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What do you do if your son or daughter has chosen a college hundreds or even thousands of miles from home? There are challenges, but with extra effort and advance planning you can help your student feel your support even across the miles.
One situation your student may face is a long weekend or vacation when most other students head home but they can’t. Help them think through the basics: How will they feel? What will they do?
If your student plans to come home for a break, encourage them to start early to arrange transportation.
Even from a distance you can celebrate your student's accomplishments as well as their growing independence.
Many students successfully complete four (or more) years of college without a major emergency. Just in case, are there friends or family close by who would be willing to serve as a local safety net? It will give you peace of mind to know someone is available in a pinch. Be sure that:
If your student is participating in a special event on campus, this is when you may be most disappointed that you can’t be there in person. However, you can remind your student that you’re thinking about them.