The Challenges of Living in a College Town

home insemination Kit

Moving day had arrived in the bustling college town where I reside. Parents from all over the country flocked in to collect their kids for summer break. Cube vans filled the streets, and local restaurants buzzed with families treating their students to a nice meal.

I decided to pop into a downtown bakery for some cookies—not for myself, of course. In my attempt to clarify this to the cashier, I said, “I’m such a great mom for getting my kids cookies.”

She looked at me with a smile. “That’s lovely! Are you moving your child off campus?”

I was taken aback. Did she really think I was old enough to have college-aged kids? My face must have shown my surprise. I rushed to my car to check my reflection in the rearview mirror. With the limited view, I scrutinized myself—decent outfit, okay hair, moisturizer applied. I didn’t look that old, did I? Oh wait. Was that a new wrinkle?

Not too long ago, I worked at the university. Walking through campus, I felt just as youthful as the students around me. After all, it hadn’t been long since I was one of them, blending in with the other co-eds. I would tell my husband, “I’m totally hip and cool. I can easily pass for a student!” (I know what you’re thinking—proclaiming your hipness is a sure sign you’re not.)

My husband wasn’t gentle with his response. “You’re living in a fantasy,” he said.

Living in a college town is packed with contradictions. On one hand, being around young adults lets you sip from their fountain of youth. College students are the trendsetters, so it’s easy to stay in the loop with the latest music, fashion, and apps. You feel ahead of the curve. But come autumn, each new class seems to get younger and younger. Honestly, half of them look like they still have braces!

While students appear to be eternally youthful, I somehow remain unchanged. Logically, I know that can’t be true—I have a degree, after all. But being surrounded by youth creates an illusion that you’re not far removed from that life. You know what’s cool, look the part, and feel like you’re still in your prime. Until, of course, a cashier drops the “Are you their mom?” bomb.

This fall, the first of our friends’ kids heads off to college. How did they grow up so fast? I suppose they had kids before most of us were in serious relationships, but it still feels unbelievable. Didn’t we just graduate?

My kids are still little, yet we’re at that stage where they’re closer to college than we are to our own graduation. We’re old enough to have friends who are professors now. The pals who used to skip class with us are now the ones crafting lectures and assigning readings.

This realization brings a hefty dose of cognitive dissonance (a term I picked up in school). Managing the gap between how old I am and how I feel isn’t something they teach. Ironically, the best teacher is time—and the occasional harsh glare of fluorescent lights.

I’ve often toyed with the idea of pursuing another degree. It might seem like the ultimate in helicopter parenting cloaked as self-improvement, but I think about heading back to college when my kids do. Imagine us taking the same classes, strolling across campus together, and sharing lunch. They’d absolutely love that. I mean, I’m still hip and cool, right? At least I bring the cookies!

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In summary, living in a college town is a blend of nostalgia and reality check. You can feel youthful and connected, yet the constant influx of fresh-faced students reminds you of how time marches on. Embracing these paradoxes can be both amusing and a little sobering.