Dorm move-in day has come and gone. What now? It may be tempting to redecorate, revamp and re-do your life the moment Junior moves into the dorms, but there are three things you should avoid doing the month after your children leave. Let's start with the biggest.
- Do Not Divorce: Every year, the dean of student life at the University of Redlands copes with a small crowd of sobbing freshmen the first week of school. So he makes a special plea during orientation each year: It's difficult enough for 18-year-olds to acclimate to a new academic and living environment, he says, without coping with emotional trauma too. So if you've managed to hold on to your marriage until the kids leave home, try to stick it out another few weeks. At the very least, let your child get a good start at school before your family splits up. And if there is no alternative, at least make sure your freshman knows he has a home to come home to for the holidays.
- Don't Re-Paint Just Yet: For all their swagger, freshmen are a little fragile. They're getting their new lives in gear, but they're also looking forward to coming home at Thanksgiving - their exact same home. There's a certain security in that. So if you can, avoid turning your child's bedroom into an office, craft room or whatever for a couple of months.
- Give Your Kid a Heads Up: If you do paint, redecorate, cut your hair, or do anything else dramatic, give your college kid a heads up long before he comes home.
