When college kids come home… 3 steps to ease the adjustment

This week we are thrilled to share this guest blog with you, When college kids come home… 3 steps to ease the adjustment, from Amy Ambrozich, founder of Dare to Parent. Dare to Parent helps you through the hard parts of parenting including building your parenting skills, working with blended/step families, and building family foundations for expectant and preschool parents. You can read more about Amy below.

When college kids come home… 3 steps to ease the adjustment

When your college-aged child comes home for winter break or summer vacation, things may feel different and there may be a few intense conversations ahead!

You may be wondering what the big deal is, after all, it’s still your kid, right? Well, yes and no. Yes, it’s still your child but he or she is not necessarily the same kiddo you dropped off in the dorm room last August.

College kids experience changes in independence, social groups and attitudes while they are away from the influence of their family.

I wanted to share with you a few tips to help bridge the gaps between you and your student.

Tip 1: Have a family meeting

Let’s be honest, things have changed at home. Whenever a family member steps out of the dynamic for an extended time the remaining family members slide into a “new normal.”

You may have new routines, different chores assigned and expectations which were discussed and worked through. One topic that may be worth discussing is morning routines so everyone gets to work/summer camps/summer jobs on time.

Tip 2: Discuss your expectations

There is usually a honeymoon period when your child first returns home. You’re excited to have him back and he is excited to have a break from the demands of college classes. Take time to enjoy this transition time of having your kiddo back home.

Eventually, you and your student will need to talk about expectations while he is home for the summer. Topics may include:

• Getting his clothes, boxes, etc put away in a designated area
• Keeping his room clean (and define what that means!), trust me, your standards and his roommate’s are probably very different!
• Pitching in around the house
• Laundry expectations
• Morning and/or evening routines
• Summer job expectations

Tip 3: Respect his independence

This can be the biggest battle between parents and returning college students. Your child may come home expecting to have the freedom he had while living in a dorm or campus apartment. You may expect him to be home at a “reasonable hour.” A few things that may help:

• Approach this conversation with negotiation in mind
• Be willing to compromise (i.e., “You don’t need to tell me what you’re doing every time you leave the house, just give me an idea of what time you’ll be home so I don’t worry.”)
• Be clear of your needs as well. Your child coming home at 2 a.m. and loudly getting a snack or watching tv may disturb your efforts to get a solid night’s sleep for work the next day. Work with your child to find a middle ground that works for both of you.
• If your child is still under age for drinking, be clear that no matter what they did at college, this is a non-negotiable at home. Your family rules and values are still enforceable within your domain. (As my dad would say, “My house, my rules. Don’t like it, there’s the door.”)
• Enlist your child’s help in brainstorming solutions that work as a win-win for both of you!

Lastly, remember that your child has had a year away to practice self-care, independence and “adulting.” Will they get it all right? Not always, but that’s how they learn. Parenting a young adult is like walking a tight wire, trying to find the balance between giving him guidance and giving him room to practicing being a grown-up.

I hope these tips will help as you and your college student adapt to this new phase of the parent-child relationship! Be patient, listen to learn and be open to negotiation (within reason).

Thank you Amy for this great info for parents. Amy Ambrozich has a bachelor’s degree in child and clinical psychology and a master’s degree in school psychology, and she is a certified parenting and stepfamily coach . She is a Worthington parent of three grown children. Dare to Parent’s mission is to empower parents to overcome their struggles, build a firm family foundation and base everything on a clearly defined vision, set of values and goals for their family. You can find more information about Amy on her website and her Facebook page.

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