Your college kid just finished their freshman year. Hooray.

You moved them out of a dorm it feels like you just moved them into. They said their goodbyes, filmed the empty dorm room TikTok, and you packed up things like the very important medical supplies box that was never opened.

And now they’re home.

But here is the part no one really talks about: most kids do not just slide back into life at home.

It takes time. It takes intention. It takes readjustment.

As excited as they were to come back to their own bathroom, bed, and dog, they might feel different.

Because they are.

They are leaving behind a life they built from scratch. Friends who became family in a matter of months. A routine, a rhythm, and a version of independence that finally felt like theirs.

And the word I hear over and over from kids after that first year is “awkward.”

Home feels awkward. And honestly, sometimes a little boring compared to a life where there was always something happening.

Old friendships might feel different. Family dynamics might feel off. Even their place in the house can feel unfamiliar.

They may spend more time in their room than you expected. They might seem emotional, restless, distant, or somehow all of it at once. They may act like they missed home desperately… and then two days later seem irritated by everything about it.

And sometimes what looks like attitude is actually grief.

They are missing their people. They are missing freedom. They are missing structure and a version of themselves they were just starting to understand.

If this is your house right now, it is normal.

This transition is not instant.

Give them space. Let them decompress. Let them sleep in, reset, and slowly find their footing again at home.

At the same time, it is okay to have expectations. Just make sure they are clear, reasonable, and communicated with respect.

Sharing the nest again takes patience.

And a lot of grace on both sides.

They came home different because college changed them.

That was always the point.
💛💛💛