There are many rites of passage associated with the first year of college.

For some, there's the first time sleeping through lecture, for others the first time to be away from home.

This weekend, it's the first time to mooch dinner off a roommate's parents.

About 2,000 parents descended on the Yard yesterday, the first day of first-year parents weekend, to reunite with the sons and daughters they left six weeks ago.

"After we dropped him off...we missed him and wanted to see how he fared off," says Julian S. Ross, mother of Jeremy J. Ross'00.

This weekend's events, organized by the Harvard-Radcliffe Parents Association (HRPA), include open houses, faculty welcomes, Yard receptions and the class luncheon.

Parents are taking advantage of the opportunity to experience the lives of their children for a few days.

First-year parent Robert J. Walat, father of Elizabeth A. Walat'00, says he is enjoying "simply soaking up the ambiance of the College, walking around, sharing space with the students and getting a glimpse of student life on campus."

David S. Pisetsky '67, father of Michael A. Pisetsky '00, says he appreciates the changes that have occurred since his days as a student at Harvard. "You wouldn't believe it," he says.

Parents today are much more aware of their children's lives than before, he says.

A highlight of the weekend was yesterday's annual address by the Rev. Peter J. Gomes, Plummer professor of Christian morals and minister in the Memorial Church. In a speech titled "After the Novelty, Before the Facts: What Parents Need to Know and Don't," Gomes spoke to a full Science Center B about the changes students go through when they enter college.

"Reverend Gomes gave a wonderful speech," says Adam R. Ross, Jeremy's father. "He touched on every parent's concern on how their kids have changed so far," Ross says.

"You have to give them roots and wings," says Jim W. Triant, who attended the lecture. Triant is the father of William S. Triant '99 and helped organize the weekend.

Though Gomes' speech received accolades, a panel discussion called "The Academic Program" was not as popular, according to one audience member.

"It was informative, but the presentations were quite boring," Walat says. "This should be more of a social weekend."

On the contrary, Adam Ross says he found the events and discussions too informal. He says he is concerned about the presence of drugs on campus and wanted this topic to be addressed.

Pisetsky says he wished that parents weekend featured more faculty lectures, especially in light of the fact that many classes do not meet on Fridays.

Today's Harvard-Dartmouth football game seems to be eagerly anticipated by all.

"We're anxious to go to the football game," says first-year parent Mary Sue Woodbury, mother of Michele L. Woodbury'00. "Parents get to go for free."

This is the first year that the University is providing free tickets for the game and the weekend's organizers expect turnout to be high.

The weekend is organized by HRPA members who are parents of older students.

Julia G. Fox, director of HRPA, says turnout is higher than in previous years.