Almost every day she's on the phone with one of them. Therapists recommend setting up a weekly telephone date with your child, perhaps Sunday night. That way you won't play telephone tag and you can both count on the regular interaction. Some parents also take advantage of the parent weekends sponsored at many colleges. They often occur the first few months of the semester and break up that long stretch between the beginning of classes and Thanksgiving.
Care packages can be a hit with students.
Gilberg said she still sends her children one when she finds a newspaper article or an announcement from the Temple Israel bulletin that they might enjoy. Talking with other parents Parents who get depressed after their children leave should talk with other parents, therapists say. Some people might do that automatically, but others need to be prodded, said David Gitlin, a psychologist at Florida State University. It helps to realize that it is going to be a stressful time. Ursula Morgan, whose daughter leaves in a few weeks, said she planned to take advantage of this kind of support.