<p>What are you guys expecting from your returning freshmen after one year away? any big changes??? youve probably seen them all at thxgiving and chirstmas, etc., but im still just curious as to what parents out there are expecting from their kids/looking forward to, etc…hopefully no curfews…and dont be offended if your kid slips and uses “dorm language” around the house at times…</p>
<p>My freshman will only be home for a few days to decompress, recharge, see friends and then leave. The internship is halfway across the country, so we won’t be seeing eachother except for a few days at a family wedding. I thought there was supposed to be a weaning process, but in our case, it’s more like cold turkey!</p>
<p>Our situation is much like that of kissy.</p>
<p>He’ll be home the 11th for a few days then off to see friends, then back for about a week then off for eight weeks to Africa for summer service. He’ ll get home in mid-August and gives us a few days before heading to Washington state to the Gorge to see Dave Matthews Band with some friends from Carolina, back in Texas for about four or five days then back to Carolina.</p>
<p>I guess the only positive thing (if you want to call it that) is that when he was here for three plus weeks at Christmas we got used to having him around again and had to go through a sort of mini withdrawal all over again in January. With his schedule there will be no time to get used to anything…LOL.</p>
<p>As to the original what to expect question, it’s a mistake to try to impose strict rules and regs on them when they have been running their own lives for the past year. We ask that he just keep us informed if he will be very late and leave the rest up to his best judgement. No one has been checking up on him for eight or nine months and I see no reason to precipitate arguments that could spoil the time we do have together.</p>
<p>The language probably isn’t too different than it had been when hanging out with friends in high school. The biggest difference at Christmas and spring break was all the phone calls (to his cell) and IMs from friends at school at all hours of the day and night. I came to realize that the separation that takes place between them and their “new families” at breaks is something that we as parents probably don’t give enough thought or consideration to. Granted they haven’t been a part of their new circle of friends for 17 or 18 years but in many cases they have already created very strong bonds and it is perhaps in many ways as difficult for them to adjust to being away from their new family of friends as it was for us to adjust to having them gone.</p>
<p>CA born and raised, D went away to an LAC in Philly. She has connected a great group of friends from all over the country and world. We are excited that she is part of such a great community. They are already anticipating the end of the yr…and are fitting in quality “eating” and social time with each other. 
D was capable of taking care her business before…now, she has put all that into action…had to close a bank account from one institution and open at another…cooking skills have come in handy…taking the rail into Philly and NJ…definitely can made air travel arrangements on her own…and handled a medical appt with a specialist for her eye allergy. All this may seem small and insignificant…but it is a big step toward independence. It’s all good…</p>
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<p>EADad- My D would gladly give her SAT scores for that one, lol!</p>