High school students, in particular seniors, are constantly preoccupied with the overwhelming topic of college. Many students are constantly worried about SATs, the Common App, scholarships, and any other form that they are required to fill out in order to be admitted into college. Yet, there is one unexpected task that almost all students neglect to consider before entering their freshman year of college: leaving their mother for the first time. Establishing independence and forming a new relationship with your mother is the most difficult thing any college freshman will experience. The most challenging part of leaving a mother is dealing with the indescribable feeling of sadness.

Similarly, mothers are dealing with the reality of finally sending their baby boy/girl off to college after watching them grow up for years. Science Department Chair, Mrs. Elich, sent all of her children off to college and is very familiar with that feeling. “I was okay until he went through the gate. When he turned around, I started to cry,” said Elich, recalling her experience with watching her oldest son leave for college for the first time.

When asked about the toughest part of her son’s departure, Elich said she knew “life will never be the same.”

There are four simple steps that all high school graduates should take in order to alleviate their mothers’ tears and make their departure just a little more bearable:
These strategies weren’t just randomly generated. This step-by-step procedure has been proven to be incredibly effective by many current high school seniors at SHS. Senior Dan Joyce has worked tirelessly to help ease the inevitable separation with his mother.

Joyce said, “I intend to comfort my mom by spending time with her before leaving and by always telling her how much I love her.” Joyce already has the first two steps down. If you want to avoid all the move-in day sobbing, the seemingly endless hugs, and the probable appearance of your own tears, it would be a good choice to follow this 4-step program. Comforting your mom is the most neglected — but also the most critical — component of a smooth transition into your freshman year of college.
If none of this works, just tell her you will be back in three months for Thanksgiving.

1.Take some time out of your day to spend with your mother–don’t be afraid to go above and beyond by watching soap operas with her and even going along for the dreaded food shopping journey.

2.Bombard her with innumerable compliments–make your mother feel special and let her know how much she means to you. This will make the separation go much more smoothly.

3.Open up to her. Believe me — I understand the downfalls of talking to mothers about personal stuff, but this isn’t about you. It’s about making your mother feel like she knows so much more about you.

4.Reassure her–let your mother know she has done a phenomenal job raising you, and she has done everything she possibly can to allow you to live your life to the absolute fullest.