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This page was last updated on

December 10, 2004

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Tip of the Week

The holidays are coming! For many students, this is a time of hopeful anticipation of spending time with family and old friends while taking a break from college pressures. Other students, however, look upon the extended time at home with dread. When you return home, it can be a challenge to integrate the changes you have made at college with your former life at home. Your family is also likely to have changed while you were away, which requires further adjustments by you and your family members. Here are some tips for making the transition from college to home again easier:

• Expect change. Be prepared for the fact that things at home might not be what you are used to. Understand that this may create both opportunities and conflict; this is normal.
• Communicate. Although most parents really do want their college aged children to be independent, they may have difficulties adjusting to this process. You can reduce their fears by making an effort to talk with them about what is going on with you at college, including both what excites you and what scares you. If you offer information freely, your parents are less likely to feel that you are withholding things from them and more likely to trust your growing independence.
• Commit some time to family. Of course, when you return home, you want to spend time with friends who you have probably not seen in awhile; unfortunately, this may conflict with your family's expectations for time they want to spend with you. One way to minimize this conflict is to discuss your plans with your family before you return home. Let them know how you want to spend your break, including times/events that you do plan to share with them.
• Respect the house rules. Remember, although you still live there part of the time, ultimately, it is your parents' home. You may need to re-negotiate old high school rules regarding issues such as curfew, using the family car, doing household chores, etc. Work out compromises which best suit you and your parents.

If going home for the holidays is causing you stress beyond the everyday norm, consider discussing your concerns with a counselor; call Counseling Services at 245-5716 to schedule an appointment. Best wishes for an enjoyable holiday season and a peaceful, restful time while you are at home.

YAWA! Question of the Week

Question: How do you use a female condom?

Great question! Here are some instructions borrowed from the web site avert.org: choose a position that is comfortable for insertion (squat, raise one leg, sit, or lie down). Make sure the condom is lubricated enough. Make sure the inner ring is at the bottom closed end of the sheath, and hold the sheath with the open end hanging down. Squeeze the inner ring with thumb and middle finger (so it becomes long and narrow), and then insert the inner ring and sheath into the vaginal opening. Gently insert the inner ring into the vagina and feel it go up. Place the index finger inside of the condom and push the inner ring as far as it will go. Make sure the condom is inserted straight, and is not twisted inside the vagina. The outer ring should remain on the outside of the vagina. The penis should be guided into the condom in order to ensure that the penis does not slip into the vagina outside the condom. Use enough lubricant so that the condom stays in place during sex. For information on how to use a male condom, visit the Sexual health Clinic's Contraceptive Options page.

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