No matter how much you love school, everyone needs a break. After months of reading, writing, studying, and more studying, home seems more appealing than it did at the end of the summer. Sure, you’ll miss your friends, the campus, and your roommate, but your parents and family have missed you more than you will ever know.

For anyone who is an only child like I am, you know that parents count down the days until we return home for a break. Despite the fact that Thanksgiving break was just a few weeks ago, my parents couldn’t wait for me to get home for winter break.

1. Celebrating the holidays with your family

Celebrating holidays at school with you friends can be fun, but celebrating them at home with your family is special. After growing up celebrating holidays with your family, you’ve created traditions that cannot be emulated at school. Being home for Hannukah, Christmas, or whatever holiday you may celebrate is absolutely one of the best parts of winter break.

2. Reuniting with all your home friends

Of course, we all love our college friends, but coming home and spending time with your high school buddies is bound to bring about laughter and fun. Between telling stories from college experiences to comparing dorm rooms to reminiscing about old times, the reunion with your long-time buddies is anticipated throughout the entire first semester. Odds are you haven’t been able to see each other since the summer, so the long-awaited get-together is definitely needed.

3. Your mom doing your laundry

Coming home to a pile of clean laundry that is folded and ready to be put away is a blessing to any college student. Putting clothes through the washing machine is a task that everyone dreads, so having someone do it for you for a few weeks is truly a privilege. Forget the quarters, timers, and Tide Pods, for your mom has come to the rescue and will ensure your clothes are washed and fresh.

4. Home-cooked meals...that you don't have to cook

Although you may have the option to cook yourself meals at school, it is definitely true that food tastes better when you don’t have to make it. Walking into the kitchen to find a delicious scent is probably not something that happens in your dorm or apartment, so it is special to experience it at home. Especially if you eat at the dining halls at school, real food at home is always delectable.

5. Not having to walk everywhere

Let’s face it – no matter how close something is, if it’s cold out, you don’t want to walk there. One of the perks of high school was being able to drive yourself everyday. In college, most students don’t have that luxury, for parking meters are expensive, so being able to drive around town at home is a privilege.

6. Sleeping...all the time

Especially if you’re parents are working, there probably isn’t much for you to do during the day while you’re on break. So not only can you sleep as late as you want, but you can nap as well. With no academic responsibilities and a bed that is comfier than the one you have at school, sleeping has become a recreational activity for you during break. Yeah, your parents might yell at you for being lazy, but hey, you’re probably still recovering from the severe lack of sleep you survived throughout finals week, right?