Becoming a College Mom

First-time college mom Caroline Godin shares her own experience of sending her first child off to college. 

It wasn’t long ago I was up with a sleepless, refluxy, colicky baby. A short time ago, I sent that kiddo off to kindergarten. Just the other day, she learned to swim. I swear it was yesterday we let her ride her bike to the store with a friend. In a month, she’ll start college classes.

Maybe it’s on the horizon for you. Don’t blink.

It’s okay, though. I feel confident in her ability and judgment to find the right path as things come. I also feel confident she knows where to go and who to reach if things get difficult.

Every stage of parenting is tough, but we want what’s best for our kids. The world is big and crazy and a little (a lot) upside-down. We want to prepare them with faith and good judgment, while keeping us moms in the picture.

Here are some things that helped me with my oldest as she went from crayons to college — in, I swear, two seconds!

Faith In and Out

Building a strong faith in anyone starts with evangelization and catechism. Actually, good catechesis will evangelize on its own, but that’s another topic. We want our children to learn their prayers, know the faith, and form good habits, but routine outside of home will be different. They can come back to their room (dorm or at home) and pray of course, but can they recognize good communities where they can talk about and practice their faith with others?

Even if you have an introvert, you want your kiddo to know how to find Mass on campus, student connection, and other faith-filled community opportunities. We help them recognize those by showing it and living it at home.

We volunteer at our parish. We’ve participated in ecumenical events like Vacation Bible School, and we’ve attended Christian concerts together. Our kids not only know how to recognize their brothers and sisters in Christ outside of our home and our parish, but they know how to engage in those communities.

Communication is Key

I hope they find those things and continue to engage in faith-filled activities without needing me to prompt them, but I’ll never know if they don’t tell me.

That’s why communication is key. I let them explore the world in small pieces while still at home — jobs, errands, even trips with friends — because we’ll talk about it, and they’ll ask questions.

My daughter was doing a Bible study with a friend at a coffee shop when a stranger began criticizing her Catholic Bible. She came home and told me, not knowing what she should have done. It was good to know I’m still needed.

I don’t just hand my kids the answers to their questions, however. I challenge them and help them work through those questions with critical thinking. I guide them, and correct them as needed, but I help them to think on their own.

Adolescence is a critical time to help them realize the difference between knowledge and wisdom. When they understand that I’m not here to tell them everything but to guide them through understanding the world and how to live in it through the lens of faith, they’re more apt to continue that communication even when they’re on their own.

Be Their Anchor

I know my kids don’t come to me for everything. They don’t tell me everything either. That’s okay. I have to trust that they’ve built up judgment from a Christian perspective and surrounded themselves with good community. But there’s one thing I hope I’ve instilled even more.

No matter what situation they’re in, no matter what’s going on in their lives, I will always love them and always be there for them. Even when one of my kiddos is mad at me and doesn’t want to talk, they know I’ll still be here. I’ll still feed them and comfort them and do whatever I can for their needs. What’s more, I hope they know that God’s love is like that too, but way bigger. He’s their true anchor.

The world is a messed-up place, but they know home is a place they can trust. They can recharge here, rest here, and be loved here. And when they’re adults and home isn’t the same, God is still the same anchor they’ve always had.

No Pressure

The last thing I want to stress is not to stress. Don’t stress academics too much. Yes, it’s important, but there’s a balance. Just encourage them to start somewhere, doing the next best thing each step of the way. This is especially important for young people who don’t yet have a direction. No one needs to come out of high school with an instant doctorate. Some people need to feel their way, learn many things, and explore life before they settle. (I think I’m still exploring life in my mid-forties.)

Help your kiddos know that as long as they’re being responsible (paying bills, saving money), it’s okay to not have a killer career path.

Start Now (Better Yet, Yesterday)

Don’t wait for senior year to practice these things. You’re their anchor from day one. Let them wade into the waters of the world early with you as their guide and guardian, practicing independence, conversation, and critical thinking.

The real world is a big shock to those whose first experience is college. Better to do it together so you can teach them along the way. Let them earn and spend money, call for interviews for jobs, grocery shop, problem-solve, and more. They can even go to Mass with a friend to experience more faith community. Then you can talk about it (while they still want to talk to you), and be the wisdom they need to work things out.

The world keeps getter messier, but we’re raising the next generation to do better. As my daughter steps into her next big adventure, I have confidence in her, but I also have confidence that she’ll know I’m still her anchor when she needs me.

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Copyright 2026 Caroline Godin
Images: Canva