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Is this normal for a 20 year old home for the summer?

37 replies

ConstantIllness · 18/05/2025 13:11

Very disinterested in me, dh and ds.
Barely talks to us except in passing.
Spends most of her time in her room or with friends when not at her summer job.
Mostly civil but sometimes hurtfully dismissive e.g sighing or rolling eyes when we try to engage her in conversation.
Asks us nothing about us, occasionally "how was your day" (maybe once a week)
Not interested in watching anything with me/us
Have invited her on walks, to lunch, or asked if she'd like a long weekend away with me (to try and foster some closeness) but most is rejected. This is not done all at once but casually and occasionally.
She is autistic but well aware of the fact that other people have feelings, but seems to only relate this to her friends.
I'm struggling very badly with her attitude. Is it within the realms of normal for this age (though we do feel she's really immature and more like a 17/18 year old)

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 18/05/2025 13:14

I assume that she’s behaving the same way that she does at uni and isn’t going to adjust things because she’s home for the summer. Maybe she’ll be more “adult” after uni and she’s in the rhythm of living at home again?

TotemPolly · 18/05/2025 13:23

I'd be telling her she has come back from uni different ( if she has ) and whilst it's not a bad different , you are struggling to accept it as you were closer and she was more involved in the family before she went . Ask what would make her feel more part of you all .

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 18/05/2025 13:27

Sounds like she's turned into an adult, and has a perception that you still think she fits into the family dynamic as a child.

Treat her as though she is an unrelated adult lodger for a bit and see how it goes.

Bailiwitch · 18/05/2025 13:32

I’d assume exactly the opposite, @Snorlaxo! She’s probably a completely different person at uni and feeling a bit lost without the scaffolding of friends and timetables that she’s accustomed herself to.

Lots of students behave like this, @ConstantIllness - home seems boring and infantilising and they struggle to adjust during vacations. It’s hurtful but I think you just have to glide past it (as long as she’s not actually rude or aggressive). Carry on with whatever you’re doing; invite her but don’t expect her participation - she’s still trying to separate herself from her childhood and cleave to her uni persona.

Eventually she should emerge as a fully rounded human being. Just be patient.

atiaofthejulii · 18/05/2025 13:34

Is this her first summer home from university? It's a big adjustment. Mine were better in subsequent years.

ConstantIllness · 18/05/2025 13:42

No this is her 2nd summer. Her 1st year was extremely hard for her and she struggled massively with the change of being at uni. But didn't really tell us as she's very emotionally closed off too unfortunately. I think @Bailiwitch you're correct that it's common but she is is quite regularly rude tbh. I'll keep trying to glide past as you suggest but I've tried incredibly hard to not treat her as a child or infantilise her, I've been mostly leaving her to her own devices. The fear I have is that this is just her, and she'll continue to be dismissive and disinterested even after she properly leaves home.

Is it even worth asking her to be more mindful of how she treats us or do we just sit it out until her brain finally matures in 5 years or whenever it's supposed to happen!?

OP posts:
VoltaireMittyDream · 18/05/2025 13:45

It’s shit, but it’s normal. Her developmental task at this stage in life (teens through early adulthood) is to pull away from her family of origin, prioritise peer relationships, and build her own life.

She’s missing her friends and the relative independence and autonomy of uni, with nobody monitoring her comings and goings and wanting to do family things.

I wasn’t a mature and considerate adult who cared about spending quality time with my parents until I was in my mid-late 20s and felt confidently set up in my own life. Before that it always felt like there was a danger of being sucked back in to childhood and losing my adult identity and autonomy.

I would never have wanted a weekend away with my mum at 20 - and my mum and I actually got on pretty well.

Noshadelamp · 18/05/2025 13:46

My DD is the same, she wants to be left alone to get on with her life. Occasionally she will come and chat, absolutely normal and fun, then go back to ignoring us.
She says she got used to living away from the family and we can't expect her to be the same.

So I just let her get on with it, don't take it personally and see how hard it must be for her.

I can't imagine having to suddenly live with my mother again and have 20 questions every time I happen to cross paths with her in the house!

FancyNewt · 18/05/2025 13:49

DD can be like this when she returns from uni. I just tell her to stop behaving like a stroppy 15 year old as I've already lived through that phase with her. That normally does the trick. I don't think there is any harm in pointing it out to her.

