Families are dealing with many changes in their lives since COVID-19. Many students are having to combine their college and non-college lives into one place – their parent’s home.
We know that tension, frustration, and even exasperation could be rising. Your perspective is probably very different from your student’s. Perspectives are attitudes which we have toward something – our point of view.
It’s important that everyone’s perspective is understood. The best thing we can do is to understand each other’s perspectives, accept those perspectives and develop strategies to honor perspectives once they’re shared.
An important first step is to sit down and talk about how things are going now that your college student has moved back home.
Here are some potential perspectives that may help your family understand each other better:
College Student’s Perspective:
- I have an established routine that works for me.
- I am trying my best to utilize this routine back here at home.
- You are seeing a different side of me which I have developed since being at college.
- I need to focus on my studies, my job and my friends.
Parent’s Perspective:
- It is important that all family members follow our established routine.
- You had no problems following this routine before, so why can't you now?
- It almost seems like you are disrespecting us. Remember, this is our home.
- It seems like you don’t want to be around us now.
Sharing perspectives creates good communication within the family. We hope you are staying healthy and happy during this time and that you continue to focus on positive perspectives together!
