<p>As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself extremely excited to see my family and friends for the first time since August.</p>
<p>However, I also find myself somewhat nervous. I’ve read so many threads & posts about unpleasant first home visits, and expectations with old friends being shattered. I don’t want this to happen.</p>
<p>I’m not worried so much about my family…my mom already told me that aside from actual Thanksgiving dinner, she expects me to spend time with my friends and that my time is my own. They’re even giving my sister the Tahoe for the weekend (which I can’t drive) so I can drive her smaller Cobalt since my car will stay at school.</p>
<p>I’m just worried because I know things about me have changed and I don’t want my old relationships to change. I feel like they’re such a huge part of what’s anchoring me to my hometown, and I don’t want to lose them.</p>
<p>How great that you treasure your old friends enough to be considering this return.</p>
<p>Some ideas to consider:
Be a good listener- ask questions about your friends’ experiences
Don’t be surprised if people have not matured- different schools provide different experiences.
Face the fact that old relationships do change, you are all growing up, but at different speeds. You can still enjoy old friends even if your experiences have been different.
Stay positive, and don’t brag about your life at college.
Keep a sense of humor, be able to laugh at yourself.
<p>Approach it with an attitude of: friendships DO and WILL change, but for the better. Your friends and you have all changed; your worlds have expanded, and now, you just have that much more to share. Cherish the upcoming visit and grab the chance to learn about each other’s “new” lives. It’ll be wonderful.</p>
<p>My daughter seems to be doing the Girl Scout song, friends from high school still come up for a visit and they do go to concert together. And she is also making closer contact at her school.
“Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” --Girl Scout song</p>
<p>Well, it was long ago, and far away, but I don’t remember getting together much with my high school friends, once I got into college. As I recall, I was spending a lot of time with my sports team friends, and my boyfriend. </p>
<p>Good for you, if you can stay in touch with everyone.</p>
<p>Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t get to see many of your friends at Thanksgiving. It’s a very short break, and some of them may be expected to spend most of the time with their families, especially if out-of-town relatives are visiting. Also, some of your friends may have other plans for the few days of break – necessary shopping, dentist visits, etc. I know that on some of the occasions when my kids have come home from college, more of their time was spent on such chores than on social activities. </p>
<p>There will be more time to get together with your friends at Christmas.</p>
<p>Most of the friends I’m going to see over Thanksgiving are friends that are a year younger than me, and are thus seniors in high school. I’m also making a visit to my high school to surprise my friends and see some of my favorite teachers.</p>
<p>I like the idea of a high school visit. I’ve just been wondering if my DS, a college freshman coming home for the first time since he left in August, will have any difficulties going <em>back</em> to school after the break? I think after almost three months away he’s really anxious to be back in his own room for a while.</p>
<p>^I KNOW I am. I want to sleep in my own bed, eat some good mom- and dad-cooked food, see my dogs (who I almost miss more than my family ((just kidding ;))) ), and see some old friends, a few of which I haven’t seen since June.</p>