A friend of mine in New York City has a son who started school at the State University of New York in Binghamton. According to Yahoo! map it's about 190 miles away. She says it's more like 150 ("Those things are stupid and never work properly," according to Joe College's mom). Anyway when she sent him off to school she said that everyone comes home for the weekend. Because he has a late Friday class he can't make it on public transportation so she takes the drive up and back. That is four trips of 150 miles each way. I think that that is kind of excessive and ridiculous. She insists that her son should be home, that everyone is gone and that this is perfectly normal. I never went to a college that wasn't a commuter college, but I still think that this is obsessive. Opinions?
I agree she's nuts. If he's away at college, it means he wants to live the college life. I say she should let him. Otherwise, it's just like high school.
It sounds unhealthy to me -- both for her and her son. She needs to accept that he's not mommy's little baby any more. He needs to learn to stand up to her and say no... Unless, of course, he's enjoying the free ride to go clubbing with his friends every Fri & Sat night (you don't mention what he does while home on weekends), taking advantage of his mother's silliness. He needs to learn to stand on his own two feet, even if 75% of the students go home on the weekends (and is that even a reliable figure, or is she exaggerating?). There's still stuff he could do (get involved in a local civic center intra-murals league?), even if he just focuses on homework all weekend so he can slack off all week!
I suspect that this came as no surprise to the son. I don't know which is odder, a mother who wants her college age son home every weekend or a son who puts up with it. On the other hand, he gets clean clothes every seven days and eats decently 2/7 th of the time. He and mom have been doing this dance for a while. He's used to an overprotective mom and she is used to being overprotective. I'd leave it to them.
thats seems a bit obsessive to me...yes, i like to go home every now and then on a random weekend, but not every weekend. i'd miss out on a lot of things that happen with my friends up at school.
any college town has plenty to do on weekends, maybe she just wants to protect him from all the evils of college weekend life...but at college age he should become a little less sheltered, IMO. this situation will work itself out in time. but no, I personally would not drive those distances as you describe.
i was only 100 miles from home and my mom had to BEG me to visit! hopefully it's because he wants to party in NYC on the weekends. otherwise, it's not healthy
My friend goes home every weekend, BUT he drives himself and he mainly goes so that he can play rugby for his team. He comes from a small country place, and the team needs him - he's been playing for them for years. I thknk if you are going home for the right reasons, then good for you. That original guy though, why did he even leave home in the first place?
if my mom picked me up everyday i wouldnt protest. dorm life aint that exciting-i preffer to be spoiled.
