A love that will never leave you
My firstborn spent a semester abroad in his junior year of college. Like any mom who’s separated from her child, I knew the exact distance between…
Six things not to say to someone struggling with suicidal thoughts
I was flying home on a small commuter jet with two seats on either side of the aisle. I was by the window. A mother sat next to me and her two sons…
What parents should know about senior year
“This is the beginning of the end.” I remember thinking this thought the entire summer before my senior year. I was terrified and did not feel ready…
The tug-of-war between parents and adult children
Being the parent of an adult child is like playing tug-of-war. As a parent, part of you knows when to set your child free to live their own lives.…
A college freshman’s advice for parents
Hi, my name is Blake Jefferson. I just finished my freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin. I grew up in a small, Christian private…
From a college freshman to a high school freshman: 9 solid pieces of advice
The college domino effect started a few years ago in our house. With five kids, we knew it loomed on the horizon since the days when they were little…
A word to parents of college-bound kids
I will be honest—this is a hard one for me to write. Why? Because it is just a little bit too real life. It is easy to write about seasons past or…
Raising Kids to Leave
The coupon arrived from the bed and bath store saying, “Campus Bound: 20% off your entire purchase.” I looked at mine and wondered who I should give…
