Five things to remember when parenting by cell phone

When your child goes off to college, you no longer have the luxury of reading their body language or looking them in the eye.  In fact, your parenting is now done almost exclusively by cell phone. 

With email, texting, IM, chat, Skype and cell phones, you have virtually instantaneous access anytime of the day or night.  It is reassuring yet challenging.  Here are five things to keep in mind when parenting your college student by cell phone:

1. Timing:  Calls from your college student will come at their convenience, not yours.  Even if you drop everything to chat, you may well be disappointed.  It is hard to discuss what he is choosing as his major when he is standing in front of the dining hall saying "hey" to everyone who walks by.
2. Always an audience:  The essence of college life is community -- your child is rarely alone.  This will affect what subjects he will discuss with you and may cause him to give only one word answers.
3. Students are busy people:  You'll notice one day that you haven't spoken to your child in days.  Finally, when he or she returns your phone calls, you'll be cut short.  "I'm really busy, Mom."  The truth is that they are busy.  Classes, studying, papers to write, sororities, games, club sports, hanging out -- the days just fly by. 
4. Face time:  Just as you could read their 7-year old body language, one day your child may say something that makes your antennae go up, and technology just won't do it.  You may need to go to him, see him face to face, look into his eyes and just talk.  Not because you need it, but because he does.
5. Learn to listen:  College students are self-centered.  They have to be as they have the enormous task of learning to be an adult.  When they call, they don't want to hear about you or home.  They called so they could say things out loud.  He or she may not know what is bothering them, but -- if you let them talk, uninterrupted -- he or she will begin describing a problem.  Often -- if you let them talk, uninterrupted and resist the urge to give advice -- by the end of the call they will have figured something out.  And say "Thanks Mom."

http://www.parentsconnect.com/spills/rant_1221208199174.jhtml

http://www.couplescompany.com/advice/parenting/collegeparent.htm