Moving back home with your parents after college

After writing my post Coming to terms with what my blog says about me, I thought it would be beneficial to share some of the struggles I’ve encountered since graduation. If you’re considering moving back home with your parents after college, read on.

Coming to terms with moving back home with your parents after college

Again, the main challenge I’ve faced is the difference in my perceptions of success after college and the reality of my situation. It’s that in my head, success is getting a job immediately after college and moving to another new place, making a career. The problem is, recently I’ve been learning about myself that I don’t really want to move away, and that I want to be my own boss, create my own success. So what’s the problem with this? Well, I’m not making any money!

Saving money by staying home

If I wasn’t living at home, I couldn’t even feed myself. I certainly couldn’t afford any of the equipment needed to begin my career. So then, living at home is a good thing! Well, why doesn’t it feel that way? It’s that I haven’t aligned my idea of graduating college with the idea of moving back home. In fact, it feels an awful lot like I’ve regressed in life, wasting the past 4 years on a degree that has gotten me nowhere.

College was worth it

Do I know that going to college was a beneficial experience? Yes. The life lessons, the professional experience, the classes and self-confidence I earned. The friends I made and organizations I led. These all make me who I am today. Yet, somehow they feel as if they are not used.

Living in my old room, with my old memories

Here I am, back in my light purple bedroom with all white furniture. Do I still love my room? Yes, I grew up in it! But it holds so many memories from when I was young. When I picture home now, it is full of IKEA, second-hand furniture, bold colors, and more kitchen supplies than I can store. Yet all that is sitting in a storage unit, wasting away…

Loving being home

Moving home doesn’t have to be a bad thing. My father and I have always been very close, and now we get to see each other daily. We make meals together and stress each other out. I’m building a business for myself and saving money by living in a room that was already going unused. (Seriously, the dust in here has me buying special chapstick off of Amazon. For my nose. Because it’s that runny. #allergies) In fact, besides feeling disappointed in myself, I really like being here!

Take it in stride

When moving back home with your parents after college seems daunting, just remember that it doesn’t have to be a disappointment, a punishment, or a life sentence. This is an opportunity for you to pursue your interests, spend some quality time working for a job you actually want, and tell your parents how much you love them! They’ll make you food and they may even do a load of laundry or two for you, if you ask real sweetly. ;)