There you are, trudging to class and asking God what you've done to deserve an 8:30 on a Monday, and-
BAM!
It hits you.
I really miss my family right now.
You miss your mom, and all the conversations you had together [for me, that includes my step-mom, who got just as excited hearing about my life]. You miss your dad, and how every Sunday before church he would make breakfast for you and your grouchy siblings. You miss your siblings, and all the adventures and trouble-making experieces y'all had together. You miss your dogs, a big dopey golden retriever and two lazy dachshunds. You even miss your little hometown, a place you couldn't wait to leave.
I miss my family, a lot. I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't wish my family was ten minutes away instead of two hours. I love college, and I know they're proud of me, but I still get really homesick sometimes.
And it's not a bad thing. Homesickness is natural: when you've spent 17-19 years seeing these same people pretty much every day, having to be away from them for weeks or months brings out this emotion. My chest has physically hurt from missing my family so much, and if you've ever felt that way, I have five simple tips to help with homesickness.
1. Facetime is your best friend.
Whether it's making your dad put the phone on your dog so you can see him, or laughing at your mom because she doesn't really know how to hold the phone, seeing them instead of just talking to them is very important. If you can see them, that's one step closer to actually being with them in person. You can see that they're doing okay, and they can see that you're doing okay [and you're keeping your dorm clean]. Win-win.
2. Cherish every call, even when it's the third day in a row your dad has called you.
Sometimes you'll forget to call your parents, and when you see their name on the screen it just relaxes you. Talking to your parents can help you de-stress from all the anxieties of college life. Plus, they have a third-party perspective that your friends don't have. They want to hear about your day as much as you want to tell them.
3. Hang up photos and cards from them.
Like with Facetime, seeing their faces can help. It makes them feel closer, if not physically, then mentally. It'll make you think of them, and how proud they are of you, and how much they want you to be there. Plus, dorm decorations are always fun, and your friends might even ask about your family, which allows you to talk about fun stories and how awesome they are.
4. Don't cry too much, they miss you too!
I can't tell you how many times my parents have texted me to just say they miss me and can't wait to see me home, or I see my step-sister tagging me in some form of social media. And remember, this isn't a one-way deal. They've spent those 17-19 years right by your side, so it's hard for them too, to see your futon, once occupied by dozens of pillows and you just playing on your laptop, now barren or with clothes from your last visit strewn over it. To see your shoes by the couch, but you're not home, you just forgot them from your last visit, it's hard for them. They count down the days just like you.
5. The only real solution: Go home; Just make sure you come back.
Nothing can truly cure homesickness until you actually go home. So go home, see you family, an enjoy it. But never forget to come back to your life here.
