by Ava Stringer ’28 on October 1, 2026
Opinion
I love my parents. I really do. They pay my tuition, listen to me complain about my classes, and somehow still want to visit me after hearing about all of it. But, Parents’ Weekend might be one of the strangest weekends at Providence College.
It falls during the first weekend of October, just as the semester is starting to pick up speed. Papers, exams, and midterms are suddenly appearing on syllabi like jump scares. The last thing most college students want to worry about is coordinating their schedules with their parents, figuring out where everyone is eating, and trying to avoid being seen at Raymond Dining Hall with their family.
And then there’s the timing. Parents’ Weekend is immediately followed by the Columbus Day long weekend, which is a perfect opportunity to go home. Instead of asking parents to travel to Providence for two days, why not let students travel home for a long weekend instead?
I love Providence. I also love my parents. But I would almost always choose sleeping in my own bed with my cat at my feet over stopping by my parents’ hotel and asking them to take me grocery shopping. At home, siblings are there too, and parents don’t have to choose which child gets the two-day visitation slot. Most importantly, I get to see my pets. They have been waiting patiently for my return and, frankly, have more compelling weekend plans than Kelly Clarkson.
I also wonder how much Parents’ Weekend really feels like a family weekend. Providence has plenty of events planned, from alumni programming to concerts and activities around campus—I understand the appeal. Some students genuinely want their families to see their college experience, and I would like my parents to see mine, too. But for students whose families live several hours away, asking everyone to travel to Providence for one weekend, while classes and assignments continue as usual, is not necessarily realistic.
If Parents’ Weekend happened earlier in the semester, before the workload starts piling up, maybe it would feel different. A sunny September weekend when everyone is still excited about the new school year sounds much more appealing than an October weekend when half the campus is wondering when they are supposed to study.
And personally, I would rather watch a movie with my parents on the couch while my dog destroys a squeaky toy than stand in a sweaty crowd at a concert. Everyone is different. Some people love Parents’ Weekend. I just think the idea works better on paper than it does in reality. So, this year, I will probably be in Providence, studying in a classroom and powering through my midterms. I will see my parents when I can actually enjoy seeing them. And, more importantly, I will see my pets.