When you move home from college, be it after your first year or your graduation, things may become stressful. You’ve been living the past nine months all your own. You probably had chocolate for dinner and slept as late as you wanted on the weekends. Stuff that your mother would never allow. You’ll have to reassimilate into the environment of your family. A task that will cause some strain, but if you keep positive mindset things will work out.
1. You’ll have to have a normal sleep schedule
Staying up until 4 binge-watching The Office while eating pizza will not be tolerated here. People need to work the next day, your siblings still have a month of school, and sleeping in until 12 or 1 is no longer a possibility. You’ll be on the family schedule of going to bed between 9 and 10 after watching America’s Funniest Home Videos and waking up at 8 or 9 for breakfast. You’ll struggle the first couple weeks, but I promise you will adjust and it will be for the best.
2. Fast Food will no longer be a valid choice for dinner
Your family will be eating together, home-cooked meals or restaurant food together. Bringing home a big mac to shovel down while playing Fall Out is not a thing here. I’m sure everyone’s been in the car with their mom when they said “We have food at home”, this summer is an extended version of that.
3. Clean up the langue
I am the main offender of swearing around my parents when I move home. Fuck could be my most used word most days. Let me tell you though, your parents don’t want to hear that kind of spice in your vocabulary, especially if you have younger siblings. Try some fun alternatives such as shitake mushrooms, son of a biscuit, and flip.
4. You will do chores
While living with roommates, or on your own, I bet that cleaning wasn’t a weekly thing. Your mom will not only be more on top of chores but will ask you to help. Mow the lawn for her, wash your dishes, and make your bed. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a huge deal. Help your mother.
5. You are no longer the sole decision maker
You’re not the head of the house anymore. Your mom and dad get priority of the tv channels, the dinner food, and the seat in the living room. You are no longer the alpha dog, get over it.
6. Tell your parents where you are
They’re not used to you going out late with people they don’t know. It may seem annoying, but they just want to know where you are, when you’re coming home, and who you’re with for your safety. They also don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night, so be quiet when you come home.
7. Your parents may seem over bearing, but they just missed you
They raise you for 18 years and then you left. They’re proud of you and wanted you to take this step. They just miss you. You have been a constant in their life for so long that it’s hard to not see you when they sit down for dinner.
At the end of the day, appreciate what they’ve done for you. Your parents are happy your home, happy to share their food, happy to let you live at home for free over the summer. If you really feel yourself getting bothered, remember, it’s only three months. I promise when you first left for college you missed them and when you leave again you’ll miss them. Take in this summer with a smile. You won’t regret spending time with them when you’re older.
