One month, two months, three months, four months, five months…time seems to move incredibly slow and incredibly quick during the college semester—fluctuating in speed directly proportional to stress levels. Leaving home for very long time is both easy and hard. It is easy to experience and revel in the freedom that college students find themselves in, but it is brutally tough to leave a past life behind. Friends and family are missed and you change.
Speaking of change, there is no better way to realize how much you have changed as a person over the course of a semester than going home. Home is the epitome of the past—of your past. It is your ground zero. Your parents still think of you as a 12-year-old and in that, it is glorious. Having the experience of going back to being a kid again is fun and brutal for many. It is a harsh reminder that while you think you are completely adult, many college students are still incredibly reliant on their family for many things. For many this tie is rooted in finances, but there is often more than that, as I don’t believe that any person truly grows out of their family and who they were growing up in the family they were born into. Roots are roots for a reason.
“You’re always my baby.” No words ring truer when spoken to you by your mother. This is completely OK, and it does not mean that you can’t realize who you are as an adult fully. Be true to who you are—as a changed more matured (hopefully) individual. Try not to revert to the angst-filled high school kid that you know you were. When you parents try to put a curfew on you after being away at school for an extended period of time, try your best to respect it. It doesn’t hurt to show your parents that you care about what they say by doing something as little as that. There is not point in arguing over little things like that particularly when you are only home for a short period of time. So value it! If you truly feel as though they are infringing upon your personal space—a completely valid feeling, there are healthy ways to approach it. Sit down with your parents and lay out you concerns. Be an adult about it! It is healthy and effective way of proving to your parents that you have grown up at least a little bit. If this leads them to loosen the reigns on you a little bit, which it should, still be prudent. Do not abuse the extra privilege that you have been granted even if you feel like it was ridiculous for you not to have had it in the first place.
Moral of the story is, take time to reflect on who you are and how you have changed throughout the semester that you have just had. Feel free to embrace the growing pains in your relationship with your parents—transitioning to an adult relationship between you and your parents is not easy and it is probably a lot more difficult on them than it is for you. Enjoy your time at home and value it. You most likely missed home when you were away at school, and you will most likely miss school while you are home. That shows that you are in healthy places and that you are taking advantage of what both have to offer. Enjoy it all, and enjoy your time off relaxing at home!
