You probably haven't been home this long since summer. It's back to living under your parents roof which can cause a series of thoughts and emotions. Nick, Jess, Schmidt, Coach, Winston and Cece, know exactly what we're thinking because great minds think alike.
1. The relief that finals are over.
The stress, the substitution of nutritious food with junk, the late nights but early mornings and the time you spend trying to figure out what grade you need on the test just to pass the class (instead of using that time to study) is officially over. Congratulations, you deserve this break.
2. Eager to get home and see the family.
If you're an only child or have 12 brothers or sisters living in one house, family always makes winter break something to look forward to. The meals you don't have to cook yourself, your pet greeting you at the door, siblings making fun of you (before you want to strangle them), your mom's hug and your dad's jokes (that Mom never thinks is funny). Home is home and after weeks of being away, it's the only relaxing place you want to be.
3. All the holiday prep and decorations making everyone happy and friendly.
Neighborhoods are lit up to be catalog picture perfect, houses are warm and cozy and there is a high chance the town you grew up in has constant motion with more traffic as everyone heads home for the holiday season. You can watch endless Christmas movies to get you in the spirit (because school work doesn't exist during break) and stuff your face with all the sugar cookies you just baked and decorated.
4. Why you came home: Christmas time!
At this point, you're probably at your happiest thus far in the stages. Christmas time, is happy time and the little kid in you always comes out to play.
5. Cut the Christmas scene, cue New Year's Eve.
The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is where you mentally have to change mindset. Where are you going to celebrate? How much money are you going to spend? What are you going to wear? Anxious may be the most accurate word.
6. Why you came home: New Year's Eve!
Doesn't matter what you choose to do this night, New Year's Eve is New Year's Eve: a night to celebrate getting rid of the bad but welcoming the good. Whomever you're with, you're with them because you chose to be and that should mean you're satisfied.
7. New Year's Day.
New year, new you—right? Everyone plans what they hope to get out of the year, even if it never happens. You're ambitious, positive minded, willing to try and experience which is setting yourself up for good. This is the determined stage of winter break.
8. Why you came home: relaxation.
The holidays are over so for the first time since you got home, you can breathe, lay on the couch and not be bothered that there is something you should be getting done because simply put, there isn't. Sleep in, overdose on Netflix and Hulu, wear your pajamas all day, read that book you wanted to during the semester and do anything, something with your friends. Pleased with relaxation.
9. Alright, the constant working is getting old.
Part of the good about coming home is making money so when you go back to school, you have enough money to splurge on pointless things or late night food you don't need. But having to work way more than you're used to is getting annoying—real quick.
10. You realize the truth about your town.
It's been close to a month of being home and you remember that your little town can get boring after a while. There are so many times that you can go to the mall or the movies or the local bar or drive around aimlessly only to find nothing to do.
11. Their house, their rules.
When you first come home, you missed your parents constantly gabbing. After a while, when you go out, your parents ask a million and one questions. Yes, we know they care but they don't ask where were going on the weekends at school. When you're trying to relax on the couch, they keep "suggesting" we get up and go out to find something to do because "back in their day..." We know, you used to be outside from sunrise to sunset and if you didn't help around the house you were in serious trouble. Yup, ready to go back to school now.
12. Back to school to prove to daddy I'm not a fool.
Woohoo! Back to your other home. Freedom from siblings, not being yelled at for not putting away your dishes, no more working long shifts and actually being able to leave the house without being asked question after question. Sure, tests suck but college life is pretty sweet.
