How often will you call your college student?

[helenk]

Okay, I just sent my "baby" 4 1/2 hours away to college. I do not want to be one of those pesky moms.....but trust me I am chomping at the bit to call her.
She did IM this afternoon and we chatted a bit but she was not feeling well so she was going to rest.
What do you consider calling too much?

 

[gradtchr]

As a former college student I always called my parents once a week. There were tough times when I called them more often but I wanted to be the one to do the calling since I knew when htey would be home and did not want them to worry if I was not there.

My little bro IM's my parents on a regular basis and calls to let them know if he's heading home.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Our 17yo DD left on Friday and I haven't yet called her. Figure I want her to call me instead of me call her. I waited for her to IM me first, too. I've also gotten one e-mail from her. I'm really waiting to do things at her pace, which is difficult, but I think best.

T&B

 

[disykat]

I went to college before e-mail and when long distance was still considered an expensive luxury. I had two other siblings already in college in different states. My parents lectured me about not calling too often. They called me after only a few days and, honestly, I thought my grandfather had died. I couldn't imagine why they would be calling so soon!

I think sticking with an email telling her you're dying to know how things are going and to give you a call when she gets a chance would be good.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Probably THAT day...lol. We have "family plan" cell phones and I just could not see my waiting one week to call.

I always ask her how things are going.

 

[georgina]

I had a friend in college who called his parents once a week. They had a pre-arranged time (like Sunday evening) and he called them then. I thought that worked out great and plan to do that with mine when they go off to college. I had a roommate whose mother called her at least once a day!

 

[jahexom]

Well, my mommy's girl only moved an hour and a half away and shes a junior this year. She calls at least every day, sometimes more than once a day. I had to suggest she save her minutes and not call so often. But I let her call me. She was home this weekend and will be calling me soon to let me know she is back at her apartment. If she didn't call me, I'd probably call or email her everyday though.

Jen

 

[helenk]

Yes, I guess letting her set the pace is the way to go. When my son went away he called alot, but he was not as self assured as my daughter.
It is tough letting them grow up.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I suggest letting her set the pace. If you do call her and she doesn't answer leave a message and let her call you back. It drove me crazy when my parents would call, hang up, repeat a kazillion times. No message but I could see every time they called. I thought someone had died every time they did that.

 

[froglady]

My DD drove back to school Friday (two day trip), and I had her call when she stopped overnight, and when she arrived on campus yesterday. It will be about once a week from now on.

 

[Talking Hands]

My daughter left today to drive back to school. We call once or twice a week depending on how busy she is.

 

[Kermit]

My mom called almost every day when I went to college. I was glad to hear from her. In fact, when I had been away for a while, she started to call less frequently when she got busy, and it hurt my feelings a little bit.

I went to college before cell phones were affordable, so my parents got an 800 number so that they could pay for it when I called. It was a private 800 number, so you had to enter a code before their phone would ring. We did have email back then, but I used a dial-up 2400 baud modem. The Web was very small, so most of the sites I visited were gopher sites. There wasn't any instant messaging.

 

[bballmom56]

DD and I IM frequently. If there is something complicated to discuss (usually on her side), she will call. I also don't IM her all the time even when I see her on line. Sometimes I'll just say hi, and other times, I won't say anything unless she starts. She can see when I'm on line, too. I figure she's busy IMing with her other friends. It seems to work out just fine for us.

 

[golfgal]

Freshman year you will talk on a regular basis, sophomore year, maybe once a week, junior year, when she needs more money, senior year, only if something really bad happens or if she needs more money .

 

[florida-again]

I'm in college and my mum calls me once a day, sometimes more! can't imagine not talking to her every day.

 

[monarchsfan16]

My mom has called me once since I moved in on Friday. My phone was in my room and I was not. I have called home at least once every day since I've been here and will continue to do so. We have free Verizon to Verizon, so we've been talking as long as we want I've only talked to my dad twice since he left on Friday though, and probably wont call him again for a couple more days (plus when I need money )

 

[Saphire]

DD and I IM frequently. If there is something complicated to discuss (usually on her side), she will call. I also don't IM her all the time even when I see her on line. Sometimes I'll just say hi, and other times, I won't say anything unless she starts. She can see when I'm on line, too. I figure she's busy IMing with her other friends. It seems to work out just fine for us.

This is exactly what I do with my two sons in school. I prefer IM to the phone, as it is more flexible...they will start up a conversation if they have time, if not, there is no pressure. I end up conversing with my younger son almost every day through IM, about once every four days with my older one.

 

[funhouse8]

I send an aol greeting card in the morning and we IM each other when we see each other on line. If she needs to talk to me she will just im me to call.

 

[caitycaity]

i went to school about 7-8 hours from my parents. i called them once a week. they did not really call me all that much just to talk.

 

[Maleficent13]

Just a helpful hint: one day my freshman year, my roommate and I had our number become the recipient of a lot of crank calls. I mean, it rang off the hook. So about 9pm that night, we turned the ringer off so we could get some sleep. Well, turns out my mom decided to call then, and when I didn't answer, she kept calling.

When I turned the ringer back on about 8am the following morning, it rang in my hand. It was my dad, furious, wanting to know where the heck I'd been all night. My mom was on the other phone making airline reservations to fly down to find me.

All because I turned the ringer off to get some sleep. So I guess all I'm saying is, moms, don't panic if you can't get your kid right away. I'm sure they're fine!