Back Home Again

Hello blogging world. It has been two weeks and one day since I graduated college, and I’m sorry for being M.I.A. Life became extremely hectic from the moment I stepped my foot into our over packed (squished like sardines over packed) Sequoia in Columbus until about 8 hours ago when I went to bed. Since I’ve been home, I’ve gotten my hair done (it looks fabulous as it should for what I pay for it!), frequented the Jersey Shore bars (some I’ve loved, some I’ve hated), laid on the beach, been to New York City, celebrated my friends turning 21, started my beach job, been to the hospital for a severe allergic reaction (on my first day of work no less), hated my beach job (and thought of ways to quit), and had my first morning off – enjoying the latter as I type with tea and air conditioning.

So as you can see, I’ve been a little crazy. Living back at home has been a mixed bag of ups and downs. I love my town, summer is wonderful, and I love my family and seeing them more everyday. However, there are still lots of changes that I have to get used to. When I lived at school, I only had to worry about myself (and my roommates of course!) I bought food at the grocery store just for me, I went to bed when I wanted, I came home from a party when I wanted, and I got myself to class or other engagements when I needed. Last week I was attending my friend’s 21st birthday party and received a text from my dad at 11:30 pm that stated, “Get home soon. You have work in the morning.” I replied with, “I beg your pardon?!” I am well aware that the couch I am typing this post on is my parent’s couch located in my parent’s house. I have to follow their rules, and I accept those conditions. But I did just graduate college…right? 11:30 on a Friday night is too late? Things were a little different in Columbus. Living at home again – especially living at home into the fall season – is going to take some compromises. My brother and I got in a fight the other night because he was watching TV in the room that is right outside my bedroom till 3 am. I had work in the morning and was not in the mood to hear “Avatar.” Adjustments are happening for all of us. Mom’s eating my newly bought turkey, my brother is leaving lights and TV’s on at un-godly hours, and dad is worried about me riding my bike three blocks away from my house at midnight. And you wonder why I haven’t been blogging?

For as common as it is for adults to move back home after college to save money, I don’t read or hear about these problems often. Perhaps I’m searching in the wrong place or these issues are so common, no one thinks them interesting enough to write about, but I would love to hear how others are dealing with living at home after being independent for so long. At the end of the day I’m very lucky. I don’t pay rent or grocery bills unless I go food shopping on my own, and I get to use the car when my parents are not using it. I do help out often with my brother, gas payments, cleaning, and I’m working my butt off right now all day at the beach and all night babysitting. My family and I are trying to make this an equal partnership as much as we can. How do all of you handle living at home? Is it easy; does it take work; do you miss being more independent? The one thing I miss the most is the quiet. My apartment in Ohio was a very chill place to live, and this morning was the first morning I had to myself in fifteen days. I’m enjoying every moment of it.

See you tomorrow friends