For some people, returning to their parents' house after being away for a while is fun and relaxing. For others and myself included, it’s a little more stressful. Of course, it's great to be back with my family and not having as many obligations, however, it's hard to transition from having a lot of freedom to having a slight limitation. What I am mostly trying to get at is the return of parental restrictions after coming back home. These restrictions often sound something like when to be quiet, when to help out with your siblings, when to be at all family events… and more.

The reason this is a concerning topic for some, is because it's not so easy getting along with your parents to begin with, and coming home after being on your own, makes things even harder. Parents often try to maintain continuous control to some extent over teenagers, but what’s hard for them to grasp, is the fact that their kids are getting older and growing more independent every day. Being a college student myself, my parents and I definitely encounter this issue, they try to text all the time, control my bedtime hours and my schedule. I’m sure that many parents try to do this as well, but fail to realize the amount of maturity and development that has come from being away. Of course, I have to acknowledge the fact that I may be a little biased, seeing as I am in this situation, however from talking with other students, I can tell I’m not alone.

Another reason parents are more involved, when returning home, is the fact that they miss their children. When students are away at college, at least for some, it’s hard to stay connected to others that are somewhere else, and some have this problem specifically even more with their parents. While also having a hard time communicating to those back at home, it’s also important to note, that parents go through a transition as well. They transition from having their kid in their house and seeing them everyday, to only communicating once or twice a week. It’s clear that there are two sides of tension to be acknowledged, the side of the parents, and the side of the kids, or young adults. On top of that, this is not a problem that is the same among all families. While this may not happen at all to some, to those that it does happen to, each parent and child dynamic is different. This only means that therefore there is not one solution or answer to this problem. Parents are always going to have their side of the argument, and kids will have their own opinions as well.

While I have found no solution to this awkward occurance, I have been able to grasp an understanding of the dynamic and how to balance these situations or family dynamics. What’s mostly important to depict is the fact that all of these problems stem from love, and care. Your parents only want to help and support your decisions, yet you only want to make your own decisions and actions without them. While I am having a hard time convincing my own parents of my personal growth and developed independence, I continue to remind myself that it will come with time.

I wanted to write this article, to shed light on the personal and family difficulties that may be going on, and letting other college students know, that they are not alone. While this article may be completely irrelevant, in which case you problem stopped reading after the first sentence, it is actually a possible issue at any age. It seems like this problem would be directed at college students, and it is, however, it’s also true that parental control can occur at any time, not just living at home. I’ve learned, and others should become aware as well, that parents are parents for a reason. It's hard for me to admit understanding this idea, however, it's important to realize that even though parents and kids may not always get along, the aspect of love and family will always remain. My specific situation with my parents, if you are curious, has not improved on my side, but the arguing has decreased. Just try to remember, and I will too, that soon enough a time will come when doing whatever you please will be possible.