1. You're broke.
You spent too much money on food and other things last weekend. Now you really need your parents so they can leave a couple twenties on your dresser before they go. The gas bill isn't going to pay itself.
2. Your friends don't understand some of your jokes.
We all have inside jokes with the special people in our lives, but we probably have the most with our family. Only our family understands our humor or inside jokes, and they're simply not as funny over text. You can't make all of the embarrassing hand signs and noises.
3. You need to do laundry.
You're probably on your last pair of... socks. And you just don't have time to do laundry at the off-campus laundromat. You also don't have money to buy a new pair because, like I said, you're broke. Your parents will drive you there on the weekend to help you get things done while still enjoying spending time with you. Your mom might even just do it herself, like the good old days.
4. You need more toiletries!
You ran out of toothpaste two days ago, soap last week, and shampoo three weeks ago. You've been using your roommates and you're worried they'll catch on soon. Still broke, you can't afford to buy more but you don't wanna scare your friends away. Your parents would never let your personal hygiene suffer and will surely help you out.
5. You need to EAT!
Your pantry shelf consists of two packs of ramen and a bag of popcorn. You can't buy food if you don't have any money. You've scarfed down an extra chapter dinner and mooched off of your friends who have blocks for a little too long and they're starting to notice. Time for you parents to intervene and take you on that long needed trip to Kroghetto before you starve.
6. You want to go shopping.
You see all the new girls with that fancy pair of New Balance sneakers and you decided you need a pair. Unfortunately, you can't afford new sneakers if you can't afford a box of noodles at the store. You need to keep up with the trends, and your mom will make sure you do when she takes you to Easton for a mini shopping spree.
7. You want to show them how beautiful THE Ohio State University is.
Mirror Lake during the fall, the view from the top of the Shoe, the Oval on a sunny day. You can't appreciate the true beauty of these OSU landmarks from the pictures. This campus is remarkable and we are lucky to call it home.
8. You want them to meet the crazy people you call "friends."
You're embarrassed by your so-called friends, but your parents should know who you're hanging out with. Of course they assume your best friend of the opposite gender is the special someone in your life, but you still want to make sure your parents generally approve of them.
9. You really want to try that fancy (and expensive $$$) restaurant.
The Short North has any type of food you could desire, but you're on a college budget and can't even afford toothpaste. Lucky for you, your parents love to eat out when they visit. They'll take you to at least two nice restaurants while they're here. Since they aren't local, they'll ask you where you suggest and you can try that nice Thai place you've been eyeing all month.
10. You miss them!
Living on your own is great. We love to feel like adults, most of the time. But, sometimes we just want to kick back and watch a corny made for TV movie with our parents like we did in high school. College is stressful and our parents make us feel at home again. They love us no matter how badly we fail a test, or how poor our decisions were last weekend. They'll pick you up and help you move forward. Seeing them helps us get through the year.
If you're like me, living hours away from home, you haven't seen family in months. Seeing a face that reminds you of home is comforting, especially when it's your parents. Make sure you show them how much you love them when they're with you and that you appreciate their visiting. Don't take them for granted!
