Learning to achieve intimacy in a relationship is a vital developmental role for college students. This is forced by the roommate and residential life experience. Learning how to have a healthy relationship with a member of the opposite sex is also important. Parents may still see themselves as the protectors of their children. No matter how old they are, or how independent they become, parents never quite get over the feeling that their child needs them and their advice.
Parents face a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, loneliness and freedom, fantasy and reality.
Parents want their children to be successful and happy, but miss them terribly and wish they were back at home again. At the same time, parents often revel in the newfound freedom from the daily responsibilities of parenting. Parents need to learn to be flexible and responsive to their children. Children will not call when they are busy and happy. They will call in the middle of the night when they are feeling lonely and homesick.