The nail-biting tension of waiting is already over for some families. With today's Leaving Cert results, it's clear that the young people who until now have been defined as "Leaving Cert candidates" are about to become third-level students.
Along with the pride at their efforts comes a sense both of adventure and of anxiety: your child is leaving schooldays behind and entering into the adult world of college.
For some parents, this simply means a sharp increase in the erratic behaviour of the teen whose noctural habits and strange appearances in communal family areas were already beginning to be remarked upon; for others it means that their child will be moving away to a different town or city and will only be home again at weekends.
David Hegarty, a member of the National Parents Council (Post Primary) and a lecturer in construction studies at Tralee Institute of Technology has seen it from both sides. Two daughters have left home to go to college in Dublin, and he sees among his own students the young people who are coping (or not, as the case may be) with the responsibilities and freedom of being away from home.
"The first thing I suppose we noticed when our daughters went off was that there is a bit of a gap in the house, but the thing that helps to counter that is knowing it is a positive thing for your children," he explains, "the change is much greater for your child going away from home - your own routine probably won't be too affected."
Sheila Keena from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, another member of the NPCPP, is not so sure. Her son is in college in Dublin and her daughter is heading off this year. "I think it is terrible - cutting the cord was just a real wrench for me and I was ready to reach for the Valium last year, I know I'll be the same again this year. My kids do say I am the most over-protective mother in Ireland."
Joking aside, however you feel about your child leaving for college, there are plenty of practical things you can busy yourself with to ease your worries at this time of transition.
Probably one of the most important things when a child is starting college is to make sure you arrange how you are going to stay in touch. "The mobile phones are very handy," Hegarty says. "Don't be on to them all the time, but it is a good idea to arrange one or two regular times a week when you try to phone - and it's good for them to have them for safety." David tells how he wrote a weekly letter home when he was at college, sometimes only changing the date before copying out the previous week's template.
Hegarty reckons you have got to trust that the common sense and values that you have taught your children over the years will prevail, even if there are a few hiccups along the way. Your child might not be in the library at 9 a.m. every day; he or she may miss a lecture at some stage; but if you keep in regular contact you will soon know if they are coping alright.
For children moving away from home parents are advised to go and look for accommodation with them, particularly in the first year. "You want to make sure they are somewhere safe and within a reasonable travelling distance of college. Digs might be the best option at the beginning and then as good friendships are made they can maybe think about getting a flat," says Hegarty.
With the current housing situation in many cities, looking for accommodation can be a nightmare. "Go and look the day the results come out if you possibly can. Be prepared for the fact that you may need money for a hefty deposit and go and see what help you can get from the college accommodation office," advises Keena.
"I would go through reading lists with your children and see if you can sort them out with key books," says Hegarty. He says it is a good idea to keep an eye out for book sales in college or see if anyone in the year above wants to sell on their books. "It is really important to sit down with your son or daughter and work out a budget for books, travel and living expenses for the term or year ahead," he says.
One thing that both of the parents stress is that of being in college from day one and getting involved in things. It is important to keep an eye on notice boards and to know what's going on so you can feel that you fit in with friends from as early as possible.
Finally, Hegarty sums up: "Enjoy the fact that your child is getting on well in life, tell them to be careful to stick with a crowd walking home at night and to mind themselves." Kenna's parting shot? "You know that they're having a great time and meeting good friends, so get them a big packet of multivitamins (you know they'll eat nothing but burgers for the first term) and get ready for their first weekend home - with a big load of washing."
