<p>Although my dad’s the real helicopter parent, it was pretty easy to get rid of them, just by saying that I wanted to see X in another dorm. Of course, it was when they actually left, reality set in.</p>
<p>From my parents’ perspective though, when I was at Colgate, all the games gave them something to look forward to in terms of seeing me again so they didn’t “check in” so much. I think for all 5 semesters I was at Colgate, I saw my parents at least once a month due to a sporting event or family stuff back home (2 hours away).</p>
<p>But when I was at Michigan for graduate school, it was a lot tougher. My dad was still a helicopter parent- he wanted to drive to Ann Arbor just for the weekend and my mom twisted my arm a little to let him come for a weekend as he’s often home alone. I set out tough parameters, I think, as he/they could come only A) when I had a light reading schedule or just handed in a big paper and B) there was a football/hockey game or a big activity going on on-campus as to give us something to do. This only gave them a choice out of 2-3 weekends per semester. Entertaining your parents for a whole weekend, even in a fun town like Ann Arbor, is tough and mentally exhausting! (Compared to a day trip for Colgate)</p>
<p>I guess I can dread a little when I get to a PhD program… Luckily as I go up the academic ladder, the less my parents know about what to do and can do, the more I have control of the situation 
Actually, after meeting my Michigan professors at a graduation reception, I think they realized that they <em>don’t</em> really want to do anything with my life in graduate school!</p>