Question for more experienced parents: Do you see much of your kids on summer break?

<p>S gets home from his first year in college in about a week. He won't be able to sleep in like he'd want to because of a part-time job that starts VERY early. But that will probably not keep him from staying out late. In addition, he's involved in his own projects which will consume a lot of the time. And now we just found out that his college is paying for him to go to California in August for a short course.</p>

<p>So the question: Does the time back with family get less and less during each summer? I know that internships and travels on their own will also start to kick in as they get older. What is your experience?</p>

<p>My experience has been that my kids enjoyed the summer at home, usually working and hanging out with old high school friends. And they love the return to Mom's cooking. Summer home takes a little adjustment tho, since the staying out late can get annoying. My kids never had a lot of money for travel, maybe a week or two vacation and that's it. Of course, who would want to leave sunny San Diego anyway? Luckily, child #4 will be only going up the road a few hours to UCLA.</p>

<p>Last year D worked as a Camp counselor and hung out with friends after work so we would ride into the city together to catch up on things. </p>

<p>D was due home tomorrow but called this morning to say that she is staying until Monday so she can see her friends graduate on sunday. </p>

<p>She will be home for about 10 days then back to school for sophomore summer. She will be home from sophomore summer for 3 days (bringing home best friend who lives in Oregon and has never visted NYC). They will be at the house for 3 days before they leave for London for a week then off on their respective study abroad locations ;D going to Edinburgh, and friend to Copenhagen.</p>

<p>The upside is that you are still in the "glad to see them" mode when they leave because "you remember what it was like for them and their stuff to live in your home" mode won't have time to kick in :)</p>

<p>I went abroad my freshman summer, then worked on my campus every summer after that. I think the longest I was home after leaving college was the time between semesters (until I was a junior and had a house off campus).</p>

<p>One thing I wish was that my parents had come to see me a little more. Going home isn't always so fun...I remember struggling with being treated as the youngest again, not the budding leader that I was at my school. One of my roommates' parents came to visit every other month or so. They'd take us out to dinner, bring us supplies (that chair that no one uses in the basement, etc.) and just "hang out". </p>

<p>Go see them and let them show you around outside of the planned Parents' Weekend. Take them out to eat or go to a game. They might think it's lame as first year students, but those visits (and the meals away from the dining hall) will be appreciated!</p>

<p>See him during the summers? Almost never. Hear from him? Absolutely: (1) when he's bored; (2) when he needs something.</p>

<p>He's stayed in LA last summer, and will be in LA this summer, both times to do film-related work. That's why we sent him to school out there.</p>

<p>We much prefer to go to LA to visit him especially in the winter.</p>

<p>tsdad,</p>

<p>Do you get an opportunity to "go home" for the summer?</p>

<p>We see little of S, although the "little" includes dinner most nights. There's something to be say for working 9 to 5, then arriving home in desperate need of shower and food before taking off for the evening festivities.</p>

<p>And he's not even in college until August.</p>

<p>We have seen little of your gal since she left for college - except for xmas break - and quick visits home - she has - since her freshman year - had a job in the same state as her school - far from home- but we have planned a couple of vacations to go see her LOL - well worth it tho - and I have made a couple of random trips there - which are really quite fun - she doesn't find being home all that fun - she has pretty much established herself out of this area for now :(</p>

<p>Freshman DD was home for 3 weeks, then off 600 miles to a camp counseling job. She'll be home in August for about 10 days and then back to college across the country.</p>

<p>DS junior will be home this week-end for 2 weeks, the off to Spain until mid-August, then back and forth between here and college (only a couple of hours away) until it begins in late September.</p>

<p>Other DS junior is not coming home --found a job in Chicago -- other than for a long week-end in August for his sister's birthday. That's actually the hardest thing -- because of different vacations and distance, DD has not seen that brother since Christmas. We're going to Chicago to see him in a few weeks.</p>

