Your College Student’s First Thanksgiving Home May Be Your Best Ever

My firstborn wanted to go far away for college. She didn’t come home often during her four years on the opposite side of the country. Once she left, I quickly became one of “those moms” who listened with envy as friends with teens much closer to home talked about surprise visits for the weekend or how’d they’d hop in the car on a whim to drive an hour to meet their child for a meal.

My daughter went away to college far from home

When my daughter arrived home for Thanksgiving her freshman year, it was her first trip back and the first time seeing her younger brother after four months away — the longest time they had ever been apart.

The scene that unfolded when she walked in the door from is forever seared into my visual memory. And it is one that will probably bring a tear for the rest of my life.

My two children embraced and hugged each other for what seemed like an eternity. My son’s smile was the biggest and most genuine I had ever seen. My normally stoic daughter shed a few tears of joy as she hugged her younger, yet taller, brother and to me, it was the most heartwarming and validating expression of sibling love I’d ever witnessed between my children. That poignant greeting was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the gratitude I repeatedly felt over that long, holiday weekend together.

And no matter if your child has gone far away to school and hasn’t returned once before Thanksgiving, or if they were able to come home several times during the fall of their freshman year of college, they’ll return home for that extended visit a changed person.

Five ways teens mature their first semester at college

1. New maturity levels

   Students realize they can survive on their own. They feel some mastery at having adapted to taking control of their daily challenges. They’ve gotten lost and found their way. They’ve gotten sick and recovered. They’ve felt uncomfortable and have worked through that. They’ve expanded their circle of friends. Feelings of increased competence have resulted in greater self-confidence.

2. A better attitude

   Lots of kids leave for college having spent their last weeks at home “soiling the nest.” It’s a normal part of the separation experience, yet it still can be difficult for parents and siblings to deal with. When these kids arrive back home, they have a new appreciation for their family’s love and care. It’s a wonderful thing.

3. New-found gratitude for family

   When my daughter arrived back home, not only was she thrilled to see her brother, she also was ecstatic to see and spend time with her cousin, aunt, uncle, and grandparents. Once kids are away from extended family members for a while at school, they seem to develop increased tolerance for those little family annoyances and quirks that may have driven them a bit crazy when they were living at home.

4. Even more love for the pets

   The Snapchats and FaceTimes with their pets have been great, but there’s nothing like that physical reunion with their beloved dog, cat, or other furry/feathered friends. Watching your student just lying on the ground snuggling once again with the family pet is such a sweet sight.

5. Appreciation for the little things

   Nothing makes a student happier than their own bed, kitchen, and bathroom once they’ve spent a few months in a communal living arrangement. You’ll probably hear declarations like these: “My pillows at home are the best!” or “Thank you so much for baking this pie/cookies/casserole. It’s never tasted so good,” and “It’s awesome not to be sharing a sink with five other people this week!”

So, if this Thanksgiving is the first with a child coming home from college, don’t be surprised if it’s extra special. And if it doesn’t turn out that way, remind yourself that they’ll be gone again before you know it, and you’ll be missing them all over again.

Wishing you all an attitude of gratitude this holiday!

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This Year I’m Replacing Holiday Excess With These Five Things