ConstantIllness · 18/05/2025 13:51

I only asked her if she wanted to go away because she'd mentioned a few friends who'd gone on holiday just their mums! On reflection I'm relieved she hasn't taken it up because we're not close enough at the moment and it'd be hard work.

And I genuinely don't fire 20 questions at her when she passes, I just let her get on with her life.

OP posts:
Noshadelamp · 18/05/2025 13:57

ConstantIllness · 18/05/2025 13:51

I only asked her if she wanted to go away because she'd mentioned a few friends who'd gone on holiday just their mums! On reflection I'm relieved she hasn't taken it up because we're not close enough at the moment and it'd be hard work.

And I genuinely don't fire 20 questions at her when she passes, I just let her get on with her life.

Sorry I wasn't meaning that you were firing 20 questions, it's what my mother would do!

My DD is a few years older and our relationship has ebbed and flowed. Keep being open to her.

Instead of going away, what about a day out in the city or even go and get your nails done and a coffee together? It's not as big commitment for either of you compared to going away.

LemonTraybake · 18/05/2025 14:56

Completely normal behaviour.

VoltaireMittyDream · 18/05/2025 19:18

Noshadelamp · 18/05/2025 13:57

Sorry I wasn't meaning that you were firing 20 questions, it's what my mother would do!

My DD is a few years older and our relationship has ebbed and flowed. Keep being open to her.

Instead of going away, what about a day out in the city or even go and get your nails done and a coffee together? It's not as big commitment for either of you compared to going away.

My mother also fires off 20 questions any time she catches sight of me. Drives me up the fucking wall. 😆

foreverblowingbubbless · 18/05/2025 19:19

Totally normal. It's all about them.

andtheworldrollson · 18/05/2025 19:23

As a mother here I try to choose the top 5 questions out of the many I have

but it’s always hard especially when you re getting hundreds of questions about child from others and you feel sooo embarrassed that you haven’t got a clue

just for context

Seeline · 18/05/2025 19:26

I think it's pretty normal, and to a certain extent, I think you just need to accept it. However, I wouldn't let verbal rudeness go unchallenged.

Gundogday · 18/05/2025 19:31

Has she only just got home? If so, she’s decompressing after uni life and adjusting to the change in environment. Shes been an independent adult for the last few months, making her own decesions, having her own rhythm of life etc, and you’re expecting her to fit back into your family jigsaw straight away. Give her time.

Noshadelamp · 18/05/2025 19:32

but it’s always hard especially when you re getting hundreds of questions about child from others and you feel sooo embarrassed that you haven’t got a clue @andtheworldrollson

Yes completely relate! I'm always saying I have absolutely no idea what DD is doing

But she lives with you

I know, but I don't see her

But she lives with you in your house

I know, still don't see her

Littletreefrog · 18/05/2025 19:35

I'm not autistic and I found the transition between uni and home very difficult so much so I only went home for the first summer and never went home again. She shouldn't be dismissive and eye rolling but I think it's not unheard of for young people not to be easily able to slip back into the family dynamic after living away.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 18/05/2025 19:36

I’m quite shocked that everyone seems to think this is normal behaviour. For a 14 year old maybe. I would maybe have accepted it in respect of OP’s DD maybe due to her autism affecting her communication, but really shocked that others accept their adult offspring being so rude to them. Perhaps it’s the shock of two adult generations not being used to living with each other any longer. I guess I haven’t experienced this as my DC moved out to live with his girlfriend at 19 so we haven’t had that situation but surprised it seems to be considered to be normal behaviour.

CarpetKnees · 18/05/2025 19:40

VoltaireMittyDream · 18/05/2025 13:45

It’s shit, but it’s normal. Her developmental task at this stage in life (teens through early adulthood) is to pull away from her family of origin, prioritise peer relationships, and build her own life.

She’s missing her friends and the relative independence and autonomy of uni, with nobody monitoring her comings and goings and wanting to do family things.

I wasn’t a mature and considerate adult who cared about spending quality time with my parents until I was in my mid-late 20s and felt confidently set up in my own life. Before that it always felt like there was a danger of being sucked back in to childhood and losing my adult identity and autonomy.

I would never have wanted a weekend away with my mum at 20 - and my mum and I actually got on pretty well.

All of this.

Very normal.

