Heading off to college can be incredibly stressful for a student. More often than not, the incoming freshman has to worry about being away from home for the first time, being away from his or her circle of friends and the increased responsibility to get to class without mom and dad waking them up.

The transition is going to be stressful for parents, too. Many parents know what happens at college because, well, they’ve been there. Alcohol, drugs, parties, crazy girls and frat boys are only a few of the myriad of worries parents have while “their babies” are away at an institute of higher learning.

The hovering parents routine can grow tiresome for some students. But they have to consider that they might be enabling their parents’ helicopter act. Any time students call their mommy to borrow some money for food, or for gas, they give their parents the right to say, “Well, I’m just trying to help you,” every time they embarrass them by asking via Facebook if they’re keeping up with school work.

Students who go home every weekend so their mother can do their laundry are giving them a free pass to make the surprise pop-in to their dorm on a Saturday morning.

If you want to be treated like an adult, act like an adult.

Hovering is a two-way street. If students takes responsibility for their lives and manage their responsibilities on their own, a parent is less likely to hover over them. And if a parent continues to hover while students are handling their business, students have the clout to ask their parents to back off and let them do their thing.

Overall, students can somewhat escape the watchful eye of their parents when they come to college. But if they continue to rely on them to wash their clothes, fill their gas tanks and feed their rabid Chipotle addiction, why should the parents give them their independence?

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.