When the 3,900 students in the Class of 2018 arrived over Labor Day weekend, most had at least one parent in tow. Some made it a family event and brought siblings and even grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Once dorm rooms had been located, bags unpacked, and beds made, the moment came: saying good-bye. For some, it’s a quick hug and a reminder to call and text. For others, the occasion can be more involved.

“Coming to college is a big transition for both students and their families,” says Carrie Landa, director of Behavioral Medicine at Student Health Services. “It’s a time of newfound independence, change in schedules, and shifting of the roles parents and children have had in each other’s lives. While some of these changes may be welcomed, others may be a little harder.”

For all the parents finding it hard to adjust to life without their son or daughter under the same roof, Landa has some advice: “Just as you are encouraged to urge your son or daughter to tolerate the discomforts of change and recognize the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, you should do the same.” In other words, recognize that this is a transition period for you as well as for your son or daughter.

And remember, Parents Weekend (October 17-19) is only a month and a half away.