Anonymous wrote:I bring my DS to my kindergarten class and that cures any of that issue. He sees how exhausting it is for me at work and voila! He makes dinner, empties the dishwasher, runs the vacuum etc.

Anonymous wrote:Are you experiencing this? My kids are very capable and on the ball and handle their lives just fine away at college. Freshman and senior. But then they come home and they act like they are fresh out of the womb and know nothing about anything or how to do anything and I hear "mom mom mom" all day long. Maybe it's just me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is independent at school, but likes to be "pampered" at home. For example, kid and I will be watching a show together and if I get up to go to the bathroom, kid asks for a snack. Kid will put laundry in my basket, etc. When kid was a freshman, I overheard during a Facetime, kid tell roommate they can't wait to get home to be pampered. I suspect that is a very normal feeling.

+1

This is very much how I felt when I was home for college breaks, and I expect to do the same with my DC next year.

To be clear, summer breaks were quite different. After a week or so of recovering from exam exhaustion, things went back to normal.

But I was an exhausted mess for the first week of winter break. Often sick, too. The end of semester push was depleting!

Last thought: home was where I could let my hair down and not have to “keep it together” all the time. Does not excuse rudeness or anything like that. But reverting to helplessness the first week or two of winter break? Yes. Acts of love (taking care of things I could usually do myself) = nurturing for me.

By the way, my parents were the same during my first year of BigLaw (!!!) Yes, I was a full grown adult by then. AND I was often exhausted and depleted when they saw me. A little TLC went a long way. I do the same now for my teens when I sense they’re burned out and exhausted.

Sounds like you have kind parents and are a kind, thoughtful parent as a result. I love this. It is really not that much effort to let the college kids recover and not require too much of them during a short break.

Anonymous wrote:SNL did a whole thing on this. I think about it all the time when they’re home.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmWH1F-caM8

Anonymous wrote:I get things on trays. Breakfast on a tray. Teas on a tray. Snacks on a tray. This never happened until I went to college. I will probably be doing this to my children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is independent at school, but likes to be "pampered" at home. For example, kid and I will be watching a show together and if I get up to go to the bathroom, kid asks for a snack. Kid will put laundry in my basket, etc. When kid was a freshman, I overheard during a Facetime, kid tell roommate they can't wait to get home to be pampered. I suspect that is a very normal feeling.

+1

This is very much how I felt when I was home for college breaks, and I expect to do the same with my DC next year.

To be clear, summer breaks were quite different. After a week or so of recovering from exam exhaustion, things went back to normal.

But I was an exhausted mess for the first week of winter break. Often sick, too. The end of semester push was depleting!

Last thought: home was where I could let my hair down and not have to “keep it together” all the time. Does not excuse rudeness or anything like that. But reverting to helplessness the first week or two of winter break? Yes. Acts of love (taking care of things I could usually do myself) = nurturing for me.

By the way, my parents were the same during my first year of BigLaw (!!!) Yes, I was a full grown adult by then. AND I was often exhausted and depleted when they saw me. A little TLC went a long way. I do the same now for my teens when I sense they’re burned out and exhausted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD home and is being delightful! Cooked dinner, went to store, lets us know when she will be out and home.

Are you bragging? Simply celebrating? Subtly telling people that your kid is better than theirs, or that you are a better parent? People fascinate me.