The holidays are often thought of as the ‘most wonderful time of the year.’ It’s the season of presents, some of the best meals, and endless songs about mistletoe and holly. You can watch a different Christmas movie every night, thanks to 25 Days of Christmas. It’s a time for cheer and joy, for most. However, it can also be one of the most stressful times of year.
For us college students, this is the time of year where you leave your beloved college town and head back to your parents. It’s the time of year for scavenging for a few extra dollars (or a few extra $50) for presents for every friend and family member you’ve ever encountered. No longer do you depend on your parents for presents for everyone in your life. No, that’s all up to you now. When you find out your sibling already bought a gift for both parents, you sneakily try to slip your name onto the gift.
Not only are you lacking in money, but you have no time. You go home and you pick up a few shifts at your old job, which then turns into working every day because you realize you don’t have any money for gifts. When you’re not working, you’re trying to catch up with high school friends. Unfortunately, they are also working and you can’t manage to match your schedules. It’s a vicious, never ending cycle. You don’t have time to get them gifts, which ends up being okay since you can’t see them anyway.
Who can you see? Well, of course you get to spend endless amounts of time with your parents because they miss you oh so very much. Then you see your siblings occasionally depending on their schedule. Don’t forget the extended family. You’ll see them plenty. They’ll pretend like it’s been ages since seeing you, even though it’s only been since Thanksgiving. They’ll ask every question they asked you a month ago. How is school? Have you figured out what you want to do in life? How are your grades? Are you dating anyone? Why aren’t you dating anyone? Have you dated anyone since Thanksgiving? Are you interested in dating anyone? You’ll get asked by every family member at least once about your love life. If you’re not dating anyone, you’ll get reminded about how single you are.
On the bright side, you’ll also get showered in gifts. Grandma and Grandpa will be so overjoyed to see you that they spoil you. The gifts you get are no longer the goofy toys you wanted as a kid. No. Now you get adult gifts. Kroger gift cards, things you need for your new apartment, gift cards to your favorite restaurants, and a large amount of Starbucks gift cards. (Personally, I recommend saving those for exam week. You’ll thank me later.) Along with the gifts, you’ll get home-cooked meals. Copious amounts of home-cooked meals. Mom will make sure you are well fed and have every meal you’ve missed while at school. You may even be able to swing quite a few meals out at restaurants.
There’s a lot to love about the holiday season. There’s a lot to dread about the holiday season. Get ready, you’ll need to be prepared for this one.
