Children who leave home may wonder if they will be missed by their parents and siblings, as well as worry about changes that may occur with their parents. A transition phase of life is often a period of intense stress. Transition periods may be times when individuals divorce, make career changes, switch occupations, move to new areas, or change lifestyles. During such periods, some people look for deeper meanings in life and, as a result, alter their beliefs and values. For some parents, a reaction to a college transition is to feel something is missing from their lives when their children leave.
Some parents are emotionally unprepared for the departure of a child.
If parents feel difficulty in letting their children leave, they should not interfere with their children's newly attained freedom. Instead they should deal with improving their own coping skills . It is important for children in college to have a positive bond and comfort zone with their new educational setting, so parents should not expect their children to return home every weekend. Facing the Major Challenge Leaving home for college is a time to rely on one's independence. Some young people feel ambivalence regarding their independence and it is difficult for them to separate from their home.