In 1602, Francis Davison found an unknown poem by an unknown author; in this poem there was a phrase he took out and shared with the world: “Distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

It is a phrase that many who leave home for the first time understand and relate to. With family weekend come and gone, many students will be thinking about their parents and home, and missing them, especially after such a brief meeting. The saying stems from basic human nature; the lack of something increases the desire for it, much like how we particularly enjoy a special dish because we don’t have it very often. This applies to the feeling of missing loved ones. We don’t get to see them as often as we used to, and so the next meeting becomes even sweeter. We realize how much we depended on the person, or enjoyed their company. For example, when my father visited on Family Weekend, I realized how much I missed his jokes and comfort. 

Some people view distance from an “out of sight, out of mind" standpoint, but even that could make family relationships better. When you are away from someone you don’t have the issue of getting sick of seeing each other. You get your space, and then you always meet up for special and happy occasions. Even if the person is out of your mind when you’re not around them, you enjoy them more when they are in sight. For example, on Thanksgiving, you don’t see your family when you’re stressed and tired and in a cranky mood, but then when you go home for the holiday, you are temporarily relieved of the stressed and downers of school so you’re happy and in a good mood. This leads to you having a good time when you’re with your family because you’re celebrating something together; you’re all in good spirit, which makes you enjoy their company even more. Then, you go home and you have the memory of the happy celebration and companionship and you miss the feeling when you’re stressed about work all over again, thus your heart has grown fonder from the distance.

As time goes by, it gets easier and easier as you get more used to the idea of being away. We start to appreciate what we have in our families more than we used to. College is good for more than making friends, growing up and learning. It is also creates tighter bonds back home. So, this is a good step for some families. Like the bird leaving the nest, being away from your family could make you closer to them.