As summer draws near, finals come to a close, and we start to pack up our dorm rooms and apartments, eager to head home for the summer. We all go through a few phases while summer passes us by, loving and hating being back at home, away from our college friends and more than likely, working our days away.

Stage One: The 'only thing I want is to hug my parents, lay in my bed, watch Netflix all day and never leave home again stage.

Stage Two: The "I swear I will only ever eat my mom's food again and nothing else ever" stage.

Stage Three: The "OK, when are the rest of my friends going to get home for the summer?" stage.

... and then you remember you only really have three friends back at home who you really hang out with.

Stage Four: When you realize you're not on a college campus anymore, and everything closes at 10 p.m.

Yes, that means no more late night Jimmy Johns orders and, instead, staying in your room and Netflix binging because there's not many other options.

Stage Five: Realizing you're working more than resting.

Wait, isn't this summer break? Shouldn't I be able to relax?

Stage Six: Where are my school friends? I want them back. I miss them.

Your friends from home are great and all, but you are starting to go into the state of needing to be back on campus, and you and your friends find yourselves calling each other every day to try to make up for not being together.

Stage Seven: The denial stage.

Why did I decide to come home and not stay on campus for the summer?

Stage Eight: You still have three weeks of summer left, but you're already packing to leave.

But hey, you wont have to do this later!

Stage Nine: The week has finally come, and you've never been happier to leave home!

But mom is in the kitchen crying, knowing you'll be gone until probably Christmas.

Stage 10: I'm driving to school, and I kind of miss home. Just kidding, I really don't.

You start to think about missing your mom, dad, dog and your mom's food, but then you realize you're headed back to the place where things are open past 10 p.m. and all of your friends are together once again.

Being home for the summer is a love-hate relationship. Having Mom's cooking at your disposal and free laundry are all good things, but sometimes you just miss the nights you spend staying up late with your best friends at school. So, here's to summer and here is to spending it at home. Happy summer, ladies and gents, make it a great one.