It's okay to miss your mommy

I may be 21, but I can still miss my mommy. And I'm sure that there are many other college students here who have also felt the pinch of homesickness during these first few weeks of school.\nJoe Freshman is sitting in class attempting to figure out what human beings did wrong to deserve Finite Math, when suddenly he'll realize that he now has to do his own laundry and that he doesn't know the difference between detergent and anthrax. \nMeanwhile, Jane Freshman is talking to her boyfriend back home over instant messenger when suddenly she'll realize that she could be dating that hilarious columnist from the IDS instead. Unfortunately, Rory Starks will then wake up. (You all thought I was going to refer to myself, didn't you? Got you on that one. Apologies to Rory Starks.)\nBoth students will then develop an insatiable desire to pick up the phone and call Pizza Express. Oh, and they'll also miss home and want to see their family. \nThe only problem is that they have no way home. If they're lucky, however, Joe and Jane Freshman will run into each other and discover that they are the long lost separated twins of Ulysses Freshman, the inventor of the cream pie, and he will come up for a campus visit.\nThat's sort of like what happened to me this weekend, except for the cream pie part. It is always an experience when my mother decides to grace IU with her presence.\nExample 1: We're walking through the woods near Franklin Hall when we come across the disrobed statues of Adam and Eve.\nMom: "How disgraceful! Those people don't have any clothes on!" (Everything my mother says is pre-packaged with an exclamation point.)\nMe: "They're Adam and Eve."\nMom: (takes a closer look) "Oh my goodness! Adam has a little dinky!" (She also has an incredible gift for pointing out the obvious, especially when it involves statuary genitalia.)\nExample 2: We're in a cramped elevator on the way to my floor. Beside me is my best friend who also happens to have the distinct privilege of being my ex-girlfriend. Beside my mother is IU basketball fan favorite, A.J. Moye, without his shirt on. This has bad sitcom written all over it. "My Mom, My Ex, and Moye." Coming this fall to UPN.\nThere has to be a more sane way to overcome homesickness.\nHelping me in this endeavor is a wonderful list from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Counseling Services titled, "Ten Ways to Combat Homesick-ness on a College Campus." Some of the suggestions include examining your expectations, seeking new opportunities, familiarizing yourself with your new surrounding and talking about it with friends. All of which makes one wonder: Does the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire realize that nobody on earth knows how to pronounce Eau?\nSeriously, though, homesickness is a major problem for many students away from home for the first time and the first step toward conquering it is admitting that you have it.\nThere is no reason to be ashamed that you miss having your mom kiss your forehead goodnight. There is a reason to be ashamed if you insist that she also kiss your stuffed bear on the forehead goodnight, but we won't go there. \nThe most important thing to remember is that your family wants you to be happy and will always be with you in your heart. The second most important thing to remember is that Adam has a little dinky. Keep those two facts in your mind and you should be fine.