Summer with a Returning College Student

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Are you living around boxes, sofas, and tons of extra clothes? Are you tripping over computer cords, and shopping for food every few days? Congratulations you must be the parent of a returning college student.

I love having my son home for the summer, but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for finding the humor in the return of 30 minute showers, cooking for two more (he's only one, but he eats like two), and piles of clothes, dishes, and you name it. :)

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I sure can identify with you ! My son is home for the summer, we have construction going on in the house so all hall closets and one bathroom is also in boxes all over the house and garage! Additionally, my son's college friends are often here for days at a time.

You know what? Aside from the mess, I love having him home. I missed him terribly when he was away. The laughter, conversation and marvel at his maturity over the year make all the other stuff insignificant.

The way it seems to me is that he is finally relaxing. He doesn't have to wait in line for the toilet or shower, the bathroom is clean and private, and the refrigerator has all the things he likes to eat in it whenever he's hungry. He's making up for lost time! Relax, smile and enjoy him. Soon enough, he will be gone again. :)

30 minute showers with what we're paying to heat the hot water these days.... there's nothing wrong with encouraging responsibility in a college age student. Water is an increasingly precious resource and so's energy - I'd raise his consciousness on that issue and put it a showerhead with a reduced water flow and turn down the thermostat on the water heater a few degrees.
On the other issues, I'll speak from my sad heart - my younger son just bought his own place and left for good. When he says 'I'm going home' now he means someplace else and my older son has had his own place for a while. When my younger son was home, there were old computers everywhere with cords and now they're not. There's a definite readjustment that occurs when kids come home from college for the summer but I have to say I'm finding that a lesser adjustment that the one needed when they leave home for good. I suppose my well-intentioned message is to try to enjoy it while it lasts for it doesn't last forever.

Thanks, healthy. I worry because we live closest, and my son (the ever frugal one) says "Why should we pay for a storage unit if it's "only" three months?" eek! :)

He inherited two coaches, so I'm already afraid of how much more he can inherit from outgoing seniors next year--and that he's the closest of the four roommates.

I know what you mean! If anyone has solutions, I'm all ears!

(A few parents I know have said that having returning college Freshmen is the most "trying time." Supposedly it does get better as they get older, because they make more friends who keep apartments year-round, so they leave more stuff with those kids, and don't always take all their junk home for just a few months.)

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