I’m a college student. That, for me and a lot of others, means that I spend most of the year away from home. My parents miss me, and I miss them, but sometimes coming home for the summer after being away for so long can get a little bit...awkward. So here are some ways to reconnect with those you love more than anyone else! Remember, while you’re growing up, they’re growing old. So enjoy the time while you have it!
1. Take a walk
No, not the "Passion Pit" song. An actual walk down the road!
This may seem kind of obvious, but it’s really helpful when you just want to relax and talk with your family. I didn’t realize this until the other day when my family decided to take a walk after dinner. We slowly padded along, the sun setting on the horizon and just talked. Not about anything big or important, we just spent time together. It really meant a lot and took away some of the coming-home-from-college awkwardness, plus we all got some exercise!
2. Cook dinner together.
Though every chef in the world would argue, there can never be too many cooks! Sitting down with your family, deciding on a dish together, getting the ingredients and cooking it together in the kitchen is so helpful when you want to learn to work together as a unit again. You’ve changed, they’ve changed, but everybody loves food, so it’s an easy way to reconnect!
3. Take a road trip.
This sounds like something you’d spend the summer doing with your friends. But maybe you should set aside one of those weekends and take a road trip with your family! I recently drove up to Ithaca, New York with my brother. We listened to music and talked about our respective romantic interests and laughed hysterically over his choice in Subway sandwiches. (So weird. Who gets BBQ with dill pickles?) Anyway, I realized just how much my brother has grown up in the months I’ve been gone, and since that trip, he and I have been closer than ever! I definitely recommend doing this with a family member or two because it really gives you an opportunity to get to know what’s going on in each other’s lives.
4. Plant a garden.
This one sounds like a lot of work, but actually it can be a lot of fun! My mother has always been an avid gardener. Last weekend, she got both my brothers and I up out of bed to help her plant some seeds. What seemed like a tedious venture ending up turning into a hilarious mud fight and an accomplishment we were all proud of. Having a small patch of vegetables in your yard or even a small indoor planter that your family works together on is a really great way to have some laughs and, as a bonus, fresh veggies!
5. Watch a TV show together.
This suggestion, at first glance, would be something to terrify even the bravest of souls. Everyone in your family agreeing on a TV show? And enjoying it? No. Actually, it’s easier than you might think. My parents have been watching "Downton Abbey" lately, and I came home from college thinking it was the dumbest thing in the world and that they were crazy. I ended up watching a few episodes with them, and got really invested in it, mostly because of how invested they were. Now, we watch every episode together after work each night and all look forward to having the after-episode conversations about the new drama and what we think will happen next week. It’s really a fun time, and I do recommend finding a show that you and your family can get involved in!
