{"id":6546,"date":"2014-05-26T06:00:02","date_gmt":"2014-05-26T10:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/growmama\/?p=6546"},"modified":"2014-05-23T09:08:55","modified_gmt":"2014-05-23T13:08:55","slug":"how-to-bridge-the-gap-with-your-child-and-guide-them-to-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/growmama\/lite\/how-to-bridge-the-gap-with-your-child-and-guide-them-to-college\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Bridge the Gap with Your Child and Guide Them to College"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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This month, we highlighted the vast world of education through our contributors and guest writers. Thank you to all those that participated in this important conversation. \u00a0If you would like to become a contributor on GrowMama, please email us at growmama@gmail.com.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

College-<\/strong> synonym<\/em>: freedom. synonym<\/em>: loss.<\/p>\n

Some children only see college as a source of \u2018freedom<\/em>\u2018: freedom from the 8-2:30 daily schedule of their lives, having to wear a uniform, or answering to a principal. Report cards are a drag, and parents have too much of a say. Children (and I mean, children!) see college only as their freedom.<\/p>\n

Some parents only see college as a cause for loss<\/em>. They are losing: control over their baby\u2019s every waking moment, thousands of dollars paid in tuition, and the time that they once shared with their children. Parents primarily feel it as a cause of loss for themselves. Parents and children alike need to see college differently. College is a time for growth, establishment, finding your voice, maturing, and enhancing your human capital. It is the moment when all the parents\u2019 efforts in properly raising their child are put to the test- the test of reality.<\/p>\n

We live in an era when college is the \u2018fad\u2019, and so it has become an almost entirely commercialized industry. However, one thing it should not be is a waste of time. To avoid that from happening to your college bound children, you need to guide them. Parents should always be in the passenger seat of the car, not the driver\u2019s seat controlling the motion, and not in the backseat silently observing. One of the best things a parent can do for their high schooler is to just be there for them.<\/p>\n

Here are a few pointers that we collected based on our experiences with different families for achieving this goal:<\/p>\n