I was talking to a friend whose son is coming home for Thanksgiving after his first year away at college. Naturally, she has expectations for that time at home, involving family get-togethers. It made me remember conversations with my first year college students who returned to class after their Thanksgiving vacation.
The comments included,”Why can’t my parents understand that I am used to making my own decisions?” “Why do my parents expect me to be home at midnight as if I were still in high school?” Why do my parents expect me to spend time with the family? I want to see my friends. I haven’t seen them since the summer!” “Don’t my parents respect my decision to become a vegan? Why are they serving a dead bird?”
It was so predictable a class after Thanksgiving, that I actually looked forward to the group complaining session. At least they had a foretaste of the long Christmas vacation to come. Both students and parents had a long period of renegotiation ahead! The students had their classmates to commiserate with. The poor parents were left on their own to wonder “why am I paying tuition for this ungrateful child?”
Saved By Words 
Interesting summary of two opposing points of view.
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Sometimes I wish we also celebrate Thanksgiving here. There is so much we should be grateful about.
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I love it and all the traditional foods I have eaten now for so many years.
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The lessons are not learned until the tables are turned around. When they become parents and their kids from college are asking the same questions, they would have their moments.
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You are quite right.
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I’ve heard the difficulties of going home after living on campus or in an apt. Parents feel that their children need to go along with the family plans. I can also see the other side. Interesting point.
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It’s hard to let them grow up, no matter their needs.
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Oh, I do think that as they grow older, their perspective changes too.
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