We usually call at least once a week but my DD calls a couple times a week sporadically if she has time and usually texts every day while DS texts a couple times a week and talks to us once every one to two weeks. Generally they aren't super annoyed when we try to contact them but we try to let them do it on their terms with the expectations that they stay in touch and also text us on birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays that they may miss. Sometimes we ask for pictures as "proof of life" and sometimes they treat it as a "BeReal" photo where they capture whatever random moment they are currently living in and sometimes it's a weekly roundup of happenings on campus.

My kid goes to college 30 minutes away and comes back often to attend family events. (Also my DH tracks him and we let him use our google pay so we know where he is spending money.)

Also, I was helicopter mom enough from K-12 and so I want to show him that I am chilled AF mom now. So his memory of me as a strict mom does not align with the hands-off mom of now.

So I don't call or text.

Standing calls twice a week. One call during the week and a family zoom on sundays.

We text fairly regularly, but not necessarily every day. If I hear from them once a week, I think that's fine. That's all we did years ago from the hall phone.

I’m very surprised about how many parents track their college aged kids. What’s the purpose of it? It’s so invasive, give your kid some space.

Sophomore and senior, they both text or call almost every day. Mostly a group chat with all three of us, sometimes they just call or text me.
If I didn’t hear from them for a week and no reply, I’d contact the university.

We made it clear that there would be a once a week FaceTime call. Usually it’s on Sunday evenings but not always. We get occasional texts to us or in our family group chat. Sometimes not at all, and sometimes two or three in a week.
We do not have the roommates numbers. It’s not a bad idea though.

My freshman daughter calls almost every day and texts every day. Her twin brother texts for logistical things only which amounts to about once per week.
We can track them both via i
phone if needed. Their roommates' parents asked for their numbers and our numbers and we gave them but I honestly never got the roommates' numbers (just the parents") because I was busy unpacking and didn't see a situation when I'd call an actual kid.

I have two boys. Senior and freshman. They text me about something almost every day and they call a few times a week. Usually because they need something or have a question or want to comment about sports or a current event.

My younger would never call to chat , however, my oldest one is chatty. When he was a freshman he would call me every day on his way back from class. He still calls once a week or so to just shoot the shit.

Also didn’t ask for roommate’s number.

I don’t initiate texts or calls unless there is something we need to talk about or something has happened that they would want to know. Mine usually initiates every couple of days unless she knows I’m away or have things go on. Mine is on a sports scholarship with a busy schedule and I can’t keep track of her availability. Plus I want her to figure out her adult relationship with me instead of her feeling obligated because she thinks I’m needy.

I think if mine didn’t call and text, I’d probably invite them to join me for a weekly call when they had time for me to buy them coffee while we talk. That always works for my kids.

My son doesn't mind that my husband knows where he is based on iPhone tracking. I don't have an iPhone so I do not look/check.

We exchanged parent phone numbers with his freshman roommate's father on move-in day. His roommate's parents live many states away and we are an hour from campus. The only time we ended up texting was related to discussing apartment rentals for sophomore year. I gave a card with my numbers on it to my son's sophomore roommate. I don't have his parents' numbers but I know their name and could probably reach them in an emergency through social media.

We hear from our kid randomly and randomly text. We do not have set check-ins. Now that our son is a sophomore, he is busy with lots of ECs and friends.

School has only been in 3 weeks. They are busy and adjusting. And, no. We did not ask for roommates number. They are in college now. Give some space and you’ll probably get a better response.

We told our kids we'd love to talk once a week, and they call/videochat on the weekend.

Oldest is a great communicator, FaceTimes at least once a week and texts throughout. Youngest is significantly less busy is “too busy” and is very sporadic with texts, hates talking on phone. Different personalities, we let them set the pace.

I emailed, texted my son who is freshmen this year, probably once a week. In the beginning, he replied within two days. Yes, this is only Sept, last week, he didn't reply. His Dad called him today, and he sounded annoyed and said it's because there is nothing important in the email. When we asked whether we could have his roommate's number just in case of emergency, he immediately rejected and acted like we were so crazy.

hmmm, we ask for the number totally for safety issue. Say, if you call and can't reach your son in another state for quite a time, shouldn't you check with someone to make sure there is no accident? I don't know why he reacted like that. Also, email/texting once a week is too frequent? He can just reply like "I'm busy now."

How do you keep contact with your college children?