The Kids Are Home From College (and suddenly you’re not the only adult in the house)

Written By Jill

I love my kids. I really do! I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years. I’ve done the Gymboree class, The Little Gym, and Makin’ Music with Miss Sandy. Not to mention all of the lacrosse practices, basketball games, weekend soccer tournaments in Maryland, Pittsburgh, and East Jabib. We’ve paid for ballet classes, guitar lessons, piano lessons, saxaphone rentals, tennis clinics—I could go on and on. I guess my point is, I feel like I’ve earned what I’m about to say.

This week my two oldest sons are home from college. And I can confidently say they are no longer visiting, they’re fully moved back in. Shoes pile up by the door. One lone dirty sock is crumpled on the couch. Every light in the house is on. The fridge is mysteriously empty. And you’re left wondering how someone who can manage finals week while pledging a fraternity literally can’t manage a dishwasher.

Welcome to the holiday homecoming of college kids: equal parts joyful, nostalgic, and let’s be honest, kind of annoying.

The Joy Part (Because There Is One)

First, the good stuff.
There’s something deeply comforting about having everyone under one roof again. Late-night conversations happen more easily. Family dinners feel fuller. You get glimpses of the adults your kids are becoming—new opinions, sharper humor, bigger dreams.

You might even feel proud watching them navigate the world with a little more confidence than last year.

And then… reality sets in.

The Annoying Part (You’re Not Imagining It)

Suddenly:

  • The Wi-Fi is “slow”

  • Your kitchen is no longer yours

  • Someone is always eating, sleeping, or showering

  • The house feels loud even when no one is talking

College kids come home with independence energy but childhood habits. They want freedom without responsibility. Privacy without boundaries. Home-cooked meals without grocery shopping.

It’s not malicious—it’s developmental. But it can still be exhausting.

You’ve Changed Too

Here’s the part no one talks about enough: you are not the same parent you were when they left.
You’ve adjusted to quieter mornings. A clean kitchen. You’ve reclaimed routines. You may even enjoy the calm.

So when your newly adult child disrupts that rhythm, it can feel jarring. Not because you don’t love them, but because your life has expanded beyond constant caregiving.

That tension? It’s normal.

The Push/Pull of This Season

The holidays with college kids are a strange mix of:

  • Wanting to soak up every moment

  • Counting down until they leave again

You can miss them deeply and crave your space back. You can love the laughter and feel overstimulated. Both things can be true.

A Few Gentle Survival Tips

Without turning this into a “how-to,” a few mindset shifts help:

  • Lower expectations: This is a temporary season, not a permanent regression.

  • Name boundaries early: Not as rules—just as respect.

  • Protect small rituals: Morning coffee alone. Evening walks. Quiet time counts.

  • Laugh when you can: One day, you’ll miss the chaos more than you think.

The Bittersweet Truth

This phase won’t last forever. One day, the house will be quiet again—too quiet. The fridge will stay full. The lights will be off.

And you’ll find yourself smiling at the memory of the noise, the mess, the mild irritation… and the unmistakable feeling of being needed again, just for a little while.

Annoying? Yes.
Meaningful? Also yes.

And somehow, both are part of what makes this season exactly what it’s supposed to be.

Jill
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