You may have sent your child off to study business, and now he or she wants to study art. This is an area where families have to negotiate a bit. The student may be used to a lot of freedom, but staying out until 3 or 4 a.m. may not be something that works at home. This can be a potential point of friction between students and their families. Things at home have changed.
Students sometimes come back to campus with bruised egos after their first visit home.
They've discovered that things at home have gone on without them. Bishop suggests that parents should be prepared to discuss these changes and keep lines of communication open. Ask questions that allow students to share their feelings about these changes. It is also important to keep your child aware of changes at home. Students also may develop a greater sense of belonging on campus after that first visit home, and that often makes it easier for them to deal with things on campus.