Diary of a Gen Z Student: A beginner’s guide to gentle parenting your parents

Trinity College student and Irish Examiner columnist Jane Cowan. Photo: Barry Cronin

Making the transition to college impacts the whole family, especially your parents. They’re forced to fight the urge to tell you when to do your homework, all the while, coming to terms with their baby getting in from nights out at 5am on a Wednesday. God love them, it can’t be easy. 

By the time we get to college, we feel so ready for the freedom that it’s easy to forget our parents need our support during this difficult time. You have to understand, you’re the light of their life, their reason to get up in the morning. And college has upended their regular routine. How will they fill their days, now that you’re spending less time at home? What have they got to live for?