I read a story about a mother who moved into her daughter’s dorm room at college and just had to laugh. While my mother wasn’t anywhere near this bad, I do know mothers out there who I could see doing such things. I’ve also heard similar stories about parents who couldn’t let go once students leave home. I can see the point that they’re paying for the education and they should know what they’re paying for.

On the other hand you have students who view college as a soft launch into adulthood where they learn inventive ways to cook raman noodles and the precise number of classes you can skip and still get a decent grade in a class. I tend to lean in favor of the students. This isn’t a time for more parental involvement, but less. It’s a time for young adults to define who they are and parents to respect that.

Luckily my parents only cared that I was getting good grades and stayed out of jail for the most part. Things turned out just fine too. I made some mistakes, learned a few things both in and out of the class room, met my soon-to-be-wife and generally had more fun that I should have, but I graduated and have a decent paying job so I guess it’s all good. But, under no circumstances, would I have allowed my mom to live in my dorm room with me.