CHALLENGES
     

     Below are comments from parents regarding the challenges they faced in adjusting to that first      year.

          "Undoubtedly, for both the parents and siblings at home, it was finding new ways to continue the lines of      communication. The loss of all those passing conversations in the house and out (you know, the 20 minute car      ride talks or the 10 minutes at the kitchen counter) felt huge. We utilized every route of communication -      regular emails, phone calls, and "real mail" of cards and packages. We were fortunate enough to be able to      visit not just on Parents Weekend, but for the occasional choir concert or ball game; this helped the whole      family feel connected to campus life."

     "Don't go visit unless invited; don't stay too long, for only the time you were invited, say for lunch."

          "The biggest challenge was financial and trying to let our son pick the college he would be best suited to -      not all based on money. Sacrifices can be made by all and loans can be paid over time, but choosing the right      place for them as a student and a person should be number ONE. Also, not talking about the parental money      drain too much in front of them or they may make the wrong decision for the wrong reason. Small classes and      a private college was our son's best choice!" Rick and Beth Schneider

          "Our biggest challenge was to not sound too disappointed early in her freshman year when she would call      to ask if it would be OK if a much anticipated (on our part) first weekend at home be shortened from two      nights to one because so much was going on at Centre that she didn't want to miss." Marcia Hermann

          "Communicating with our student - less frequency and less detail. Accepting the fact that we were out of the      loop, our student is going to do what they want when they want. Independence - the student will be used to      their independence and the parents may not be ready for it, especially during freshman year." John and Toni      Goetzman

          "Get some form of overdraft protection on their checking account. I recommend a linked savings account or      credit card. Again, it depends on your student. If they bank in their hometown you can deposit money into their      account easily."

          "Although the dynamics of the family changed when our daughter left (our son now gets all the daily      attention - both good and bad), the biggest challenge has been the money. I thought that we would have      enough money to pay for her first three years. However, with the bust in the stock market, we're going to be      really pinching pennies to get her through four years." Franklin Foster

          "Not hearing everything about her daily life was difficult for us at first. We learned to try to reach our      daughter by phone on her schedule. At 12:00 p.m. she was eager to talk - at 8 or 9 a.m. she was not!" Mary      Beth Brown

     "Sibling weekend or visit; younger son really missed his older brother."

     "Long-distance phone calls to friends at other schools!"

          "Besides paying for the tuition for our two children in college, it is hard to get used to being empty nesters!      We both keep busy and are enjoying things together that our children didn't enjoy doing, so that it is more fun      to do the things they enjoy when they are home." Jeff and Cherry Calender

          "Recognizing when the student needed parenting and when the student should be left to handle the      situation on his own." Laurel Houser

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