One of the critical developmental steps for eighteen- to twenty-two-year-olds is to learn to make their own decisions. Today's students know that thoughful decision making includes gathering solid information and seeking reliable advice. The youth of this generation realize that their mothers and fathers have helped them get this far, and they recognize that some of their decisions can impact the family finances. They will continue to turn to their parents while they are in college. Because receiving and providing guidance from a distance is a new experience for both the student and the family, it requires new parenting and communciation skills as well as shared responsibility.
Marjorie Savage, You're on Your Own (But I'm Here If You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years, Simon & Schuster, second edition, 2009.
