Additional Coverage:
- My son asked not to be contacted for a couple of days after his college move-in. The boundary helped us both adapt to our new normal. (businessinsider.com)
A Parent’s Perspective: Navigating the College Drop-Off and the Two-Day Radio Silence
Sending a child off to college is a momentous occasion, filled with a mix of emotions. One parent shares their experience of navigating the move-in process and honoring their son’s request for a two-day period of no contact following the goodbye.
The request initially stung, feeling like a sudden, unexpected jolt. However, reflection brought understanding.
This wasn’t rejection; it was a young man seeking space to carve his own path, a sentiment any parent could appreciate. It also presented an opportunity for the parents to adjust to their own “new normal.”
The move-in process itself was a whirlwind of organized chaos, a well-rehearsed choreography of volunteers, digital keys, and swift efficiency. A brief induction ceremony, complete with the symbolic presentation of graduation tassels, marked the beginning of this new chapter. A quick goodbye at the quad offered the first glimpse of the boundary to come – the son stepping forward, the parents practicing the art of stepping back.
The following day, a 15-minute countdown marked the final moments. Quick photos, hurried hugs, and then, the departure. No grand pronouncements, just the unspoken weight of years of shared moments condensed into a silent farewell.
The drive home was quiet, the house even more so. The absence was palpable.
Reaching out to friends and reminiscing over old photos provided a much-needed comfort. The next two days were the strangest.
The son’s closed bedroom door became a constant reminder of his physical absence, but the parents honored his request for no contact. It was a period of adjustment for everyone, a time to settle into the new family dynamic.
Now, new rituals are forming: planned dinners with the roommate’s family, a hotel room booked for Family Day, and a silent vow to answer every call on the first ring, no matter the request.
The key takeaway from this experience? The goodbye isn’t a sudden drop-off; it’s more of a handoff, a transition at a comfortable pace. Everyone keeps moving, finding their rhythm in this new phase of life.