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Challenge: Your Special Traditions

And they're back....

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And they’re back….

Can you believe that Thanksgiving break is almost here?

For those of us that have been around the block a couple of times with college freshman coming home for their first Thanksgiving after being away, here are my words of wisdom.

When my kids came home for Thanksgiving break after being away since that college drop off, which we have replayed in our minds a zillion times, my kids were:

Sick

Tired

And ready to collapse

BUT keep in mind

They will probably have homework, group projects and finals to start preparing for, given they probably head back after this break and will be home a few weeks later.

They probably want to see their friends more than spend time with you.

I know that is heartbreaking - but true.

Remember this is a time in our kids lives where social media is at the forefront….they are seeing everyone else’s greatest hits from college…..they may be overwhelmed with feelings of things like….

Are they really having that much fun?

Do they really have that many new friends?

Do they really want to go back…..or are they feeling overwhelmed like me?

Your kid may walk in the door with heaps of laundry and the first thing you want to do is take photos to post to insta or facebook….and have grandma and grandpa and every aunt and uncle there ready to ask them every detail about college….

But

Your kid may literally just shut down…..

And that’s ok….

It’s normal…..

Believe it or not, there are big changes you will see that have developed in the weeks since your kid left for college and you pulled the car away…..

Think about it - they have kept their own schedules….they haven’t had a curfew, they eaten whatever they want at any time of the day (or night).

This is a time when they're having a hard time keeping it all together.

Classes may not be going as well as they had expected. Those A’s and B’s may not be coming as easy as they did in high school.

They've made new friends....people you don't know.

Your kid has changed…..they are learning to live independently. They are learning to manage their time. They are learning their strengths and weaknesses.

My advice with all of this is let them sleep in. Don’t ask them a million questions. Hug them tight. Love them boldly.

Give them the gift of grace. Give them the gift of patience.

It all works out.

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