University students OK with 'hovering' parents

Hundreds of University of Regina students checked into their dorm rooms Friday and many of their parents were with them, to lend a hand.

Cindy Sonen helped her son Colton, 18, settle in. She recalls, from her days as a student, that her parents handled things differently when she left home for school.

"Basically you felt like you were dumped in the middle of nowhere and you were left on you own," Sonan said. "Now, there's so much support for them."

Bryan Braun was with his son Jordan, 19, for the dorm check in. He was enjoying the moment.

"I feel pretty good actually," Braun said. "He's ready to leave the nest."

Jordan Braun said he expects his parents will be fine leaving him on his own.

"I'll probably call them more than they'll call me," he said.

Another parent, Shannon Pettem, said supporting her daughter is important.

"Caring, supportive, nurturing but I also think I let her grow and make her own decisions," Pettem said.

Student Karli Hufnagel, Pettem's daughter, said she enjoys her mother's encouragement, for the most part.

"I'd say like a little bit, maybe, hovering ... but she's not too bad," Hufnagel said. "I like it. It's nice."

Cindy Sonen said times have changed since she went to school.

"I moved to Saskatoon and I think I saw my parents at Christmas when I came home," she said. "I did a lot of cooking for him, so he's got stuff in his freezer. That was not done for me. It's a totally different world the way we raise our kids now."

Her son Colton said he was fine with how things are today.

"It'll probably be good for me, keep me under control," he said.

"To support him," his mother quickly chimed in.

"Yeah, pretty much," he said.