Parents' Perspective

It dawned on me that I spend so much time talking about Amber, but you don’t get to hear too many things in her exact words. With her never-ending support (so true!) and her extreme enthusiasm at doing this (semi true!), I am super excited to share Amber’s thoughts on being a college student. The Q&A session with Amber was really a lot of fun, and I want to encourage other parents to ask these questions of their college students. Although Amber and I are very close there were still a few things that I learned that I didn’t already know. Asking specific questions should garner you specific answers and information, and it will also … [Read more...]

Ever since my oldest daughter was in middle school (and probably younger) she has wanted to be a pediatrician. I, of course, have been supportive of this career choice, but one thing I have also encouraged is a thought pattern toward being a business owner. For me, that means encouraging Amber to obtain her medical degree and also pursue opening her own practice. This isn’t a new “lecture” that I’ve given; I’ve been trying to get her to think more businesslike for as long as I can remember. For instance, almost every hobby or creative spurt she’s had I’ve suggested that she try selling the item/product and build a customer … [Read more...]

This Christmas will only be the second one that I've spent without my oldest daughter Amber. I've known for about the past four months that she plans on going to Texas because her oldest sister is having a baby around Christmas Day. As the day approaches I feel more and more dread about her Christmas-time absence... Over the past 19 and a half years we've established traditions that have not only solidified our relationship but that we really look forward to each year. Honestly, the holiday season is not the same without my baby. Yes, I have other children who are ages 7, 5 and 3, but the traditions I've developed with them have always … [Read more...]

One of the goals at CampusTalkBlog is to provide you with information that is going to help, inspire and encourage you. There’s an addition to that goal in my little portion of the blog here at Parents' Perspective and that’s to give you bits and pieces of myself so you can learn from me and feel a certain kinship. Some of my experiences as a first-time college mom, and a parent in general, are rather personal. They are things that I don’t normally share with everyone especially my blogosphere friends (I blog at "It’s a Woman’s World" as well) because I’m either embarrassed, ashamed and, quite frankly, it just ain’t nobody’s … [Read more...]

This may be a bit off the beaten path, but I don't think it makes the subject any less relevant. And I know Millicent St. Claire will agree. More about her in a minute. I believe that in order to have any measure of success one of the things that should to be in order is your emotional state and, oftentimes, that state isn't given as much attention as other areas. For instance, individuals spend a lot of time and attention on their physical appearance, on their intellect and other areas, but ignore what's happening within their head and heart. Why am I talking about this? Because ensuring that our college students are straight emotionally … [Read more...]

When I comment on my daughter’s Facebook page my friends are amazed. When we share our feelings or encouragement for each other on our walls, I see comments telling Amber, my daughter, to spy on their children or relaying how sweet we are. They say their children won’t accept their friendships on social networks. I’m somewhat amazed by this, but over the years – after talking to my own teenager daughter about her friends’ relationships with their parents – I’ve realized that my relationship with her is somewhat of an anomaly. She tells the tales of arguments, sneaking out, disobeying, disrespect and much more than I’ve … [Read more...]

There isn’t too much that surprises me nowadays so when I hear about the unfortunate violence and senseless murders on college campuses; I’m not shocked, but I am dismayed. Last year when it was time for my daughter to begin touring campuses in anticipation of her freshman year, one of the things we both looked for was the security measures implemented by the campuses. The majority of campuses we visited have call boxes on their grounds and roaming security personnel. At Georgia College & State University, where Amber is now in the midst of her second year, has those two things in place as well as an emergency button within each of … [Read more...]

When summer break began this year I didn’t know what to expect. In fact, I thought I wouldn’t be seeing much of my college student because she’d planned on traveling, moving into her apartment and doing a couple of other things that didn’t include me. (Yes, I was pouting.) Now that I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with her this summer I do not want her to go back to school for the fall. What’s this first-time college mom to do as the time draws closer for her student to return to school? Redirect my attention: Each time she talks about needing to be at school; I conveniently can’t hear her. Ignore her: If she asks … [Read more...]