Winter break is approaching quickly (or not quickly enough), and everyone is making plans for Christmas and New Year's. After the stress of finals and the last few weeks of the semester, most college students look forward to going home to relax, spend time with family and friends, and not worry about school for a month. However, the expectations college kids have for going home may be completely different from the expectations their parents have for them coming home.

Maybe the biggest difference is the mindset college students are in after living on their own. The culture of college life allows for freedom of what to eat, how to spend free time, and when and where to meet up with friends. When at home again, it can be hard to adjust being away from that familiar lifestyle, especially for those who don't have their own car.

Just as college kids are used to the freedom, parents are not as used to them having that freedom and may be more apt to treat them as if they are still in high school. Curfews that were non-existent at school might be enforced at home when on breaks. When going home, I'm always so excited to see my old friends, catch up with them, and continue living on my own schedule (or lack thereof on breaks). But parents and family are just as excited to catch up with me, and it's easy to forget that when I'm so wrapped up in my own life.

Specifically regarding Christmastime, the hustle and bustle of buying presents and running around all the time is easy to get swept up into, and it's even more important to take the time to slow down. Of course, we hear this all the time. "What's the true meaning of Christmas?" and all of that. But it's really true.

Something that I think scares parents when their kids go to college is that they'll change, or stray from what they were raised as. So the emphasis on spending time with us when we come home is particularly strong when we've been away for so long. On the flip side of this, college is a time for growth and change, so if I come home a little bit different from how I was when I was dropped off on move-in day, that's just a product of growing up, meeting lots of different people, and hopefully trying new things.

So this Christmas break, parents, remember that if you have a child from college coming home, they are going to be used to their freedom and may have their own agendas and Christmas hustle and bustle attitude. But, college kids, remember that when you go home, family is important too, and your parents are going to want to see you and spend time with you. Also, for everyone, it's okay to slow down sometimes.