You knew this day was coming, and you’ve been preparing months for it, or so you thought. You thought you’d know how you’ll feel when he packed up his room and left for college. Now that he’s gone, and his room is empty, you now realized you didn’t know what you thought you knew. Before you start overdosing on chocolate, cheesecake and old home movies and pictures of your little guy, the following are five things every Buckeye Football parent needs to know to get through the next 12 months:

You Will Be Alright
It may seem hard to believe right now, but you will be alright. You will get through this initial phase of missing your son terribly. You’ve been preparing him for this moment since his first day of kindergarten. Yes, the years went by so quickly, but trust in everything you’ve taught and instilled in him. Trust your place and influence in his life. Though he’s away from home, he’s never far from your love.

He Will Be Alright
It’s going to be tough but know that your son will be alright. It won’t be easy. College football is a whole different level of competition and expectations. A lot will be expected of your son, both on and off the field, as well as in the classroom. Coach Day and his staff are well equipped and have effective processes in place to get your son acclimated and adjusted. It’s going to be up to him to work hard, earn the respect of his coaches and teammates and succeed in the classroom. As long as he follows your home training and coaches’ instructions, he will be just fine. Even if he falls along the way, he will get up and try again. As long as he gives it his all, success is inevitable.

Stay Connected to Your Son
It’s very important that you stay connected with your son. He’s grown and on his own, but he still needs your counsel, guidance and presence. Know what’s happening with him. Stay on his progress in the classroom. Know what classes he’s taking and how that meets his potential major and graduation requirements. Talk often. Text often. FaceTime and/or Zoom are awesome. FaceTime and Zoom not only allows you to talk to your son but you get to see him and also see how clean (or not) his room is. Just stay connected.

Make and Phone A Buckeye-Parent Friend
No one understands what you will go through better than someone who has already been there. Connecting with another parent you can trust is very important to your mental and emotional health as a Buckeye parent. Having someone you can confide in, complain to and just let off steam will lighten the load on this long but adventurous journey. Plus you form friendships that last long beyond the college years.

Don’t Be Alarmed
The first time you call him and he doesn’t call you back or text you back right away, don’t be alarmed. The first time he calls complaining about a coach, don’t be alarmed. Just be the voice of reason and wisdom. When he starts to get homesick, don’t be alarmed. There are going to be some trying times and time of adjustment for your son. Just know and trust he’s in capable hands. Plus you have unlimited access (except during training camp) to talk with your son and the coaching staff about any concerns you may have. At his first sign of discomfort or discouragement, you may be tempted to throw on that Super Dad or Wonder Mom cape. Don’t do it. All his life, you’ve coached him for this moment. Now you’ve gotta let him go and play the game. Now if he calls you and says he’s in love, be very alarmed!

Welcome freshmen families, and Go Bucks!