Dear Mom and Dad,

No matter if it’s my first year or my senior year, every September when I head back to college I know it’s hard for you. As a parent, it’s your job to worry about your kids when you’re apart from them. You’re sending your kid to live out on their own. Although I don’t understand the constant worry, you always say that when I become a mother, I’ll understand why you are always checking in on me. As I get ready to head to school, I know there are going to be specific things you’re going to worry about. I want to assure you that that I have learned everything I need to know from you.

I will remember to eat.

This seems to be the biggest worry of all parents. I will make sure to eat. Between my busy class schedule I will always make sure to make time to eat and eat healthy. Odds are I will be eating much more than three meals a day. Those midnight snack cravings tend to creep around when I’m up late doing work.

I will make sure to call home.

Life gets busy as a college student. We have classes during the day, homework after class, and all different events at night. I will never be too busy to make a call home. You may miss hearing my voice, and truth is, I’ll miss hearing your voice too. I will always make sure to call you to catch up on the family craziness that I miss out on.

I will (try to) do my laundry.

As much as I hate doing laundry at school, I know that I have to do it otherwise I have to wait until I come home to do it. I know you secretly get excited when I come home for a weekend with my entire bag of laundry that I haven’t done in two weeks. You have to bear with me on this one though because I will more than likely call you a bunch of times on laundry day to ask you whether certain shirts go in the whites or colors pile and how much detergent to use.

Class comes first.

It’s hard to get caught up in the fun of college. There are going to be so many fun activities to do. You have stressed the importance of class to me. I know that I’m at college to get a degree so I could get a good job, not to fool around. Class always comes first before anything else. As much as I wish I could just do all the fun things, I know that sometimes I have to give up the fun things to stay in and study or do homework. Although you may not think so, all of the work that I put into my classes is going to be the best I can do and I hope it’s enough to make you proud.

I learned from the best.

I have learned everything I need to know from you. Trust in yourself that you have taught me everything I need to know to succeed. I won’t do anything too stupid. I know how to tell right from wrong. I know how to handle situations that may not be so easy for me. Even though there are going to be times where you’re going to want to jump in and help me, you have to try to resist and let me figure it out on my own. I have to figure out how to get through life independently and you have taught me what I need to know in order to so.

I will not shut you out just because I’m in college. You mean so much to me and have been there for me my entire life. Going to school is as tough for me sometimes as it may be for you. I know that I will be able to handle anything and everything that life throws my way because of you. I will be okay, this is just another path on the journey of life that I’m ready to conquer. Thank you for teaching me everything I need to know to make it through.

With love, Amanda