Everyone goes to college thinking that freedom will be the best thing ever. After being cooped up with your family for 18 years, it's obvious we feel the need to spread our wings. Sure, the first couple of weeks are great. You don't have a bedtime, you can eat like a complete pig, and no one tells you when to stop watching Netflix and start your homework.
But, as a senior in college, I can speak for us all when I say independence can be overrated. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to step into the real world, and see if I'll sink or swim. But one of the luxuries of living at home with your parents is all of the amazing things they do for us that we never noticed before.
Now that it is my last time leaving home from break to come back to college, I have decided to mourn all of holiday break luxuries that I may never get to enjoy again.
1. Waking up to breakfast
Every time I hear the sizzle of bacon on the pan while I'm laying in bed, I can't help but feel thankful. Much better than waking up to the sound of my alarm going off, reminding me that all I have in the pantry is a stale Pop-Tart.
2. Living somewhere clean without doing anything
Sure, we had some chores, but the majority of the time we just wake up to an immaculate home. When you have a place of your own, and you find something gross, guess who has to clean it up?
3. Not having to worry about bugs
When I'm at home and I see a spider, I know that my dad will come running to my multiple screams, laugh at me for about an hour, but eventually save me from our creepy-crawler house guest. If you're like me, when you live by yourself and you see a spider, it will basically just walk away in the three hours it takes you to muster up the courage to even move. And then you have the great pleasure of wondering where it will pop up next.
4. Not having to worry about bills
When you're at home, your parents take care of the bills. I never have to sit in the dark to keep my energy bill down. I can have the luxury of eating dinner with a light ambiance, reading a good book after the sun goes down, and not falling down the stairs while trying to grab a midnight snack.
5. Having appointments scheduled for you
Sure, no one likes those annoying annual doctor/dentist appointments. But now that I've had to schedule a few for myself, I can appreciate that my parents dealt with it so I didn't have to. I know nothing about what shots I need and when I should be getting check ups. I'm just going to skate by hoping the "apple a day" thing still works pretty well.
6. Going out for dinner
Whenever I go out to eat at school I have automatic buyer's guilt. Did I really need that quesadilla that costed twelve dollars? But, when you're at home, skies the limit. Bring out the appetizers, side salads, and splurge for a soda instead of the free water cup.
7. Always having an excuse
No one admits to it, but your parents are always the best excuse. When you're at college and say you can't hang out, you're an asshole. All of your friends know that you don't really have anything going on, because you're home alone, watching Netflix. But over break, they offer the best excuse when you're feeling a little too lazy. "Sorry, Stacey, I can't go out. My mom really wants me to help her clean out the garage."
8. Always having a constant cheerleader
Living alone means making your own motivation. Though, it could be annoying having your parents pushing you to do things, I would not mind having someone to make me get out of bed in the morning. Because at the end of the day, that is what got you to exactly where you are now.
