Best Advice

This time of year, EnVos Living offers a scholarship to the local High School’s Men’s lacrosse team bringing Senior parents to this site to check out what we are all about. EnVos Living hopes to provide real-life tips to help deal with various life topics. Transition to college is one of those real-life events we should talk about.

Not your child’s transition … YOUR transition.

I know not everyone visiting this page has a child “leaving.” But for today, I would like to focus on when your child is "moving". This might be college or first apartment. Personally, I wanted advice from those who experienced this change before. I put a post on Facebook asking the simple (thought it was simple) question “What advice do you have for me as my son leaves for college?”  I received comments about the dos and don’ts of dorm room purchases, meal plans and book rental (don’t buy most books they don’t read them). I received advice about using Find Friends, helping / not helping with class selection, and having a car on campus (he did not). And then I received a Facebook message from my college roommate with two of her own daughters in college. This piece of advice is the #1 piece of advice I needed MORE than any other piece of advice I received. WAIT FOR IT …… SNAPCHAT !!!

Ok roll your eyes. I get it. My friend got it which is why she messaged me and didn’t comment on the post. It will be judged. It might seem weird. And you may not even use Snapchat, but I bet your child does. And if they will be, or are already friends with you, hear me out in three points:

1.       You will get a picture every day. Snapchat uses pictures and text to stay connected. Most of the time you will receive a selfie. Sometimes you get their surroundings. And sometimes you get something quite weird. But you will get a picture daily. Why?

2.       Because they love streaks. To keep your streak, you must send a picture every day. Text doesn’t count. Keeping your streak will help you feel connected in a way their tech generation does. And if you do it their way, you will have more success.

3.       They need connection too. As much as they want to go away, there will still be times they miss the prior comfort. Take pictures of their pets, their room, their car. Anything. Plus, this gives you the opportunity to happily reminisce while sharing and that may even open more discussions.

I choose to write and post this particularly today because my Snap Streak is 3 ½ years. For 3 ½ years as of today I have received a comforting picture. Sometimes campus. Sometimes friends. Sometimes computer screens. Grades. Course schedules. A random clock. the bottom of a desk. But mostly selfies (my favorite). Every time I hear the notification sound, I feel a connection. This makes my heart full. Maybe it will help your transition too.