The first rule of any relationship is communication. Talk to your parents about their expectations, and equally have the opportunity to voice yours. There’s obviously no set rule - different schedules work for different people – but clear communication helps abate the build up of resentment or feeling abandoned and left behind.
"The mundane everyday helps your family feel closer to you..."
Tell them about campus, which supermarket you’ve decided to do your food shop at, which clubs and societies you’re currently trying, or if you’ve met any of your flatmates yet. The mundane everyday helps your family feel closer to you, even if the most you find yourself doing in the next two weeks is getting to grips with the walk to your classes and getting acquainted with the clubs.
Personally, having moved away from home at 12, the rules were first a call every night regardless of what I was doing or where I was. Moving to uni, the rules changed, as I knew I would be incredibly busy and the rule became at least three times a week with lots of texting in between. Now, as I enter my third year, we’ve established a rule of ‘if you see my location at home, give me a call’ which is probably what works best for my family as this way its not on just one of us to remember to call all the time.
"the university experience you have depends on you to figure out who you are as a young adult..."
Your parents are always one phone call away, but remember to find the things that you like to do. Join a club or society, find your passion, make friends with your flatmates, your course mates and explore this new city you find yourself in. The university experience you have depends on you to figure out who you are as a young adult and it will be some of the best and most formative years of your life.
So let your parents know that you are okay, that you’re thriving or that you need help but have fun, laugh, cry and learn more about your life than you could at home.