{"342981":{"#nid":"342981","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Home for the Holidays","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EIn the days ahead, the fall semester will be coming to an end and students some will be heading home for Thanksgiving and winter breaks.\u0026nbsp; While family traditions and gatherings are important, families must also remember that compromise may be inevitable during an extended stay at home. As students descend upon the home front, parents may feel abandoned all over again as students want to sleep late and often choose to spend more time with friends than family. Issues like important dinners, religious activities, household chores, use of the car, being respectful to others (who need their sleep), and money management\u2014if not handled properly\u2014may cause conflict and undue stress for the entire family.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHere are a few ideas and strategies to help make this transition home a little merrier!\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBe flexible and realistic-\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunicate holiday plans in advance so students aren\u2019t caught off guard.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor those with extended and\/or blended families, it is important to realize that students may wish to spend part of his\/her break with the other family. Avoid putting them in an impossible situation by making unreasonable demands of their time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECompromise is a two-way street. \u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EKeep in mind that college students are no longer children that we can shuttle here and there. Students are emerging into adulthood. For the past several months, students have been following their own schedules and making their own decisions. Embrace this opportunity to have an adult conversation; listening to their perspectives, feelings; and needs. Don\u2019t try to guilt them into doing what you want.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost students have been living independently for a few months and may not be ready to follow your schedule. Additionally, most have just gone through a stressful period of studying and test taking. Patience will come in handy here.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStart the negotiations early\u2014starting the conversation sooner can prevent conflict later. It can be done early in the break or even before\u2014don\u2019t try to have this talk during exam time\u2014students are usually feeling stressed enough.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIt is okay to have some expectations-\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERespect is never outdated. Do they take on their old chores? Will there be a curfew?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBe prepared for changes in your son or daughter -\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs we know, many college students alter their appearance, perhaps getting a tattoo, piercing, or changing their hair color. If extended family members judge them too harshly, it can lead to hurt feelings. It is important to support your student at family gatherings. You don\u2019t have to always agree, but you have to try to respect their choices.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany students will want to reconnect with high school friends. However, they may find that these friendships may not be the same as they were only a few months earlier. People change, have different interests, and find they do not have as much in common. Be prepared to listen if your students struggle with this loss.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDon\u2019t make major changes-\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETalking to your student before making any major room changes would be the best. If you have already turned their room into something new, maybe now would be the time to bring back a few of their things. Students love the independence they enjoy on campus, but almost all of them want to feel they are an important part of their family.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMoney management\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E -\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWill your student have to work during break to save money for back-to-school needs such as books and supplies or even tuition?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a good time for students to reevaluate their meal plans and to review spending habits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHow to help a struggling student-\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERemind your student about tutoring.\u0026nbsp; Seeking help early is always the right way to proceed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EListen and don\u2019t jump the gun and take over when there is a problem. A family\u2019s love, support, and motivation are most important. How you react may dictate what they tell you in the future. Sometimes it is not winning the race, but simply finishing it. Many times getting a C or B can be the success!\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Laci Weeden Director, Parents Program"}],"field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Home for the Holidays"}],"uid":"27244","created_gmt":"2014-11-07 14:12:14","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:17:26","author":"Sara Warner","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-11-07T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2014-11-07T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaci Weeden\u003Cbr \/\u003EDirector, Parents Program\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laci.weeden@vpss.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}