Rules for college students over the summer

[Tiggeroo]

What do you parents of college students do as far as rules for your college kids over the summer. My dd is a freshman and a good kid. It has been a long time since we've had a curfew, I just expect her to be courteous.
The two biggest problems I have, however, are getting her to help around the house, and time spent with the bf. She works but on work days she does nothing. Wants to sleep in, then hang on computer until she has to be at work at 6pm. So I'm running around the house cleaning up and she is lounging. If I gripe enough she gets up to help but does a poor job on whatever I tell her to do. She never does it on her own.
Then the boyfriend thing. He is also a good kid. Sometimes they get together in the daytime before she goes into work. Other times they get together on her day off. He works for his dad and has flexible hours. I have no problem with them dating, planning to go to the movies or something or getting together with friends. I have some concern about them spending every spare minute off together at his house, just hanging out. His parents are home so there is some supervision, but all they do is the same, sitting on pc or playing video games.
Before anyone tells me she is an adult, I give her almost unlimited freedom. But I pay the bills, take care of her car, etc. If I disagree with something she is doing I reserve the right to be parental until she is capable of supporting herself. Not something I like doing, but I will. Any thoughts?

 

[glo]

I agree with you 100% and not only for college students home for the summer. That should be the case for anyone who lives at home. If the parent is supporting them, then they should follow the parents rules. Once they are on their own and supporting themselves, then they can lead the life they want. If you can't be responsible for yourself, then you have to do what is expected.

 

[becka]

I don't have any advice but I ran across an article on MSNBC.com just yesterday called When College Kids Come Home that addresses this very topic.

When College Kids Come Home

 

[Wagamama]

I'm 23 and live with my parents because i'm unemployed. I help out around the house, cook meals, clean the bathroom, vaccume and do other things like that. But when it comes to how much time I want to spend with my friends or my bf (granted, i dont have one at the moment), my parents get no say on the issue. They also get no say on when i come in or when i leave or where it is i'm leaving to.
Just my opinion!

 

[Tiggeroo]

DD is 18 and really doesn't have any rules. She really hasn't since she was half way thru her senior year of high school. But it's easy to do that with her since she has such good judgement on her own. I worry about her spending unlimited time with a boyfriend, when both of them have years of schooling ahead of them. I always try to remember that if she wasn't living at home she could be on her own making her own decisions with no imput from me.

 

[perdidobay]

DD is working 40 hours a week, and so does her BF. So when she's off, she is most likely with him. we don't expect her to do more than keep her room and bathroom clean, she also does her own laundry and when it needed, helps out with the yard work.
She also has no curfew.

 

[minniecarousel]

Our older son is a 23-year-old college graduate, living at home & looking for work. Our deal is that he keep his room neat, do his laundry, help with projects when we ask & take care of his car. He has no curfew. but we ask to let us know if he'll be later than one AM, even if it means a phone call at midnight. That's just common courtesy when you live in the same house.

 

[Dodie]

Yes, she should help out around the house if she's going to be home, but also try to look at it from the other side of the coin. She's been essentially on her own for several months. Doing what she wants when she wants. I think it will be tough to try to police who she spends time with and how much time she spends with them when she's not working.

I do, however, think that it is your house and you should be able to set rules like curfews, etc.

Helping around the house should be an expectation though.

 

[Keli]

I've been wondering what rules I should have for Ashli this summer too. I'm finding this stage in her life to be much more difficult than I had anticipated. I'm thinking I'll just basically follow the same pattern I did her senior year in high school, except that her curfews will be later and she'll have less responsiblities around the house. I'm also going to have her keep her laundry seperate and start washing her own clothes. I doubt Ashli will care about that, she doesn't seem to mind doing her own laundry on occasion right now.