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Financial preparation should start while your child is still in high school. Man the keyboard of your computer and wade through the endless sea of financial aid and scholarship web sites. Plan to spend many hours filling out financial aid forms. Hopefully, the pay-off will be letters of acceptance for aid, scholarships and loans.
Material preparation can be accomplished a few weeks before your child leaves. Go to one of those member wholesale stores and buy commercial-sized packs of laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, bottled drinks and snacks. Throw in two sets of sheets, (they rarely bother to change bed linens), towels, a wastecan, stacking crates, and you're set. Add a phone card if you want to rack up extra points.
Spiritual preparation is a little tricky. Depending upon where you are in your spiritual life, you need to pat yourself on the back and tell yourself you've done a good job raising this human being, then hand him or her over to your Creator. This is more difficult for those who have little or no faith, and a relief for those who have a great deal.
Emotions are the most difficult part of the college birthing process. Similar to pregnancy, there are mood swings that catapult you from the depths of depression to the heights of giddiness. Some people deny these feelings, but it's best to look every emotion in the face and make peace with it. Keep telling yourself your child is still your child, whether a few steps or a few states away. And know that when all's said and done, they really do miss you, too.
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