May 2–8, 2007, Number 442
Spring has sprung on campus. The trees are starting to bud, but that doesn't necessarily mean the snow is gone. The snowfall record for May was 11 inches.
Returning Home
It is finals week and the end of the semester is near. The last of the snow and ice is melting in the water, flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining bright. Many students who had early exams are already packing and heading for home, while others will be up here for the rest of the week or all summer. There is also a new class of graduates that will be saying goodbye to Michigan Tech as they head out into the world. I know quite a few of them and wish them the best as they start their careers.
For parents with students coming home for the entire summer or even just a few weeks, you may notice some differences in them. After living away from home for so long, students pick up habits and schedules that often have changed from what they were in high school. It doesn’t matter if they lived in the residence halls or off campus, whether they are a first year student or fourth, the differences and changes are usually obvious. This of course can cause some tension in the household.
Many students at Michigan Tech stay up late on a regular basis and don’t even think about waking up before 8:00 a.m. unless there is a good reason. I know when I first went home my schedule did not fit with the rest of the family. I didn’t have too hard of a time adapting, but some students prefer to keep their routines no matter what. Small compromises are the best way I have found to alleviate these tensions. Although the biggest issue is usually sleep schedules, problems can also arise in areas related to laundry, dishes, and general cleanliness. Again, small compromises are the key to relieving the tension while still letting your student remain somewhat independent.
On this note, as a student, we notice changes in how the family reacts to us as well when we come home. When we have been gone for a good portion of the year, it isn’t hard to see that things have changed. Just as we have gotten used to not having our parents around, our parents have gotten used to us not being around. After being independent for so long, it is easy to feel smothered by the house rules that once caused no problems.
The best way for everyone to be happy is to discuss problems and challenges as they come up. Your students are no longer just kids; they are adults who are used to being given a good amount of responsibility. If you have a problem with something they are doing, kindly let them know about it. Don’t be too surprised though when they come to you with a problem they are having. Hopefully this will help families come back together without too many arguments and disagreements.
If there are ever any topics that you feel should be addressed, please send me a personal email and I will try my best to include them in my future articles.
Until next week,
- Michigan Technological University
- 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295
- 906-487-1885