I’m in the “it’s fine to go home” camp on this one. Take as much time as you need in order to adjust to college life. It is fine to ease into it, as you are doing. Not everyone is magically ready on the first day, week, or even in the first semester.
Part of success in college is finding good places/people for support. If some of that involves going home right now, by all means do it!
I’m going to elaborate and echo Julliet.
Wanting to continue to be close to your family is not childish. In fact, I think it’s a sign of maturity to not think “EW parents!” I’m 24, married, and we still visit our parents (mine and spouse’s) quite often. In fact, we’re spending the long weekend out here with his parents and we probably come out about once a month (they live about an hour from us). My parents live further away but they’re retired and come stay with us every month or every other month since it’s easier for them to come here than vice versa.
Being close to your family is perfectly fine. Wanting to spend time with them is fine. You might even start to cherish those moments as you get older. (Though of course, not everyone comes from a great family background.)
Here’s a little secret.
Many new students who will be starting college will probably be feeling just like you. But they probably won’t admit it publically.
“Homesickness stems from our instinctive need for love, protection and security - feelings and qualities usually associated with home,” said Josh Klapow, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Alabama.
“You’re not literally just missing your house. You’re missing what’s normal, what is routine, the larger sense of social space, because those are the things that help us survive,” Klapow says. "[Students] think something’s terribly wrong. But it’s normal and adaptive to feel homesick for some period of time. It’s just your emotions and mind telling you you’re out of your element.”
Echoing what many posters have alluded to, give it some time, and take in their advice.
Studies have shown that generally by the end of 6 months, most students have adjusted and phased away from the feelings of homesickness.
It is normal to feel what you are going through, so try not to feel worried, embarrassed or ashamed. Take things one day at a time, one step at a time.
As long as it doesn’t interfere with your schooling, going home is completely fine. In-fact, if your school is close by, there’s nothing wrong with even living at home and commuting. In some cases it would be kind of silly not to do this if the school is VERY close.
I personally, don’t subscribe to the theory that dormitories are the end-all and be-all of college life and maturity. They really kind of suck actually.
There is nothing wrong with not shunning your family in favor of your peers. There’s a saying: “Blood is thicker than water”. Most Americans seem to have this notion that their families are “Lame and Boring” while their friends are “The greatest thing ever, bro!” I was the first generation of my family to be born in the US so be had a big cultural difference in this regard. We were/are much more family oriented. Friends come and go, but family is forever.