College is awesome, it really is. It’s a place where you get to be with your friends 24/7, be surrounded by cute guys all the time, and where there is never a shortage of junk food or fun things to do. But there’s something truly wonderful about going home when you haven’t been back in weeks (or months). Even just popping home for the weekend can sometimes be all you need to make it through to finals.
Home is truly where the heart is, and here are fifteen reasons why:
1. YOUR DOG! (Or other pet)
No one is ever as happy to see me when I come home to visit as my dog is. He cried actual tears when I came home to visit for the first time. Your dog is the number one reason why coming home is the best because they don’t care about your grades, if you’ve been sleeping enough, how healthy you are eating or if you’ve been calling home enough. You’re home now, and their entire day has been made. Also, being around pets releases happy endorphins, so yay, science.
2. Your parents
Yeah, yeah, I know. Before everyone leaves for college, they claim that they won’t miss their parents. They’ll hardly ever visit. Maybe they’ll call a few times a week, maybe. Distance does make the heart grow fonder, though, and every college student ends up missing their parents at one point or another. Seeing your parents is awesome, because you didn’t realize how much you appreciated or needed them until you were forced to “adult” all the time.
3. Your bed
Dorm beds are the absolute worst, seriously. As if a twin bed wasn’t hard enough to sleep on with your five hundred stuffed animals (or is that just me?) on a mattress that feels like bricks. Let’s not forget the risk of bedbugs, or not entirely knowing what your roommate may or may not have done on your dorm room bed. And maybe your bed squeaks, or you can feel the bedsprings. Either way, getting a night to sleep in your own bed is pretty darn awesome. One night in your own bed equals a week of sleep in your dorm bed – soak up those zzz’s.
4. Home-cooked meals
Say it with me: cereal is not a meal. Microwaved quesadillas? Not a meal. Popcorn? Not a meal. College food is not the bomb, nor is it particularly healthy. Good news! Going home means you can eat your mom’s cooking (wow, it’s so much better now, isn’t it?) and take leftovers back to school. Don’t forget to go to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods with your parents to bring food back to school. Your stomach will thank you later.
5. Being treated like a queen
Even though you missed your parents almost instantly after they dropped you off at school, your parents miss you much more than you miss them when you leave, and as a result, they’re ecstatic to see you. They’re so happy you’re home, even if it’s just for a little while, that they’re more likely to do things like cook your favorite meals, or let you control the TV. Enjoy it while you can, because before you know it, you’ll be back at school, having coffee for breakfast and watching Netflix on your computer.
6. Knowing where everything is
The barista at your local Starbucks already has your order memorized. The servers at your favorite restaurant know that you like your salmon salad with a crab cake on it and dressing on the side. Your favorite boutique just got a new shipment. And there’s no way you are going to get lost! Everything that drove you insane about your hometown becomes wonderful now that you’re home for the weekend and not surrounded by it 24/7.
7. Temporarily having a car
Not having a car at school can be such a bummer. Sure, there are some benefits – like not having to worry about gas or friends bothering you for rides – but you’ve become that friend that always needs a ride, or you have to rely on – gasp – the bus. Having a car, even for the weekend, and the freedom that went with it, is one of the best things about going home.
8. The quiet
Being home means there aren’t any drunk frat boys partying at 3 am on a Monday. (Monday? Really?!) Plus, your roommate who’s bitter at the world because of a 7 a.m. class won’t be waking you up. You’ll be left with just the noises of your family, (which let’s be honest – we’re all pretty good at tuning out by now). Enjoy the sleep – your body will thank you when you return to campus.
9. High school friends
There is always someone at home from high school to see. Maybe they went to community college, maybe they went to a local school, or maybe they didn’t go to college at all. Reunions are always a ton of fun, particularly if your high school besties are home too. Time to share stories of the cute guy in your math class that you’re dating! (Well, really, he just asked you what day it was. And you said October 3rd. But what your friends don’t know, won’t hurt them!)
10. Not having to worry about school
Remember that huge term paper due Tuesday? It can wait. Is your group project driving you up the wall? Worry about it later. Does your professor have it out for you? Worry about that later, too. Time to focus on family festivities now that you’re reunited with them
11. No drama
Put a large number of teenagers/young adults together and there will be drama – it’s practically science. And while this drama can be fun and sometimes entertaining, it can get exhausting. It’s always nice to escape back home, where it doesn’t matter that your friends both kissed the same guy, or that you stupidly committed dorm-cest and now you have to see that guy every time you leave your room. Good news: your house is a sacred space and no drama follows you there.What happens in college, stays in college.
12. SWEATPANTS
One of my least favorite things about college and living in the dorms was opening my door without wearing makeup or a bra, just wanting to pee, but coming face to face with no less than half a dozen fraternity boys. UGH I JUST WANT TO PEE. Good news! Your family has seen you at your worst, so wear the sweatpants and give your face a break from the bronzer and blush for a while.
13. Your siblings
Admit it – you missed them. No one truly gets you like your siblings do. They’ve seen you at your best, helped you dodge annoying relatives at family parties and laughed at you at your worst. Often times, siblings grow closer once one of them leaves for school. To your brothers and sisters, you’ll never change – and when you’re in college and everyone’s changing, that is a major relief.
14. Laundry
Doing laundry is never a fun task in college. I did it at home without a problem, but it’s a little different in college, because a.) paying for it, b.) always running into cute guys while doing laundry and c.) people stealing laundry all combined to make doing laundry my least favorite chore. At home, you can just throw it in the washer and dryer, 1-2-3, done. Your mom might even do it for you because she’s so happy to have you home.
15. Realizations
Nothing is better than realizing that, as wonderful as coming home is, your school is amazing too. It’s always a good sign when you can’t wait to go back!
While college can be an amazing experience that we all love, it’s awesome knowing that home will always be there for you when you need a little escape back to your family.