My Lovely Parentals,

All I ask is that you understand where I’m coming from.

For the past several months, I haven’t had a curfew, I haven’t had a room to myself and I’ve been free to create my own routine. I’ve been stuck with really crappy food which gives me serious cravings for Taco Bell and Denny’s. I’ve been exploring a town every weekend without having to worry about waking my parents up when I walk through the door at 3:30 in the morning. I’ve been showering in the tiniest cubicle and I feel naked when I shower without shoes on at home (as if I’m not already naked). It’s been a year of learning and growing and developing small parts of who I am.

So please don’t get mad when I don’t immediately ask you to let me go do something.

I’m coming from the place that gives me more freedom than I’ve known what to do with. I want to go visit a friend across campus at midnight? I’ll see you later, roomie. I want to pull an all-nighter to finish an essay? Who’s stopping me? Just understand that I haven’t had to have an approval to do something for several months and I’ve made my own decisions for myself.

So please don’t get mad when I want to do my own thing.

If I want to relax in my bed all day and binge watch Netflix, I’m becoming addicted to a show (and I may have a slight problem). If I want to make a midnight run for Taco Bell because I’m seriously craving a quesadilla, I want to go. If I’m out with friends having a great time, I promise I’ll be home soon, but I haven’t seen some of these people since last summer and you have nothing to worry about. You taught me to take care of myself and be responsible.

All I ask is that you understand that I’m ridiculously happy to be home and now it’s my turn to relax. It’s been an incredibly stressful and very long year that I couldn’t be happier to be done with. I’ll always be there for dinners, family movie nights and Sunday car rides letting the road take us to our next adventure. I’ll always text you back to let you know I’m okay and I won’t hesitate to add an extra ‘love you’.

It’s been a roller coaster so far, but I couldn’t be happier to be home with my favorite people who get me like no one else.

Sincerely,

Your Freshman in College

P.S. Thanks for being there for me this whole time. You’re more appreciated than you know.