Save money on college just by opening your email
Ah, the great paradox of parenting: we spend 18 years preparing them to be independent, and then the minute they leave for college, we just want them to text us back.
At first, you’ll try the sweet, supportive approach:
📲 “Hey, just checking in! Hope you’re having a great day! Love you!”
No response.
Then you’ll try a casual approach:
📲 “Hey, just wondering if you’re alive?”
Still nothing.
Finally, you resort to the nuclear option:
📲 “I made your favorite cookies today. Too bad you’re not here to have any.”
And suddenly—DING! A text appears:
📩 “Can you send some?”
Welcome to College Communication 101, where we, the parents, must get… creative.
Step 1: The Art of Strategic Parenting (a.k.a. Holding Their Netflix Hostage)
If they won’t answer a text, sometimes a little encouragement is necessary.
Here are a few “gentle” reminders that mom still holds the power.
🔑 Change the Netflix password.
You will hear from them. And fast. Bonus points if you make the new password something like “CallYourMother123.”
📦 “Accidentally” send their favorite snacks to their roommate instead.
Nothing stings more than watching Roommate Chad enjoy their homemade chocolate chip cookies. (hee hee)
💳 Pause the Venmo flow.
Nothing gets a faster response than:
📲 “Mom, my Venmo isn’t working?”
📩 “Weird. Neither is mine.”
🚗 Turn off the gas card.
Suddenly, you’re the most important person in their world.
These are not acts of war—they are acts of love.
Step 2: Give Them a Reason to Check Their Mail (Since They Won’t Check Their Texts)
Since their inbox is apparently broken, let’s go old-school and send them fun surprises in the mail!
🎁 Unexpected Care Packages – Don’t just send the usual ramen and socks—make it fun!
Ideas include:
- A theme box (movie night with popcorn and candy, “Midterm Survival Kit” with caffeine and stress balls).
- A letter written by the dog. (“I miss you. No one else drops food on the floor like you do.”)
- A $5 gift card for their favorite fast-food place. (Because nothing says “I love you” like free Chick-fil-A.)
💌 Handwritten Notes – Texts get ignored, but real mail? That’s a rare treasure. Bonus points for sneaking in an embarrassing baby photo.
📸 Ridiculous Family Photos – Photoshop their face onto a family vacation picture they weren’t even there for. Send it with the note: “We missed you so much, we brought you with us anyway.”
🎫 Random Tickets – Print out a fake “summons” for a mandatory dinner at home and mail it to them. (Expiration date: Never.)
Step 3: The Mom Mafia – Operation Surprise Box
Here’s where things get really fun: team up with your mom friends and create a college kid surprise squad.
How it works:
✅ Gather 4-5 moms whose kids are in college.
✅ Each month, one mom is in charge of sending a little surprise to all the kids in the group.
✅ Surprise can be anything fun—a $5 Starbucks card, a funny postcard, a goofy dorm decoration.
This way, every kid gets a fun surprise in the mail each month—and no one mom has to do all the work.
This is perfect for kids who “forget” to check in because suddenly, they’re getting unexpected goodies from their “Mom Network” (and, of course, you’ll hear about it).
If they don’t say thank you? Well, next month, everyone else gets a gift, and they get a picture of what they could have received. Tough love.
Final Step: Accept That They Will Eventually Miss You (Even If They Won’t Admit It)
One day, when you least expect it, they’ll call you first.
Maybe it’s because they need something, maybe it’s because they actually miss home, or maybe it’s because their roommate used the last roll of toilet paper and they’re panicking.
Whatever the reason—answer the call with love (and maybe a little I-told-you-so).
Because no matter how independent they think they are, they’ll always be our kids.
And as long as we have snacks, surprise boxes, and their Netflix password, we’ll always be in their lives. 😏
Parent Power Moves: Must-Have Picks for Staying Connected
📦 This book is worth the read – For all of us navigating the amazing world of adult children.
📸 Your Address Stamp – To make sending letters more fun and they will always smile when they see it’s from you.
🎉 Hugs In A Jar Candle – Smells like fresh laundry and guilt.
📬 Funny Postcard Pack – For those “I know you’re ignoring my texts” moments.
🍪 College Mom Era Bag – So they can laugh and realize this is a new season for both of you.
So, parents, the key to college communication is simple:
- Hold the power (Netflix, Venmo, gas cards—use wisely).
- Send unexpected joy (or subtle guilt) through the mail.
- Join forces with other moms to keep them on their toes.
They may not always call first…
But they will call.
And when they do, we’ll be ready.
Now go change that Netflix password. 😏