<p>I miss them, but they're all happy with their plans.</p>

<p>dig:</p>

<p>It is sad! I don't see my son very often at all. He is working full time, plus overtime, and he often goes to play Ultimate Frisbee after work or out to dinner with friends or to some music thing. On weekends he frequently leaves to visit girlfriend in another state! I catch a glimpse of him in the morning. </p>

<p>But I can tell he's home by the stream of messiness he leaves behind...</p>

<p>Dean J:</p>

<p>Good point about parents visitng.</p>

<p>DD spent a month in China last summer, and will be in Chile after mid-July... but she's home for now! :) I'm hoping that my DS will choose a U close to home, so that his grown-up world will be near ours. I don't think we will be moving anytime soon, and I would hate for my kids to "settle" far away from here!!!!</p>

<p>It was the same with my son the summer between HS and college. He was busy, plus he was working to get money for school, plus he took two trips: one to Mexico with a friend and one to Florida to go diving with his older brother.</p>

<p>My junior daughter has come home for about five weeks each summer before heading off to her programs abroad. End of May and June are usually home, and then July through August she's gone, and then quickly home for a week before heading back to school. I feel pretty lucky we get to see her as much as we do. She misses her dog and brother, so I know she'll keep coming home for a while, anyway.</p>

<p>My sophmore daughter was home for the fastest 16 days I have ever lived. She got off the plane sick from spending too many all nighters studying for finals. She was tired of school, so packed up early to come home with two large papers to write. So I fed her, tucked her in, she for cable internet access. She had her scheduled dentist appointments, needed immediate (cause her time home was so brief) oral surgery to correct damage from a stress ulcer on her gum , spent three days in a vicodin haze. I still kidnapped her for the 360 mile ride to see sister run in the state track meet, she slept most of the time, but I got to take care of her. Had a great picnic in Denali. Took her halibut + king salmon fishing-great day on the water! She caught her first King :) Now she's in NYC, living in the Columbia dorms, taking the subway to her internship. She leaves mid-Aug for study abroad YEAR. We do not know when will see her next. That will be up to us. D2 leaves for college in Aug. She has promised she'll be back summers. But plans to work in Denali. This is why god made e-mail and cell phones. I miss her laugh. For me it hasn't gotten an easier. I am excited for her new opportunities, she is very happy doing what she wants.needs to do--- but my arms still ache :( .</p>

<p>My son was home for a week, but he so reversed his days and nights that we rarely saw him until late afternoon, and of course he was out with friends at night. Now, he's back at school doing a research internship, but plans to come home on many weekends to see friends. So, it'll be a constant adjustment to his comings and goings, with minimal expectations for his real presence in much of our family life. Nevertheless, he's been pretty communicative when we do get to talk, and most importantly, seems happy.</p>

<p>Wow I am lucky. D is home all summer and we are doing a physical training thing together-- daily! It is fun! (Yes, I will even EXERCIZE if I get to be around my D. :) )</p>

<p>Son is just finishing finals this week and starts a job on campus next Monday (so does his girlfriend) for the summer. I will be visiting "them" this summer. Funny thing, son's roommate will be in my neck of the woods visiting with another local student. I'm going to try and take them out to lunch before I leave.</p>

<p>So I guess it runs the gamut. I am jealous of SBmom. It would be nice to have an activity to do with the kiddo.</p>

<p>S was home for 10 days then left to spend a month with the US Navy. He will be back at the end of the month but we don't expect to see much of him. Between work and running around with friends there is little time for the 'rents.
He did call yesterday to say it had been the best day ever because he got to fly an airplane (doing barrel rolls and a 360). Said he would send me a pic. taken of him hanging upside down doing a barrel roll in the plane. Is this supposed to make me feel good,lol? Just kidding, I'm really happy for him but will be glad to see him when it's over.</p>

<p>D is home for 2 weeks, then at Brown for 8 weeks (paid) then home for almost a month. When she's home, we spend a lot of time together, as much as my job allows.</p>