It is now summer time. All of us college students are heading back home after being on our own for several months. It can be hard adjusting to going back to living at home. So much has happened since the last time you were there. You are a totally different person now. You have tasted independence and liked it. So how are you supposed to go back to being someone's child?
1. Independent But Connected
Often students feel like going back home means that they will lose their independence. This doesn't necessarily have to be the case.
Maintain your independence. Still make your own plans. But try to incorporate your family's plans with your own. If you push your family away, they will only try to hold on harder. So find a nice balance between your own personal time and your family time. Everyone wins!
2. Communication Is Key
Keep your parents in the loop. Your parents will be less likely to complain about you always going out if you let them know where it is you are going. It can be as simple as leaving a note on the counter or a quick text telling them where you are going and when you'll be back.
Also, tell them about college. Enjoy getting to tell those awesome stories all over again, because well, they're just too great to keep quiet. Telling them stories and giving them names, makes your family feel more connected to that "other life" you've been living and gives them a better understanding of what you've been through.
3. Remember Whose Home It Is
One of the main reasons its hard going back home is because it's no longer "your place". You can't just leave your clothes out on the chair for five days (you'll get it eventually!!) or have your millions of chargers on the floor reenacting that oh so wonderful cafeteria spaghetti. So, now since your in someone else's home try to keep the space looking like anything EXCEPT a hurricane strike. Remember how you felt when your roommate forgot what a vacuum was? That's your parents right now.
4. This Isn't Hell
Your attitude changes the whole atmosphere. Personally, I don't understand why going home is so bad. Just remember: free food, better food, bigger pantry, and HOT food (Praise Jesus!!!). But seriously, no more doing laundry at midnight because all the machines had been full, and you get to SLEEP IN (as in, no-alarm-ever, sleep in! Ahhhhh, Heaven is real....). Ahem, anyways. Just remember, there are MANY upsides to this.
5. They Love You
The main thing to remember is that your family loves you. They haven't seen you in a long time and they are still adjusting to you having your own life. So be patient (cause you just know that Karma is going to bite us in the butt when we have kids. Just saying.) Appreciate the time you have with them, because before you know it, college will be over and then you'll have to grow up completely. Remember, they have loved you longer and harder than any of those "baes" from college ever did. So love them, cherish them, hug them, and never let them go.
