You’ve packed up the car, made three extra trips to Target to pick up things you forgot and fruitlessly organized a dorm room that will be messy again within the week.
Now you’re standing outside your kid’s new home hugging them tight one last time before you make your way back home.
They promised they would call every weekend, and sometimes they do, but the conversations usually consist of “Can I have a few bucks for groceries?” or “I forgot my basketball shoes at home, could you send them?"
It’s not always easy keeping up with your college student, but here are a few ways you can keep track of life in Bloomington without relying on your child to tell you.
Family Weekend
What better way to keep up with your kid than by actually visiting him or her? IU has a family weekend every year, and for 2018 it's Sept. 21-23. Plan your visit now by reserving a hotel room (they go quick) and buying extra tickets to that weekend's home football game against Michigan State.
IU Notify
Sometimes bad things happen. Whether it’s a tornado warning or an assault near campus, be in the know with IU Notify. Just go to one.iu.edu and search for IU Notify to sign up. Students can also opt in for these notifications to be sent via phone calls or text messages.
The Indiana Daily Student
We’ll bring you the news right to your email. Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters at idsnews.com and always know what’s going on at IU and in Bloomington. You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @idsnews or on Facebook and also sign up for our Facebook notifications.
Social Media
The easiest way to keep up with both people and places these days is through social media. Even if your kid won’t accept your friend request, you can still like IU on Facebook to see what the big university news is. IU also has a dedicated facebook page for major crime and weather alerts, IU Emergency Updates.
Parents Association
The Division of Student Affairs has a Parents Association to act as a bridge between you and life at IU. At the end of orientation your student should have enrolled you (or his or her other parent or guardian) as a member. Even if you’re not a member, you can still sign up for the IU Family Connection newsletter at https://provost.indiana.edu/parent-resources/newsletter/index.html.
