They are out of the house, living in the dorm, studying, pursuing their social lives, and working toward their choice of career. They are older and seeking more independence and control over their own lives. There is a basic cultural assumption that when our children reach the magic age of eighteen, parenting is almost over. After all, society marks the college years as a right of passage.
Many parents utter a sigh of relief as their children depart for college.
After putting in eighteen years of on the job parenting, many parents feel ready to pull back. Homework is out. Chatting while chauffeuring to events is out. Picking up after them and pushing them to clean their rooms is out. Indeed there is a significant amount of parenting left which has more to do with the quality of the interaction than with the quantity of the communication.