Christmas Dinner: Family with a Side of Friends

On top of the immediate respite from final exams, most college students relish the holiday break as a period to catch up with hometown friends, find out who's still dating and visit all their old haunts--plans that don't include an after-Christmas brunch at Grandma's house. Fitting family into the holiday schedule can be a challenge for students and a frustration for parents who are feeling slighted, says John DiMino, director of Temple's Tuttleman Counseling Services. "These issues should be negotiated before the student comes home," he says. "Students feel a normal need to reconnect with friends when they're home, and parents may be upset and perceive that their child doesn't find family time important. But both sides need to be willing to compromise." For more holiday experts, visit: http://www.temple.edu/news_media/nmr417.html