Everybody feels homesick when they start college. Some miss home-cooked food, having a bedroom to themselves, or their pets. I missed all of these things too, but most of all, I missed my family.
I know I’m unusually close with my parents. It wasn’t something that was really brought to my attention until high school. I remember sitting in class with a few friends, and they began complaining about their parents. Then they began discussing the worst fight they’d ever had with a parent.
"My mom is so annoying," one would say, "One time we stopped talking for a week." The others would agree, recounting screaming matches with parents, rolling their eyes over their parents’ nagging. When it came to me, I would just shrug. "I’ve never really fought with my parents," I would say. My friends wouldn’t believe me. How could that be?
I don’t have a perfect relationship with my family. Nobody does. Of course I get annoyed when my mother nags, or frustrated when my dad rants about politics. But I would never fight with them, I’d just mutter under my breath in private. Disrespecting them is something that never crosses my mind.
When I moved into college, saying goodbye to my parents was harder than I thought. I couldn’t believe that they were just gone. I was on my own. Of course I loved being able to stay up as late as I wanted, eat what I wanted, live the way I wanted. But something was missing.
I call my parents at least once a week. I text them every day. Every time I call, I get this tight feeling in my chest. I don’t want them to hang up. I keep asking questions, bringing up new topics, anything to keep the conversation going. I hear my cat meow in the background, my dad’s terrible show on TV in the background, and I wish desperately that I’m home.
This makes me feel silly sometimes. I don’t want to feel dependent on my family. I don’t want to feel lame when I get excited to hear they’re coming to visit. My friends seem so nonchalant, shooing their folks away as soon as they can. I just cannot bring myself to do that. I realize now that that’s okay. It’s not wrong to be close so with your parents, or to wish you’re with them while you’re at school. It means that I’ve come from a wonderful home and a good family. And that is the best thing anyone can ask for.
