Worry

Friday, September 29, 2006

By Jim Van Wingerden

Well it’s Friday again—only three weeks away from Family Weekend!  Students are completing their fourth week of classes. Most have taken this semester’s first test and/or had a writing assignment come due. 

Parents I have talked to or run into these past four weeks seem generally content about their student’s college experience thus far.  In spite of that I know that many parents are secretly busy with one of the prime activities of parenting a college student.

They worry.

Parents are all over the board when it comes to topics they choose to worry about.  The September 2006 “Question of the Month” touched on those issues: “As you think about the upcoming academic year, what concerns you most regarding your student’s Calvin experience?” Based on input from 168 parents here are how those responses broke down:

* Time Management: 19.0%
* Academics: 15.5%
* Personal Relationships: 14.3%
* Spiritual Wellness: 13.7%
* Career Planning: 11.9%
* Finances: 10.1%
* Health: 2.4%
* Involvement opportunities outside classroom: 2.4%
* Safety: 0.6%
* Other: 10.1%

It’s interesting to me that even though time management tops that list, there are five other very healthy contenders for the #1 position—each worthy of a parent’s prayers and concern.

Let me share this comforting Bible passage and a short piece that I wrote for a church devotional booklet a few years ago.  It’s an eternal promise that’s been helpful for this dad when those “worry” opportunities pop up.

READ MORE...

(1) Comments • Christian Formation • Parenting • Personal • The First-Year Experience • Permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages