After four years that seem to have flown by faster than Maverick’s fighter jet in Top Gun, I am celebrating my oldest child’s graduation from college this month.
When he started his pursuit of a college degree, he weighed 180 pounds and stood 6’2”. Now, he’s 210 pounds and 6’4”. Not only is he bigger, but he’s older and wiser.
But not too wise, of course! He’s only in his early twenties after all. And, as anyone who has parented these creatures knows, they are still big kids at heart.
That’s clear from the three texts, exchanges or experiences I share below that illustrate the lighter side of parenting a grown-up college kid.
The Power of Prevention
At the end of his freshman year, my son and his roommates had to move out of their dorm room and return it to its original state. In other words, they needed to clean their dorm suite and adjoining bathroom.
This was a laborious challenge for them, particularly the bathroom, as they hadn’t cleaned it ALL YEAR.
So early in his sophomore year, when he was living again in the dorms, I wanted to check that he was keeping up with the cleaning.
“I haven’t been cleaning it, but I’ve been preventing it from getting dirty.”
HA! His reply made perfect sense to him!
Money Management
During his junior year, my son lived in an apartment for the first time.
This was a great experience for him, being responsible for rent and bills as well as cooking for himself.
I remember visiting and seeing this sight on his kitchen table:
When I asked why he had so many Chipotle napkins, he got excited.
“Because they’re free when you buy a burrito!” he told me. “This way I don’t have to buy napkins, Mom.”
Way to go, son! I’m so proud you saved $2.
Cheez-its or Bust
Parenting young adults is crazy.
They think they know so much, and often they DO know so much.
Yet, they still revert to a child-like state at times.
Take this text exchange as my son prepared to go back to school after Winter break:
One day he’ll be living on his own, in charge of throwing out the stale food all by himself. Or he’ll remember this exchange when his own child leaves an opened box in his pantry for perpetuity.
I picture myself as a grandma someday, eagerly supplying my grandchild with Cheez-its in a childish, but oh-so-fun, payback scheme…
Parenting my college-age kid has been a joy. Seriously! From the cleanliness of his dorm room bathroom to countless Chipotle napkins and finally stale Cheez-ts, it’s been humorous, too.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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