“Ready to Launch” addresses increased demands for autonomy, dwindling interest in academics and distancing behavior as senior year progresses as well as parents’ psychological upheaval during a difficult period in married life. “Research indicates that how parents cope when kids leave has the strongest effect on adjustment to college,” says Dr. Adams.“For parents, whether kids go right to college or defer for a gap year, the issues are the same: Changing how they parent and relate to their kids, wondering if they’ve done a good job raising them, and worrying about their physical, sexual and emotional safety.”
Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed., who founded her web-based parenting information site in 2007, adds, “Launching teens into college is one of the most stressful parenting periods, yet it’s barely mentioned on the web and just a footnote in most of the popular parenting books. We saw a need for specific information and designed “Ready to Launch” to fill it.” The course, which costs $50, is free to accredited college counselors. |
