Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Unless you spend the entire break arguing with your parents, and then it becomes less fun and more like a Disney channel movie but with less witty banter and probably more competent fathers. Coming home for summer is a time of transition for both you and your parents, and some consideration on your part can take you from hostility to hospitality with a few simple guidelines.
Summer is only two weeks away, and with that in mind, I’ve decided to provide you with a few tips on how to not be a nuisance to your parents this summer.
Now I understand that not everyone will be going home for the summer: Some are going to summer camps, mission trips or even staying in Searcy. But for those of us who are headed back to the nest to save some money and let’s face it — mooch off of our parents for a little while longer — it should be done with some decency. You’ve got to draw the line somewhere, and it better be around a few rules rather than your dead body after your mom decides she can’t take it anymore.
Rule 1: You can sleep when you’re dead. Which as previously mentioned, you might find out sooner rather than later if you’re sleeping in past 2 p.m. every day. I understand the first week of comatose happiness as you recover from finals and moving out, but there’s a fine line when your parents go from accepting and understanding to “the cat does the same thing and is cheaper to feed.” I can promise you, if it comes down to keeping you or the cat for company, they will keep the cat.
Which brings us to Rule 2: Help pay for things occasionally. It can come as a bit of shock to your parents when they’ve gotten used to spending meager amounts on groceries and suddenly, with everyone back home, there’s nothing left but a jar of pickles in the fridge that will be there until you move. If you’re unable to contribute monetarily, at least offer to do some of the grocery shopping instead of just complaining about there being no food in the house. There’s no need to treat them like a vending machine. Besides, you should be saving extra quarters for laundry anyway.
This brings us to Rule 3: Just do it yourself. Don’t let an overflowing hamper put a damper on your relationship with your parents. It’s easy to let your laundry accumulate toward the end of the semester, “pack” it into your car and then let your mom take care of the rest, but she’s not a house elf and handing her a smelly sock will take her even further from her freedom. Rule 3 goes for any household chores — helping out is a little less stressful than being kicked out.
Rule 4: Compromise. Now that you’ve been away from home for at least a year, you’ve enjoyed some independence and are now being reintroduced to the “Our house, our rules” mantra, which can be a problem if you’ve gotten used to the idea of spending the rest of your days out late and mostly scheduled around Sonic happy hour.
Rule 5: Be thankful. It’s easy to take for granted all the free food, a place to sleep at night and, most importantly, their Netflix password, so don’t forget to show your appreciation. Being the favorite isn’t always easy, but as I’ve learned from many years of experience, there will always be truth in the expression, “If momma ain’t happy, then nobody happy.” So take my advice, stay the favorite kid and just keep your momma happy.
