As finals week is upon us and we look forward to moving out and having no responsibilities, us underclassmen all wait excitedly as we count down to the day our parents pick us up. Yes, we finally have the freedom to do whatever we want and forget our passwords to D2L, 'cause who cares for the next 4 months?? NOT US. However, with the freedom of no school and moving back home comes some territory adjustments. Being a 19-20-year-old living at home isn't always easy, but here's a list of pros and cons I think we can all relate to in one way or another.
So you're back after months and of course, you expect a huge welcome and everyone to fall all over you so you waltz in like.
But then you get over yourself and realize life did go on without you so instead you enjoy the perks and the downfalls of being a 19-20-year-old living with your parents again.
PRO: If you're anything like me, one thing you enjoy in life is some quality food- and let's face it, your dining hall doesn't compare to your mom's specialties. Even if you 'treat yo' self' to a nice meal out on the town once in awhile, when I get home and I see my mom made my favorite meal, my reaction is something like Michelle Tanner's......
CON: One of the great things about college is that you have the freedom to go whenever you want, wherever you want. However, when you adventure back to living with the 'rents for the summer, the classic questions come flooding back: Where are you going? Who are you going with? When will you be back? I'll wait up for you. For me, I cannot lose track of time and stroll in from hanging out with friends at 2 am and not hear my mom use my middle name in some kind of terrifying tone. And every time these questions are thrown at me, I feel the high school attitude come flooding back like Napoleon...
PRO: Going home means you get to see those loving siblings you've been missing all year long. Whether you're younger or older in the line of siblings, nothing quite compares to seeing them after all those months and catching up, going on that classic Chipotle run, making fun of your parents together, or reliving memories about the old days. You might only be excited for the first week and then basically be sick of them again, but they're the OG squad and nothing is more fun then when you all get together after months and you can be unapologetically you with the people who share your DNA.
PRO: Speaking of OG squad, you also get to see the other people that are a huge part of your home life- your best friends. Do you get to go out like you do during college life? Probably not as much. But nothing beats walking into that friend's house you basically lived at, at one point in your life, and chilling on their couch doing absolutely nothing but listening to all their hilarious and sometimes crazy experiences from college and laughing about all the stupid things you did in high school together that you'll never forget. No matter where you go, you'll always be best friends but when you come home and squad up after months apart, there's no better way to explain it than Chandler and Joey or everyone's favorite girls...
CON: You have a sad time without your college best friends- no more walking downstairs when you want to hang out with someone; no more running to grab food with your best friend at midnight cause you wanted that pizza and hell, it was only a block away; and no more having 8 wardrobes to find an outfit from cause all your friends live up or down 2 floors. They know your struggles and your success over the last 1-2 years and helped you find your college self. They're your biggest fans in college and you just spent 8 months out of the year with them practically every waking moment; but you know the time apart will only help you grow fonder of these key players in your life and you already can't wait to reunite with them and hear all about their summer. You'll miss them like crazy but when you come back, nothing will have changed between you. So say you're sad goodbyes now...
but don't forget you'll be back in no time and grabbin' that Papa John's at midnight again...
At the end of the day, with every pro and con, I can think of. Dorothy said it best- there's truly no place like home.
