<p>Has anyone else had this problem going to a school near home? I don’t live too far from home, about a 30 minute drive. My parents both want to see me like every damn weekend… I love my family to death but I need some growing space! I mean for christ’s sake I commuted last year so I saw my dad every. single. day. And I saw my mom like every other weekend. Now I feel guilty for not wanting to see them every weekend. Yeah, it’s not a huge hassle for me to go over, but I want some space for myself. I mean next weekend it’s my little brothers’ birthdays so I’m definitely seeing my dad, and the weekend after that is my birthday so I’m definitely seeing my mom. </p>
<p>I recommend just approaching the problem head on. Something like “Dude, mom, give me some space. I, like, can’t breathe here. And all the jocks are calling me a mommas boy”</p>
<p>I’d like to answer your question from the perspective of a parent. My D is a freshman who also lives about 30 minutes from campus. You need to be honest with your parents. Explain to them that you are trying to find “your place” on campus and make friends. Going home every weekend will make this difficult. Most of the students on my D’s dorm floor have been going home every weekend so far this year. I don’t really know why they are doing this. I would certainly hope it isn’t because their parents are begging them to come every weekend. This is the time for you to become more independent and your parents need to realize this.</p>
<p>The problem is that everyone handles college differently. Some people have no problem going home every weekend, while others find that it takes away from their college experience. I think you need to explain to your parents that though you do like visiting them, you need space now that you’re in college and that there’s no real reason for you to visit every single weekend. Because whenever you’re visiting them, you’re missing out on a possible event back on campus.</p>
<p>As a parent, I suggest you work out a compromise with your parents. Are they expecting you to spend the whole weekend at home? If that is the case, you need to explain to them that you are trying to find your place at school and being home all weekend, every weekend is making it difficult for you to do that. On the other hand, if they just want to see you for dinner on Sunday, what is the big deal? If my kids attended school that close to home, I would love to share a meal with them once a week or so to catch up and see how they are doing. If once a week is cramping your style, let them know you look forward to being home on this weekend and that weekend, but you are busy the other weekend(s).</p>