7 types of student parents

The very first students are due to move into Kingsway Apartments this week, with over 140 new residents taking over the keys to their newly-refurbished accommodation for the upcoming term.

For many of our students, it will be their first experience of living away from home, and although there may be some anxiety about starting university, it’s usually a time of great excitement. For parents though, this milestone moment can come with mixed emotions. How parents deal with the moment of detachment from their precious young person, depends a lot on their personality.

On moving-in day at Kingsway Apartments, which parent-type will you be dealing with?

The overly emotional ones

These parents have probably been dreading this day for months. They can’t imagine life without you at home, or how on earth you will cope without them. When it’s time for them to leave they’ll cling to you, crying inconsolably. They’ll text you every ten minutes, expect a call home every night and will spend the entire term stalking your social media for updates.

The super organised ones

Everything has been packed and labelled for weeks… with lists and instructions covering every possible eventuality. Thanks to these parents, you’ll quickly become the go-to person whenever your flatmates need a corkscrew, a colander or a first aid kit.

The embarrassing ones

As far as these parents are concerned, they never left college. Your dad still thinks he’s got his finger on the pulse of today’s music scene, and has looked out his old band T-shirts for the trip. They’re delighted to be reliving their youth, but you die inside every time your mum tries to give someone a high five.

The reminiscent ones

These guys are convinced that their uni experience has set the standard. Every sentence starts with “When I was at uni…” However, they’ll be astounded by your clean, bright accommodation and modern facilities. “It was never like this in my day, you don’t know how lucky you are.”

The ‘got our lives back’ ones

These parents are happy to see you settled, and won’t be prolonging their goodbyes. Rather than mourning their ‘empty nest’ these folks are looking forward to relinquishing responsibility. They’ve got their cruise to the Far East booked and already have plans to convert your bedroom into an en-suite.

The obsessively hygienic ones

Sleeves rolled up and mop in hand, these parents arrive in a cloud of bleach and anti-bacterial spray. They’re fully expecting to have to scour every surface before anything can be unpacked, but they’ll be delighted by the ready-to-move-in condition of your new accommodation. They might even accept a cup of tea from the kitchen without having to boil the mug first.

The sociable ones

Arriving with pizza and drinks for the whole floor, these guys are everyone’s friend, and they know you’ll have no bother settling in either. Your dad is already chatting to the pretty girl across the hall, and mum has got the party started in the kitchen. You’re hoping they leave before she starts dancing, though.