College kid coming home? Excitedly anticipating a reunion with his or her high school beau? Despite the large number of high school sweethearts who try to sustain a long-distance relationship at college, the sad, unromantic truth is that most of those couples will break up. In fact, so many do so over Thanksgiving weekend, college administrators have given the phenomenon a name: The Turkey Drop. College is, after all, a time for change, for meeting new people and developing new interests. Your child or his sweetheart may feel tied down - unable to fully engage in college life, because they feel guilty having fun with other people. They may have fallen in love with someone else. Or this split may have been brewing for a long time, but neither party wanted to sever the relationship via instant message. Then comes Thanksgiving and suddenly, they're face to face once more. And the sparks that fly? Well, they're not the good kind.
If your newly returned college freshman finds himself mid-breakup, he's going to need a little extra TLC from his family. He may be distraught or irritable. Keep a loving eye on him (or her). Make yourself available, but don't push. Tell him you understand, this is tough - not "I told you long-distance would never work!" And realize that if that high school beau was a family favorite, your whole family may feel like you've suffered a loss.
Need more Thanksgiving break advice? Check out our list of "5 Things To Do Before Thanksgiving" and "Thanksgiving Break Survival" tips too.
Most college towns are a ghost town come Thanksgiving weekend because most students go back home to see family and friends. But what about the students that cannot afford to fly or drive back home for every Holiday. Should the school provide Thanksgiving for them?