Vent - college orientation and little kids

In my case, I went to a university in a very remote location, 5+ hours driving from my home.The orientation was a 2 day, overnight in the dorms type thing.  Parents went because they provided transportation for their kids, in most cases.  I would guess even out of state students would have a parent accompany them because they would have needed a rental car to reach the campus.

This was true back in 91 when I went. Parents had one track and students had another. We drove from Ks to MT (2 1/2 days in the car) sometime in the summer, I'm assuming late June and stayed on campus. as an incoming Freshman you enrolled in classes, talked to students and got to know one another (all separate from the parents). I clearly remember sitting in the auditorium listening to someone speak when they said there are people who drove all the way from KANSAS to get here! 18 year old me was mortified and I remember slinking down in my seat.

OP, I'm sorry kids do NOT belong in that situation, I'll totally validate you.

Reminds me of the story I saw of the professor that held a student's baby while he was teaching a lesson. In this case, the professor told the student to bring their child to class because they couldn't get a babysitter, so that was cool, but if there are two parents that can divide and conquer, there doesn't need to be the distraction in what should generally be a  place for adults.

I actually wonder if this is part of it. Had one kid and thought they were home free and then surprise! Twins! Throwing everyone's life upside down, including the teenage kid who had previously been an only child his entire life and the transition has not been easy. Babies are all encompassing, let alone two of them at the same time. Maybe the mom or dad talked about staying home with the babies and the oldest threw a tantrum, how they always choose the babies over him, etc. 

I have five years between my kids and my oldest waxes poetic about when she was an only child and so I have to be *VERY* careful about not looking like I am showing preference for the youngest even though she needs so much more from me because of her age. It is getting easier as she gets older but it is a very fine line I walk every day.

I don’t get the whole “let the kid figure it out on his own and stop being a helicopter parent” attitude. New student orientation is a big deal at my school, and parents are highly encouraged to attend. Heck, I work in the business school and used to be an undergraduate advisor there. Even though I used to have a major part in presenting information to parents at orientation, I attended with my DD who is majoring in Finance next year. After 1.5 years out of undergraduate advising, it was amazing how much had changed for next year.

College is a huge investment for both the parents and the student (usually). I would never send my 17 or 18 yrmear old out to make a $100,000 investment without being available to guide the process at the beginning. I wouldn’t trust my DD to navigate the college experience on her own, either, because too much is at stake. A high school senior is unlikely to have the experience to ask the questions that need to be asked. Parents who did not attend college won’t know what resources might be available or needed.

Parents attended NSO when I was a freshman back in 1980, so this is not a “helicopter generation” thing. My parents were unable to go, but my mom sent my older sister to hear what they were telling parents. She is only 2.5 years older than me so she felt a little awkward in the parent sessions LOL. But she received info that was not presented in the student sessions, so it was a good thing she went.

Over 30 years ago I lead college tours in the summer and we always had parents and potential students.  No little kids though.

That makes sense