Parents, as well as the student, go through a period when they must change the level of dependence on each other that has formed naturally over the years. The adjustment is often more difficult for the parents than the child, because parents aren't always confident their child is ready to face what is ahead in an adult world that doesn't readily offer the strong support systems to which they have been accustomed. Allowing their child to plunge into this new territory of independence and responsibility is often one of the most difficult decisions parents make. Although there are many positive aspects in pursuing postsecondary schooling, frequently the future is predicted on the basis of students' past experiences. Parents watched their child struggle through school for 12 years, often feeling little success.
Some parents are grateful for the end of that agonizing experience.
The idea of their child continuing on to a postsecondary level, carrying with him or her the same problems and deficits, causes parents to worry that the likelihood of failure is high. Parents may feel the student is setting himself or herself up for failure. Confusion About Students' Abilities Parents are confused about their child's abilities and motivations. On one hand, the LD individual appears to be overly dependent and take a passive attitude, letting others assume responsibility. This imbalance between ability and performance puzzles parents.