The holiday season is upon us, and can be a relief for many as free time is finally an option. However, some may struggle with who to spend the holidays with. For some, going home is hard, but there is no pressure to spend the holidays with your family; instead, the holiday season should be about spending time with those closest to you, whether that’s your bloodline or chosen friends and family.
Family dynamics are complicated. It can be challenging to decide who to spend the holidays with. I have found that celebrating with friends is very rewarding and there are many fun ways to celebrate together, from friendgivings, to gift exchanges and other mini do it yourself parties. Friends can bring a welcoming and comfortable environment, unlike what a third cousin’s house party may bring.
For some, family may mean a tumultuous relationship, and spending time with family with whom students don’t have a great relationship can correlate to a decline in mental health. Students may not want to return home after a stressful time of exams and discovery at their chosen university. Sometimes friends can be more comforting than family during a break.
Jill Miller, a freshman studying energy engineering, says she plans to spend a lot of the holiday breaks with friends back home, even though she also has family plans.
“I was talking with my sister and my other friend from home, we were thinking of going out and gigging for Christmas time," Miller said.
Having free time with loved ones over the holidays also means being able to do activities and hobbies that may have been put aside when leaving for university.
Excitement about being home for the holidays can come from a place of overwhelming change. Like Miller, many students will be eager to see those they have connected with over many years but had to depart from for university. After being gone from home for a semester, adjusting to being back may be hard for some, regardless of family relationships.
“I miss my family so much, and they come up for the games and stuff, because I’m in the (Marching) 110,” Miller said. “But it's different being in my home with them.” She said she is very excited to go home.
Some people are spending time with their romantic partner and their partner’s family. If overwhelmed with your blood-related family, spending the holidays with your partner’s family can give you a peek into spending holiday after holiday with them. The cheeriness, to combat the stress of the season, is a great test for a relationship, too.
Miller said she is eager to spend time with her long-distance girlfriend. “I’m in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend, and so it's definitely tough … it’s nice going to be able to go see her.”
Students are already planning to see family, friends, partners and the hobbies they left behind. However, there can be tension outside of those things that might be in hometowns.
If it’s not family that is causing the hesitation of going home, it can be old friends or those you have a history with. It can be awkward to run into them, and going back home means seeing people in public spaces that you might not want to see. It may be hard to avoid them, but depending on your hometown, it could be easy to navigate safe zones.
Old wounds can be reopened over the holiday season, so it is vital to spend time in spaces and with people whom you love, allowing you to avoid a tense break.
If you have no plans with your family or are trying to avoid them, that is okay. For college students who are heading home, remember you are an adult and growing, and your family should support that. If family plans are set in stone, you still have other days during breaks to see friends. Oh well, taking care of yourself is most important during the holidays.
Cassidy McClurg is a freshman student studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassidy about their column? Email cm303824@ohio.edu
