We will be sharing with you their pieces of wisdom in different posts. Here is the first in our series called "Pieces of Advice"..... For Parents......Part 1!!
Question: What advice would you give to parents/students about the first two weeks?
Parents lay low. Let them find their way on their own. Students. You got this.
Help your new student figure out how to find success on her own. Try a hands off approach. They all have to grow up and be independent. Now's the time!
Don't start a relationship. You're at college to learn, explore, try new things, and overall challenge yourself. Starting a relationship right off the bat may hamper some of the flexibility you'll need. Go to class every day and make sure you start off with good eating habits.
It's hard to get used to as a parent but it gets easier as time goes by.
Parents: Relax, Thames has you covered. The staff and CAs are amazing.
You/your child will be in a safe, protected environment.
"This too, shall pass". stay in touch with your kid's advisor, as needed.
The first 2 weeks are rough for both parents and students. Set up a time to get in touch briefly every day or every few days if needed, just to reassure each other that everything is ok. You'll need it less as time goes on and your confidence builds. Encourage students to solve problems on their own or seek help from fellow students and staff members. Make sure they understand that the support is ONLY there if the student seeks it out. Shy kids may need to work extra hard to overcome their reluctance to connect with others and ask for help. Staff members give students a LOT of independence in the first several weeks to see how they do on their own (academically and otherwise). The time before mid-terms is full of ups and downs as students get used to taking responsibility for their own lives. As when they first learned to walk, they need time and a safe place to stumble and fall before they master it. But have faith--most of them really will master it by the end of the program.
Have fun! Participate in all the activities that Thames/Mitchell offers.
You should settle in and get used to everything, join some clubs, get to know everyone, etc. Parents shouldn't suffocate their kids. They should talk on the phone a couple times a week, but that's enough. 
