b'Dear Parents, HELP OUTA little intro from a senior in college and three-time champion ofIf you do little things around the house, like unpacking your HOME (BITTER) SWEET HOME: the smooth transition home for the summer. As the third childclothes early, or keeping your room mildly clean, your parents are among my parents four darlings, I wasnt the first college kid toless likely to treat you like a child. Remember, if you act like you come home for the summer and attempt to rule the roost, as myneed their help, theyre going to come at you full throttle. Instead dad likes to say. The easy (ok, occasionally traumatic) transitionof getting annoyed at your parents for asking you to help out, just was made possible by my two adoring parents who wanted noth- do it and move on.you get more bees with honey.A COLLEGE STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE ing but the best for their kids. REMEMBER WHAT YOUVE BEEN MISSINGThe thing to keep in mind whenlaying down the law in your home,from the perspective of a college student, is to rememberKeeping in mind all of those things that you love about home will that weve been on our own for a year (or two, or three, or four)make the move back effortless (well, almost.) Being at home has By Caroline Finnegan | Guest Contributor now, and weve gained a lot of independence. Sure the messyits perks, thats for sure. Dont forget, before you know it you will rooms,the lack of ability to do laundryand the spoiled attitudebe back at school (or moving out).might say otherwise, but the reality is, weve thrown ourselves into new situations without the safety net of parents and haveBE RESPECTFULmatured in ways that might not jump off the pagejust yet. By this I mean, remember that you are not at school and that your Its tough coming home to the requests of parents when, for soactions are affecting a lot more than just yourself now. Coming long, weve been planning our days just the way we want them:home at 4 am and heating up the leftovers from dinner is fine, as wake up at 10 am, go to class, workout, get lunch with friends long as youre quiet.etcetc A lot of parents wont see the maturity of their kids when they come home for summer, because the truth is, we re- BLEND INgress back to our high school selves. We know our parents areDont do anything in the beginning of the summer that is going there to dish out a few bucks, to say no when we ask to doto put you on your parents radar. I find that as long as I blend in certain things, and to encourage us to get off the couch and toand do my best to not cause a scene, my parents are less overbear-do something active. At school, we dont have this back-up, anding. If you dont give your parents a reason to worry, theyll be were forced to discipline ourselves. But you will never see thatmore lenient. Keep in mind that your parents are watching your whilst were in the comfort of our homes.every move as soon as you get back. It cant hurt to be on your So even if your kids are acting like their seventeen-year-oldbest behavior for a couple of days as you settle in.selves, try not to treat them as you did in the past, and hope-fully theyll get the picture. If you give them the independenceCURFEW?they had in college, they will be encouraged to show you just howIf your parents try to reinstate your old curfew, chances are you much theyve matured while at school. havent been on your best behavior. Stating a curfew is a means of P.S. My dad would also like to note that college students shouldcontrol, and if your parents are reverting back to the high school realize they are adults sharing a house with other adults. years its most likely because they feel like you need rules to fol-low. If you are being responsible, checking in and acting mature, Dear Students, you should not have to worry about the old 1 am curfew coming As finals wind down, most of us are packing up our rooms andback to haunt you.getting ready to hit the open road back home. Its a bittersweet feeling leaving the freedoms of school ah, collegeto returnGET A JOBto the rules of our parents house. Its a little difficult understand- Laying out in the sun and bumming around the house all day ing the term curfew when youve spent the last nine monthssounds like an ideal summer to most of us, but the reality is that stumbling home as the sun comes up. The idea of chores seemswe are in college and should be taking on the responsibilities of a obsolete when your room at school looks like a tornado hit it.job and making money. If youre working hard, your parents will Readjusting to life in your childhood home can be less than fan- take notice and not come down on you for petty things. It will be tastic, whether youre home for the summer after freshman yeareasier to ask for that extra cash for the concert at the end of the oras a post-grad beginning the job search. month if your parents know youre also doing your part.I can assure you, though, that if you focus on the positives, andEditors Note: Caroline Finnegan is a former student of the University of try not to step on any toes along the way, these tips and tricks willIllinois, Urbana-Champaign.make the transition as smooth as possible. Its not easy listening to your parents after living a year without their rules, but it is important. Getting off on the wrong foot could literally ruin your entire summer. ITS A BITTERSWEET FEELING LEAVING DONT FORGET TO CALLIts easy to forget to report back to your parents because youveTHE FREEDOMS OF SCHOOLAH, been on your own for so long, but they take responsibility forCOLLEGETO RETURN TO THE RULES OF you when youre back at home. If youre going to spend the night out, dont forget to let them know. Having a worried parent call- OUR PARENTS HOUSE.ing and looking for you all night is stressful for both parties. Just remember to update them every once in a while, and it should be smooth sailing from there.GoodLifeFamilyMag.comMAY | JUNE 201959'