I think everyone has a story, but If I may, let me tell you why I am sitting here smiling from ear to ear. It’s a classic story. Teen girl from a small town get pregnant and quits school to raise her child and never leaves the small town.BUT this isn’t my story!
I had a son at 16 years old. I finished college. Got married. Now I work from home . Today, that child graduates from college with a college degree in May!
Be Happy For Where You Are.
Be the Best At What You Are.
But Never Stay Where You Are- KLP
I will never claim to know everything. But these are four tips I want to share with you to help get through those college years with your student athlete!
- Provide Birth Control– Since my son was not a virgin upon entering college, stopping at the big box store to purchase supplies including a large box of condoms was on list of “Must Do!” I didn’t want to play stupid. My son is a 6’8 basketball player. Grown women ,non African american women, and everything in between was hitting on him before he left for school and I knew that attending college and left to his own desires……. it would not end. So as always, it’s better safe than sorry parents.
- Stay Connected like AT&T– Now there’s FaceTime, Texting, Instagram, SnapChat, and even cheap gas (yes, I said it) While there is nothing like a care package or phone call, don’t limit yourself to those two things. Be your child’s biggest fan! You should always be his/her biggest support system. College is stressful and can be over whelming.Continue to guide your child.
- Be supportive like banker– Give them money but be very discriminate. If you were giving them allowance when they were home, continue sending them money. Unless they are at a D1 school*, where money is slipped to them (athletes) here and there, your child is gonna need money for his/ her basic needs. Yet, be smart about it. There’s nothing more regretful than paying for your child to party their way out of school. Now some kids will get little jobs while taking classes. That’s a great thing.You may still have to help with upkeep of the car and other misc things.
- Accept help with a crystal ball.-
When my son first started playing basketball, everyone wanted to “help.” Then when he felt like being a goof ball and messing up, they fled. Nothing hurts more than that, for him or myself. From that experience, I’ve learned to evaluate everyone on a individual basis. I know that everyone that smiles in our face isn’t always the best one to trust with your child. It’s true,Not everyone wants something. Finding sincerely good people can be hard at times. But when you do find someone to look out for your son – you keep them. And you make sure they know that they are appreciated. I sleep so good at night knowing that almost every game my son has ever went to, there were warm hugs and familiar smiles waiting for him in that city. Even on campus, he has a circle of people that love him for who he his. That’s a blessing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiGoh1BUJk4
This post was sponsored by Charlotte’s Youth Broadcasting Camp
It’s the only full service broadcasting summer workshop for teens.
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QC Supermom 