Schedule Communication Time

You can’t stand it anymore. You just have to hear the sound of your child’s voice to make sure he or she is OK. Stop and think before you pick up the phone.

“The digital age is a double-edged sword for empty nesters,” says Robin Raskin, an expert on technology use and author of A Parent’s Guide to College Life. “The good news is that staying in touch with far-flung kids has never been easier. The bad news is that it has never been easier, too.”

She suggests you agree upon a regularly scheduled time to call and talk with your child. Too many phone calls at unpredictable times can feel like an invasion on your child’s fledgling sense of independence. Just as you don’t want them calling you in the middle of a meeting to ask about bleach in the laundry, your child won’t like you interrupting his or her date.

Use phones, pagers, email and instant messaging sparingly. Respect your child’s personal space and take a break from communicating.