If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk,
if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do,
you have to keep moving forward.
Martin Luther King Jr.
With a good college experience, students are often exposed to new world views, faiths, cultures, and thoughts. As such, many college students come home with changed perspectives, politics, ideals, relationships, interests and values. A student’s return home for the holidays often brings the excitement and elation of returning home, as well as challenges and worry over making home feel like home again – for both the parents and the students.
Some of the conflicts that arise stem from aspects of change within the student and the family unit. Are these some of the feelings and thoughts you struggle with when you think about going home for the holidays? 1) "You don't know me; I’m not the same person I was before.” 2) "What happened to my room? Oh, well, whatever, leave me alone, I want to spend the whole weekend seeing my friends anyway." 3) "Stop asking me so many questions!" 4) "I hate college. I want to transfer/drop out." 5) "I am not respected in my own home!" 6) “I can’t wait to get out of here and go back to college.” These struggles are common as they highlight how family norms may feel threatened. Families need to develop new ways to communicate shifting family dynamics so that all parties can feel heard, respected and understood during these crucial times. To learn more about how to handle these adjustments better when college students return home continue reading this great article by Cohan, D.J. called Home for the Holiday: What to expect when college kids come home for break at Psychologytoday.com. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/social-lights/201611/home-the-holidays. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorHi! I'm Dr. Linda Abdelsayed. These are just some articles I've created on various life topics. Hope you find them helpful! Check out more about me on the About and Contact tabs above!
Archives
April 2024
|