Try not to surprise everyone, if you can avoid it. If you’ve changed your appearance, let your parents know ahead of time. If you dyed your hair blue and pierced your nose and eyebrow, they may not react well. And if your favorite holiday meal used to be ham, and now you’ve become a vegetarian and conveniently forgot to tell them, they’ll probably be a little miffed. Give them plenty of warning so that they can make any necessary adjustments.
If your parents are prone to over scheduling your breaks, talk to them first. Let them know that you’re recovering from a difficult semester at school, your exams were really taxing this time around, and you really need a break. Explain that you’ll probably need a couple days, at the very least, to sleep and spend some time alone. They’ll probably understand, provided you talk to them about it first.
Make time to spend with your family. You’ve been away for a while, and you’ve all missed each other. Tell them about your college experiences, what you like and what you don’t. Listen to the changes that have occurred in their lives while you’ve been gone. If conversations only seem to spark arguments, think of things you can do together that don’t require much talking. Maybe watch some holiday programming, or go out and see the holiday lights in your neighborhood. Anything that allows you to spend time together before you head back to college.
Take care of yourself, just as you’ve been doing at college for months. Do your own laundry, don’t depend on your parents for your every meal, and pick up after yourself. This will show your parents that you’re not the teenager who left for college, but you’re now a fully fledged adult, and you’re responsible for yourself.
If your parents start mentioning a curfew, don’t panic. They’re your parents and they love you. Instead of launching into an argument that can only end in a shouted “I’m not a child anymore!” take a step back. Calmly remind your parents that you no longer require a curfew. Be polite and let them know when to expect you, and out of respect, try not to come home at 3am. Remember to call if you’re going to be late, just so they don’t worry about you.
Finally, if you’re bringing a friend, make sure it’s okay with your parents. It’s their house, and they will not appreciate unexpected guests. On the other hand, if you’re going to spend part of your break visiting your friends, let your parents know first, preferably well in advance. This will avoid any hurt feelings when you suddenly disappear for three days in the middle of your break.
A visit home during your winter break can be a time to reconnect with your family and friends. Be polite and courteous, and very soon you’ll be heading back to college. You’ll have survived your winter break at home, and maybe even had some fun while you were at it.
