The week after Fall semester finals is like the calm after the storm, a breath of fresh air, the first ray of sunshine after a sad, dreary semester. The stress of finals is finally over (though the stress of whatever your GPA now is might not be), and the good stuff is finally coming around: the holidays. Whether you celebrate or not, there's a certain sort of magic in the air, sometimes mixed a little a anxiety that comes with last minute preparations. There's no one to describe this post-finals chaos than Ralphie from "A Christmas Story."

1. When you find the perfect last-minute gift

Your mother is going to LOVE that cheetah print knockoff purse that you found in the sales section of Macy's.

2. When you come home and your parents parent you after 4 months of freedom

Being told to clean your room is not nearly as nice as letting it sit for weeks at a time until it's so bad you can't even see the floor anymore.

3. Asking your mom to do your laundry

Even though you both know that you are fully capable of doing it yourself.

4. When someone asks if you have a significant other yet

There's nothing wrong with being single. Nope. Nothing at all.

5. When it finally snows and traffic is a mess

And of course, you have somewhere to be in 20 minutes.

6. Realizing that you only have $10 left to buy for 6 more people

Sometimes ya gotta send that "what's your favorite candy?" text. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

7. When your family asks what you're going to do with your life

STOP ATTACKING ME LIKE THIS, DEBRA.

8. Finally working up the courage to do something you haven't had time to do all semester

And having it inevitably backfire.

9. When all your responsibilities come at you

You should've know that the bliss of being done with finals wouldn't last long