of those parts of life which need to happen. For most parents, their child going to university is the first time they experience the empty nest feeling. That’s why it is so important that parents learn how to cope with these kinds of situations. The truth is, it is not easy for anyone. If your child is due to head off to uni soon, and you are dreading it, you’re not alone. It’s perfectly natural, and it’s healthy to feel that way. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean that you should wallow in your feelings. At the end of the day, you need to learn to find a way to cope, and carry on with your own life as well. This can be a real challenge, but it is one of the greatest lessons in parenting. Take a look through this short guide on how to cope when your child goes to university.

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Help Them With The Process
This is easily the most effective coping strategy for any parent. You have probably come across this idea before, in similar kinds of situations. Ultimately, the best way to deal with the emotions involved in this process is to help them with it. There is much you can do in regards to helping them get ready for uni. You can offer some financial assistance, to begin with, as they are likely to be appreciative of that. You can give them a helping hand with their Uni Baggage – this is often an area of considerable difficulty. You can help them decide on what to study and whether or not to stay in halls. You could even treat them to a new wardrobe in readiness for their new life. Whatever you do, you will undoubtedly find that helping them in some way makes the whole process a lot easier – for both of you.

Let Yourself Grieve
It is all too common for parents to feel ashamed about the way they are feeling when their child leaves for uni. It is important to not do this to yourself. You should let yourself grieve, feel whatever you need to feel. It is, at the end of the day, a momentous occasion. Particularly if this is the first child you have seen off into the big bad world, it makes perfect sense to be a little upset or worried. Do yourself a favour: let yourself grieve as much as you need to. It is always much better to get these things out in the open.

Write Them A Letter
Saying goodbye is tough for both of you, so this might be a good idea. A lot of parents benefit from writing their child a letter on the day they leave. Remember, they are a teenager: they might not express much gratitude for this. Nonetheless, you might find that it helps you to deal with the emotions involved in seeing your child off into the world. It doesn’t need to be anything over the top. Just write a one-page letter expressing exactly how you feel, and saying how proud you are. You might be surprised at how therapeutic this is.