In high school, many of us counted down the days till graduation, moving out, and newfound freedom. Don’t get me wrong, college is awesome: flexibile schedules, later classes, parties, and tons of new people to meet. But there are some things that aren’t as good away at school as they are at home. For those of you who take for granted the luxuries of the place you call home, here is a nice reminder of all the things you probably miss that may have you thanking mom and dad.
Laundry
While you may have come to terms with having to learn how to actually do laundry, what you didn’t expect was what a laboring process it is. You can’t just throw your mountains of clothes out in the hall, spend days switching out loads as you please, and do another load whenever you please. In college, you have to lug all your crap down to the communal laundry room where you will most likely experience some awful smells, lots of leftover dryer sheets, an abundance of lost socks, and you have to pay for this. Not to mention that sometimes there’s a ridiculous wait for a machine. We all envy those who live nearby and send their laundry home to be washed in the good olden way.
Meals
I always used to complain about my mom’s cooking. It either wasn’t ready when I wanted it or wasn’t what I was in the mood for, or she just skipped a night. Now I would trade anything to have that back. The dining hall was great at first, but then every week the menu started to look oh so familiar, and I realized that I never want to certain foods ever again. Not to mention, you have to walk much farther than a mere trip downstairs for the convenience of a meal any time of day. RIP, mom’s cooking!
Sleep
Sleep in college sucks, there’s simply no other way to put it. You either don’t get enough, it’s low quality, or you don’t get any. There’s also no longer the privilege of spreading out as far as your limbs allow. On top of that, the temperature is never right. You either wake up feeling like you’re in a sauna or the tundra. Word of advice: Get a Tempurpedic mattress topper -- your back will thank you.
Trash
Taking out trash was never a good thing, but it certainly is less of a burden at home. Not only do you have to take the trash out to a communal dumpster that’s always full, but the trashcans are small and you probably either have a buildup of old food stinking up your room or you make a trip every day. And of course, you can no longer leave it there for someone else to handle because your roommate won’t be very happy about it.
Shower
One word: shower shoes. Even when you wear these, you still manage to get hairballs and dirt on your feet. With the extra time it takes to unload everything from your shower caddy, actually shower, and put everything back, you will probably befriend dry shampoo. Not to mention how annoying it is when the suite above you flushes the toilet and the water pressure goes out, or the temperature drastically shoots up or down. Long hours in the bathtub and a reliable temperature are much missed.
Money
Defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as a scarce resource to college students, often allocated between food, alcohol, and online shopping. Back in the golden days, your mom bought the food in bulk at Costco and took you shopping every chance you got. Now, you're stuck on a budget that could never be enough for your late night food cravings. If the thought of becoming a stripper at night to pay for your splurges has crossed your mind, you are not alone.
Family
Even though we all say we can’t wait to be on our own, at the end of the day we all miss our families. You no longer come home to questions about your day. You probably eat alone more instead of around a table with the people you love. You’re missing out on the laughs, the hugs, and the endless love and support of your family. All the friends in the world couldn’t replace the family you’ve left behind. Cherish the time you spend with them and try to call them once in a while when you’re apart.
