When Your College Child Comes Home for a Visit
After attending summer school at the university, my son was able to come home for a few days to visit us and his friends. I continue to be impressed with the impact that college and living independently has had on my son. Some outcomes include:
- My son is growing up and learning how to become a member of a larger community.
- He is very grateful in how we raised him.
- EJ is learning how to give back to others.
- His living situation is very healthy and supportive.
- EJ is living in a school sponsored co-op housing with older students. This provides him with an expanded support system of mentors.
- Each co-op member must contribute to the upkeep of the house. My son is learning new house management skills.
When I reflect on EJ’s growth after his first year at the university, I am impressed that he has found a living environment that supports his social-emotional growth. Due to my son’s experiences in construction, he is the new Maintenance Manager at his co-op. This job ensures that that EJ continues to learn essential life skills that will support his daily living needs. The leadership co-op responsibility also provides EJ with opportunities to participate in house management meetings with a variety of students. Now that he is part of the household management team, EJ participates in the review of housing applicants to ensure cohesive living experiences for a diverse population of students.
With appreciation for the college experience,
Yvette
Copyright © 2018 by GenParenting
Yvette King-Berg, is the Executive Director of Youth Policy Institute’s Charter Schools. She was the former California Charter Schools Association Vice-President of School Development and Outreach-Southern California. Ms. King-Berg has over thirty years of experience working with teachers, students, parents, and organizations in a variety of positions including Director, Assistant Director, Curriculum Advisor, Bilingual, and Title 1 Coordinators, classroom teacher (K-12) in Pasadena and LAUSD. She has been married for twenty-three years, and is the proud mother of her son, EJ, who attends UC Berkeley.