Starting college is a big transition for most students. Finally, you get that freedom to make your own life choices and all that fun stuff, but there’s just some calls you’ll make that will be reserved for Mom and Dad, no matter how responsible you think you are.
1. Should I go to the doctor?
This call could happen for a whole plethora of reasons: I haven’t really felt hungry for a few weeks…is that bad? My back has been so sore that I haven’t been able to walk. It feels fine if I don’t move, though; should I get that checked out? Or my personal favorite, sending pictures of impressive wounds to determine if they are worthy of stitches. You try so hard to be an independent adult, but at the end of the day, you just don’t want to schedule that appointment. It’s scary.
2. Anything car related.
Full disclosure: these calls are almost exclusively directed towards my dad; that man can fix everything. “Sooo my car has been making this funny noise lately. It goes something like 'ka-klunk,' and then it makes more thumping sounds. Why is it doing that? I’ll try to call you again while I’m driving so you can hear it for yourself.” Not to mention flat tires. “Remember how we had that discussion about getting new tires? That probably should’ve happened a little sooner.” I’m not extremely knowledgeable in the car department, and I would really never be able to survive in the world of adults without those helpful tidbits from Dad.
3. School.
“You’ll never believe what one of my professors did today.” School is an absolute roller coaster ride that goes from getting one 103 percent on an exam, to getting locked out of the week’s lab session (yes, that actually happened, and yes, I am still bitter). It doesn’t really matter if the event is good or bad, I just need share my joy or disappointment with someone, and that someone often goes by “mom” or “dad.”
4. Stories that will brighten their day.
I was casually walking to campus and contemplating the meaning of life, when someone threw a slice of pizza at me from the door of the house I was passing. That same day, I accidentally dropped a cup of ketchup, which proceeded to explode all over the ground and the coat of the girl sitting at the table next to me. To top it all off, she didn’t even notice. It’s not every day that you get to inform someone that you doused his or her coat in ketchup. Although neither incident was particularly pleasant in the moment, making my parents laugh about it afterward was well worth it. I highly recommend finding humor in unusual circumstances and using it to make someone else laugh.
5. Thank you.
Thank you for raising me to take responsibility for my actions. Thank you for being supportive in my educational endeavors and all the other ones, too. Thank you for doing your best to make sure I have reliable transportation. Thank you for caring about my wellbeing, no matter how ridiculous it must seem to you. Most of all, thank you for loving me unconditionally.
Even though I try to be as independent as possible, I never would’ve made it this far in life without those two stellar people I call Mom and Dad.
