Don't Leave, Please Go: what you (and your teen) need to know before heading to university or college

by Sara Dimerman, Chloe Dimerman

During her younger daugher's first year away from home and in residence at university, psychologist Sara Dimerman kept a daily journal of both of their experiences and day-to-day challenges - and solutions - that emerged. Don't Leave, Please Go covers a entire year's worth of practical, social, emotional and academic changes for both parent and teen - beginning six weeks before her teen leaving home, move-in day, the first week apart, first month apart, until Christmas break, between New Years and end of the school year, and moving back home. Honest and no-holds barred, this book also explores the push/pull of emotions that parents and their teens experience as dynamics shift between them and within the family when living apart.

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

Moved to Canada when I was fifteen years old. Studied Radio and TV Arts at Ryerson in Toronto and graduated in early 1980s. Studied Asssessment and Counselling at the University of Toronto and graduated late 1980s. Started my private practice in Psychology in 1990. Have been writing articles since 1989. Began having books published in 2008.

Reviews

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very timely read as my youngest has just started university and is living in dorm.

I heard the author, a psychologist and a mother, speak on a call-in radio show about the transitions both parent and child go through when the latter leaves home to go to university. The author herself had experienced this a few years prior when her daughter left home. There were also many callers on the show who spoke about the ups and downs of navigating this new reality.

I ran to get the author’s book as I was struggling with the transition and wanted to learn about her experience and how she got through it.

The book is told in an easy, conversational style, spanning from before the author’s daughter left home for university, to the end of the first week, first month, Christmas, and the end of the first year. The author’s daughter adds her perspective in the form of an epilogue which I found interesting.

I could relate to many of the emotions, challenges, ups and downs that the author experienced and nodded my head very often. It made me feel less alone and made me realize that what I am feeling is a real thing experienced by many other parents (particularly mothers).

The title is a perfect description of this transition- I miss my son but I am focussing on further developing my own interests, planning small things to look forward to with my husband, etc. I also am realizing that I have much less laundry to do!

Recommend this to those going through the empty nest transition.