Do you have a son or daughter returning from college soon? Here are some great reminders to help with their transition back home!
- Be patient. It’s an adjustment for both of you.
- Sit down and have a great conversation with them about both your expectations and their responsibilities. They’ve been out with their friends at school until 1-2 AM and that is normal for them. Communication is key!
- Realize that they may be “homesick” for school, as that has been their home for the last year.
- Remind them that re-acclimation may take a while. Their high school friends have changed too, and relationships with them will be different than last summer.
- Let them sleep in for a few days. They had finals, move-out, and saying goodbye to all their friends during their last week. They will be physically and emotionally drained!
- Encourage them to go to church/find a young adults group, even if it’s at a different church than yours. Finding a church body that they connect with will help them “adult” and mature in their faith, especially if they struggled finding one in college!
- Many of them will be in apartments next year. Use this summer to help them learn meal-planning, budgeting, and how to cook quick, healthy, inexpensive meals! This will benefit you when they come home next year!
- Don’t give them grief about how many loads of laundry they do! They are used to paying $6 for one mixed load. Getting to separate their clothes into 2-3-4 different loads is a luxury for them!
- Enjoy this new season of life!
- Continue praying for them!
– Reminder List courtesy of Kathy McDaniel | Parent of College Student
Photo Credit: iStock | jacobblunt
