Saying goodbye to your child as they go off to college is not easy for some. However, as time passes, you will find new ways to fill your time and enjoy the extra space you have in your home. But as the spring semester ends and summer break begins, your nest may not be as empty for a few months as students return home! Are you ready for it? Here are three strategies to keep in mind. Remember that your child has changed. While it may have only been about nine months since you dropped your teen off at college, they will come home as a different person, maturing since the last time you saw them with different interests and characteristics. Be mindful that you’re both undergoing changes while they were away. Remind them that they’re not a guest. College is sometimes a teen’s first step into adulthood. They lived on their own (with roommates), could come and go as they pleased, and ate whatever and whenever they wanted. Because of this newfound freedom, it may take them time to adjust to coming back home. They may need time to themselves. However, set boundaries with your teen reminding them to respect other family members and the home. Share how things have changed since they left. Have you remodeled or renovated your home? Did you make any changes to the daily schedule? Was anything of theirs thrown out or stored? Are there any changes you’ve made to yourself over the past few months? It’s best to share these changes with your college student to ensure there are no surprises. Additionally, talking about how you’ve adapted to the “new normal” can encourage your child to open up about their Is Your Child Coming Home for Summer Break? THE NEST ISN’T SO EMPTY ANYMORE!
experiences at school and how they’ve changed. The better you understand your teen and vice versa, the better your relationship will be. Welcoming your child back home is exciting and challenging. But by encouraging open communication and patience and embracing the time you have with one another, you and your college student will likely enjoy more time together.
NEVER DOUBT A CANINE’S SENSES
One Sniff Can Save a Life
Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell. On TV, you will often see dogs that can find missing people, search for drugs or even bombs. Dogs are often trained to use their extraordinary senses for a particular job, but even without training, they sense something is wrong.
After a couple of hours, Frances Wall, Roger’s owner, began calling for Roger. When he didn’t immediately come home, she started looking for him, and that’s when she found Roger and Cohen.
Wall immediately called emergency services. Three firefighters freed Cohen and rushed him to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
Roger, the Jack Russell terrier-poodle mix, is a great example.
Our story takes place in Ringwood, England, December 2022. Winter was in full swing with temperatures below freezing. No one wanted to find themselves outside in the cold for too long because it could be quite dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to 94-year-old Morris Cohen. Cohen had just returned home. He parked his car in the garage when he found himself in a spot of trouble. As he tried to exit his vehicle, his walking stick suddenly snapped in half. Unable to keep his balance, Cohen fell and became wedged under his car’s brake and clutch pedals. The man called for help several times, but unfortunately, no one could hear his pleas. He remained there, stuck overnight. The next day, Roger’s owners let him roam around outside. Roger began sniffing around Cohen’s home (some believe Roger had heard the man’s calls for help), and once Roger found the elderly man, he didn’t leave his side for the rest of the day.
More than a week later, medical staff released Cohen from the hospital, and now he gives Roger treats whenever he sees
him. “I owe my life to that dog. They [health care professionals] said that if I would’ve been there for a few more hours, I would have been a goner,” Cohen told Bournemouth Daily Echo. Fortunately for Cohen, Roger’s amazing canine senses saved the day. It’s always great to have a furry friend around — you never know when their incredible skills will come in handy!
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