Someone2025 · 18/05/2025 19:49

ConstantIllness · 18/05/2025 13:11

Very disinterested in me, dh and ds.
Barely talks to us except in passing.
Spends most of her time in her room or with friends when not at her summer job.
Mostly civil but sometimes hurtfully dismissive e.g sighing or rolling eyes when we try to engage her in conversation.
Asks us nothing about us, occasionally "how was your day" (maybe once a week)
Not interested in watching anything with me/us
Have invited her on walks, to lunch, or asked if she'd like a long weekend away with me (to try and foster some closeness) but most is rejected. This is not done all at once but casually and occasionally.
She is autistic but well aware of the fact that other people have feelings, but seems to only relate this to her friends.
I'm struggling very badly with her attitude. Is it within the realms of normal for this age (though we do feel she's really immature and more like a 17/18 year old)

You should encourage her to go and work abroad for the summer, ye would probably all be happier

SunsetCocktails · 18/05/2025 19:52

See, my Uni child is totally different to this. She loves being back home, slotting back into family life. We do a lot of stuff together and she’d jump at the chance of a weekend away. Yes, she’s independent and lives her own life but also is very much a homebody.
My college age child, on the other hand…. 🙄

WinterFoxes · 18/05/2025 20:00

ConstantIllness · 18/05/2025 13:42

No this is her 2nd summer. Her 1st year was extremely hard for her and she struggled massively with the change of being at uni. But didn't really tell us as she's very emotionally closed off too unfortunately. I think @Bailiwitch you're correct that it's common but she is is quite regularly rude tbh. I'll keep trying to glide past as you suggest but I've tried incredibly hard to not treat her as a child or infantilise her, I've been mostly leaving her to her own devices. The fear I have is that this is just her, and she'll continue to be dismissive and disinterested even after she properly leaves home.

Is it even worth asking her to be more mindful of how she treats us or do we just sit it out until her brain finally matures in 5 years or whenever it's supposed to happen!?

I have an autistic young adult and another who isn't diagnosed but most people assume he is. I just never ever let them be rude and hurtful to me. Ever. Not in childhood, not as teens. They don't get away with treating other people like dirt. As a result, they are extremely kind and loving and considerate for the most part. With some spectacular failings at times, every single one of which results in a very frank discussion with me.

I'd sit her down and say: I love you and it matters to me that you understand how to treat other people with respect and kindness, especially people who love and care for you. This is a life skill everyone must learn. You may not realise this but your behaviour towards your dad and me is rude and hurtful. You show no interest in us, you roll your eyes when we show interest in you. I don't treat you that way and never have. I don't ignore you, mock you or take you for granted because that is not how anyone should behave towards loved ones. While you are home I want to spend a bit of time with you, and not feel like a hotel concierge. I want to see you maturing into the kind of adult who appreciates and notices when loved ones make an effort for them. Some thanks for cooking, shopping, laundry, lifts to places, some interest in our lives - these are not big things to ask. They are so small and easy to perform, but they make a huge difference to us. And let's make a list of a few small things we could do together - a walk, swim or bike ride; a film, cooking dinner together, a night out or a day trip somewhere. I want you to do this with warmth and love and good humour.

Not one big lecture like this, but cover all those things in a conversation and make sure she has taken them on board. If she remains sulky I would stop doing anything for her for a few days - no lifts, no dinner, no clean bedding. If she leaves pans dirty, leave yours dirty so she has to clean them before she cooks. Don't greet her when she gets back from work, don't help her wake or get out of the house on time in the morning, don't ask about her day or call her down to dinner. Not as a war or battle of wills, but for a couple of days to show her what it is like to be on the receiving end of indifference. Tell her afterwards you hated doing it and it felt unnatural but she needs to understand what it feels like to be treated by a loved one the way she has been treating you.

Intelligent autistic people are perfectly capable of showing respect, affection and appreciation. Rudeness is not an in-built given trait of autism. I know loads and loads of really polite, warm, lovely autistic people. And lots of rude entitled neurotypical ones.

BruFord · 18/05/2025 20:08

I’d call her out on actual rudeness, but otherwise let her get on with her summer. My DD (20) came home a few days ago after finals and was ratty as she decompressed, didn’t want to anything with us. She’d caught up on sleep by Friday and was much nicer, even went on a bike ride with her brother yesterday!

Today she’s gone away on a short break with some old school friends, which I think will get her completely acclimatized. These transitions are difficult, give your DD more time.