Okay college kids, tell me, what’s worse than APA formatting, midterms, and benchmark exams combined? You’ve got it, move-in week. Move-in is the most hectic, chaos-driven, stress-fueled time on campus- ranking right up there next to finals week. You spend days packing until you’re absolutely positive you’ve covered all of your bases and have everything you could possibly need. That is, until you actually get to your dorm room and realize you’ve forgotten every obvious necessity imaginable, like toilet paper and a shower curtain. But fear not, because what you didn’t have to remember to jam into your suitcase at the last minute is your much more readily prepared family.
Unlike you, your family has been preparing for this moment since the day they picked a color to paint the nursery. Now they’re human too, so, of course, they haven’t thought of everything, but they’re sure to be on their feet to make up for whatever they’ve missed. They’re also sure to get on your nerves to the point of near insanity. Yes, with move-in week comes the onslaught of family meddling, ranging from suggestions on how to place your bedroom furniture to the dreaded family-to-roommate introductions.
This year will be the first year I’m returning to my university without my family by my side. Ironically, I find myself saying exactly what my freshman self would have never imagined coming from my mouth: I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss the fuss and frustration, the mess and the hoopla, and the familiar, all-consuming nightmare. After years of telling myself, “I can’t wait until they stop insisting on coming along to these things”, I’m sitting here saddened by the thought of picking up my keys without my family over my shoulder reading me the lock-out protocols and guiding me to the nearest fire exits.
Other than making my own bed and unpacking books myself, I’ll be missing the obnoxiously loud voices of my family members as I go and search for the best vending machines on my own. The annual late night trip to Walmart for forgotten essentials will be much less hectic but also significantly lacking in character while I try to remember which detergent my mom always buys, and what the difference between a surge protector and an extension cord is. Independence has never felt so… nostalgic.
I find myself thinking back to past move in days, cringing at my naive arrogance. I wasn’t as awfully spoiled as some of the move-in horror stories you’ll likely encounter, but I definitely wasn’t as grateful as I should have been. I didn’t take the time to thank my family for their tireless efforts that went into making my new living situation a temporary home. I didn’t see the love that is now so glaringly apparent in their actions. Looking back, I wish I could do it over.
As annoying or embarrassing as the experience may seem, take a second to step back and appreciate what you have, which is a family who genuinely cares and loves you. Instead of just seeing your mom get unnecessarily worked up over the way your new comforter fits on your awkward mattress, see the tears she’s fighting to hold back while she struggles with the reality of letting go of her child. Rather than getting frustrated with how long it takes for the entire family to get from one location to the next and complaining about how your elders move too slowly, recognize and cherish this moment as one of the few you may have with everyone together. Instead of being embarrassed by the presence of your overbearing family, embrace it; because, maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday- you’ll wish you had.
