Drop-Off Day

BY ANDREA DELBANCO Editor in Chief, TIME for Kids I'm marking a major parenting moment today: Dropping my oldest child off at college. The stars are aligned for my daughter to thrive. She selected a school that promises to be a great academic and cultural fit, she picked a roommate who's been an excellent source of support since they paired online in January, and she's confident, independent, and eager to get going. And the stars are aligned for me—to cry the entire long drive home. Anticipating this, my husband and younger daughter surreptitiously put two boxes of tissues in the car. Much has been written about this topic, and I gather many members of this community have been through it (I appreciate your support and shared stories more than you know). So I'll keep this note short. Here's hoping that by the time you read this, the twin XL bed will be lofted and made up, the pictures will be hung without damaging the walls, and the ubiquitous brand-name fan will be whirring in the window.  I'll be back online soon. With a third box of tissues by my side. Write to me at andrea@time.com any time, about anything.  Best, Andrea  MORE STORIES A new YouTube feature will use AI to estimate a viewer's age based on their behavior on the platform. Gary Scales writes about the history of the child safety seat and how it reduced child fatalities by 61% between 1977 and 2022. Working parents' need for childcare remains high, but state and federal funding cuts are forcing many childcare centers to close. The FDA has approved a nasal mist flu vaccine that can be administered at home. Jessica Marcella and Stephanie Psaki of the Arch Collective write about how America can address its declining birth rate.   Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.         Subscribe to TIME TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters PRIVACY POLICY | YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS Questions? Contact parents@time.com Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2025 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved. TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508 Boone, IA 50037-0508, United States of America Terms of Service