There’s something no one fully prepares you for when your first child leaves for college. It’s not just the packing lists or Target runs or figuring out dorm dimensions. It’s watching someone you’ve loved every single day suddenly build a life that no longer revolves around home.

One minute you’re buying Twin XL sheets and storage bins… and the next you’re sitting in a quiet house wondering how it all moved so fast.

After recently walking through this season myself, here are the 5 things I would absolutely tell any parent sending their first child off to college.

1. The Second Your High School Senior Commits to a College…Book Parents Weekend Everything

Immediately.

• The hotel.

• The dinner reservations.

• The rental car.

• The flights.

Because every other parent is doing the exact same thing, and the good options disappear fast. At first, Parents Weekend feels forever away. Then suddenly you’re counting down the weeks until you get to hug your kid again.

And trust me — you do not want to be scrambling for a hotel 40 minutes from campus because everything sold out months ago. Those weekends become bigger than you expect. They’re a chance to see your child in their new world. Their routines. Their people. Their independence.

Book it early so you can actually enjoy it when the time comes.

2. Pack a Cold + Flu Kit Before Move-In Day

Almost every freshman gets sick within the first few weeks. New germs. Shared bathrooms. Late nights. Stress. Thousands of students living together for the first time. And sometimes they don’t want to ask brand-new friends for help just yet, especially when they’re still figuring out where they fit and who feels safe.

Before you leave campus, make sure they already have:

• Cold medicine

• Fever reducer

• Cough drops

• Electrolytes

• Tissues

• Thermometer

• Easy comfort foods

Because the first “I don’t feel good” text hits differently when you’re not there to take care of them. A little preparation goes a long way in helping them feel less overwhelmed, more independent, and a little more comforted when that inevitable freshman cold shows up.

3. Teach Them the Small Life Skills Before They Leave

Not the giant life lessons. The tiny everyday things. How to make a doctor’s appointment. How to refill a prescription. How to do laundry without ruining everything. How to budget for groceries. How to advocate for themselves with professors.

Confidence comes from competence. And while you’re teaching them all of this, keep reminding them:

You can do hard things.

Because somewhere during those first few months, they’re going to feel overwhelmed. Maybe they’re homesick. Maybe they bombed a test. Maybe making friends feels harder than they expected.

Your instinct as a parent will be to fix it immediately. But sometimes what they need most is the reminder that hard does not mean impossible.

College isn’t just teaching them academics. It’s teaching resilience. And honestly? Parents need that reminder too.

Because letting go is hard. Watching them struggle is hard. Trusting that they’ll figure things out is hard.

But we can do hard things too.

4. Take More Photos Than You Think You Need

Not just move-in day. Take photos in the dorm before you leave. Take the awkward roommate photo. Take the Target carts overflowing with supplies. Take the coffee runs and late-night dinners and campus walks.

Right now, it may feel busy and emotional and chaotic. But someday these photos will become proof of a massive turning point in your family’s story.

As both a mom and a photographer, I can tell you this: the photos that matter most later are rarely the perfect ones. They’re the ones that bring you back to exactly how it felt.

5. Don’t Confuse Independence With Disconnection

This one took me a minute to learn. Sometimes when kids leave for college, communication changes before parents are emotionally ready for it.

They text less. They get busy. They start building routines, friendships, and independence. And while that can sting a little, it’s also the goal.

It doesn’t mean you matter less. It means you raised someone capable of stepping into their own life. Some days they’ll need you constantly. Other days you’ll barely hear from them.

Both can exist at the same time.

Final Thoughts

If you’re sending your first child off to college this year, I just want to say this:

It’s okay to feel proud and heartbroken at the exact same time.

This season is full of endings and beginnings all tangled together.

So take the pictures. Book the trip. Cry in the car if you need to. Then cheer for them anyway.

Because this chapter matters more than you realize while you’re living it. 🧡

Robyn Scherer, an acclaimed photographer based in San Diego, boasts numerous accolades. She holds the prestigious Click Pro Elite certification from Click Pro Photographers and the Unraveled Expert Artist certification from Unraveled Academy. The National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers (NAPCP) has honored her as a Master Photographer in both Lifestyle Family and Senior Photography. Her impressive work has been featured in local outlets such as OLP Magazine and Seaside Retailer, as well as the international publication Zillionaire.

For the past decade, Robyn has served as the senior portrait photographer for San Diego's oldest all-girls Catholic school, capturing the essence of over 1,400 seniors.

Specializing in natural light photography, Robyn focuses on High School Senior and Family sessions. She is available for shoots in areas spanning from Poway and La Jolla to San Diego and Coronado. Robyn looks forward to meeting you and crafting timeless images that you'll hold dear forever!