5 Ways Parents Can Stay Connected with College-Age Kids

This post is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When you have a handful of small children all tugging at your leg, you don't think the day will ever happen when they leave the nest, but they do. And it's what you are working toward as a parent. Sending your high school graduate off into the world as they spread their wings can be a difficult transition. Your home and family will no longer look or feel the same, and your relationship with your child will evolve and change. Sending care packages with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health products that are familiar to them, or taking the time to enter each other's world through video chat are all great ways to stay connected. 

Transitioning from the day-to-day relationship where you all live in the same home to being miles {sometimes states!} away can be difficult. As parents, we often wonder how we can still stay involved in their lives, and let our kids know they are loved and cared for, without feeling like we are stifling their independence is a delicate dance. Here are 5 tips I have for staying connected with your college-age kids as they leave home.

5 Ways Parents Can Stay Connected with College-Age Kids

Video Chat When you Can

While I appreciate a random text throughout the week from my grown-up kids, there is nothing I appreciate more than a video chat. Seeing where they are, looking in their eyes, and taking the time to reacquaint yourself with the face and the mannerisms you have memorized through the years can be comforting for you, but it can also be comforting for them to get a peek into home. They will see siblings wander in and out, sometimes joining in on the call, pets they miss, and surprisingly they often notice any changes you make around the house too. For me, those video chats with my college kids are one of the highlights of my week.

Make sure your teen is video chat-ready with CLEAN & CLEAR® Lemon Zesty Scrub. It can help smooth away roughness and brighten skin. It's made with lemon extract and Vitamin C, and while this oil-free scrub gently buffs, it also brightens skin—leaving it feeling happy. Just like you will after talking to them!

And because college isn't cheap, get a $10 reward when you buy 3 or more participating Neutrogena® or Clean & Clear® and Motrin® IB Products. Keep your receipt and upload it online to qualify for a reward. Limits and restrictions apply. Click here for participating products, full offer details, and to redeem now! Offer valid from 7/05/20 to 8/2/20. Reward must be chosen by 9/30/20.

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Go Old School

It doesn't matter how tech-savvy we all get, we all appreciate getting mail. Whether it's a handwritten note from home or a care package, your teen will appreciate knowing that you were thinking of them. They will also appreciate the little slice of home in a carefully curated care package. Your young adult child will often be too busy to take the time to take care of themselves, so sending items showing how you take care of them can be heartwarming.

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Respect their time

I get it, you miss them, but it's important to allow your children the opportunity to establish their own routine and find their own independence. It's not a bad idea to negotiate how often you will communicate, and leave the initial communication up to them. Let your teen have the freedom to communicate with you when they need to, and be available for them when they do reach out. 

Texting is a great way to connect with your teens. This allows them to respond on their own time without the interruption of their schedule. Respecting their time may not feel like you are staying connected, but constant attempts at communication on your end can push your teens away.

Speaking of time, your young adult kids are learning to navigate their own schedules without their parents helping to manage them. They may feel rushed to do all of the things. Thankfully, Neutrogena® Makeup Remover Wipes will gently and effectively dissolve all traces of dirt, oil, and makeup on skin in a flash!

Find the Right Balance of Parenting

As parents, we often want to offer advice, but our teens want to have the opportunity to make their own decisions. Letting go isn't easy, but it's important to take confidence in the fact that you have raised a mature student who you trust can make decisions. Mistakes will happen, but I've learned that unless they ask for advice, sometimes your teen just needs someone to listen.

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There will be times when your child is away from you, probably for the first time, in pain. Motrin® IB Liquid Gels work fast to stop body pain where it starts, providing powerful pain relief.

Choosing a common pain reliever can be confusing, make the choice easy by including Motrin® IB Liquid Gels in your next care package and take the guess work out of it! Motrin® IB is the #1 OB/GYN recommended brand to relieve menstrual cramps.

Surprise Them

Sending gift cards to their favorite local restaurant or slipping money onto a coffee card is easy with technology, and it lets your teens know that you are thinking of them. Many local restaurants, florists, or bakeries also deliver in college towns, so if you are missing a milestone birthday or want to celebrate just because check out some local options. 

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Don't miss out! Get a $10 reward when you buy 3 or more participating Neutrogena® or Clean & Clear® and Motrin® Products. Keep your receipt and upload it online to qualify for a reward. Limits and restrictions apply. Click here for participating products, full offer details, and to redeem now! Offer valid from 7/05/20 to 8/2/20. Reward must be chosen by 9/30/20.