Hey Sam,
I have a brother who is much older then me and at univeristy he has invited me to go an stay with him for a night wen I have half term from school. I really want to see him but am scared about getting home sick as it will be my first ever sleep over!! What can I do to not get home sick and miss mummy?
From
little sister.
Hi,
The first time you stay away from home can be really exciting but it can also be scary too. Its normal to feel a bit nervous, but it can help if you talk to people you trust about it and think of things that are going to make it a good time for you. Its important to know that you dont have to do it if you dont want to. You can always do it when you feel more ready for it its up to you.
Some people do feel homesick when they are away (especially for the first time), and thats normal. Some people take something which can make them feel better if they feel sad, like a photo or a teddy that reminds them of home. Have a think about what you could take.
You might want to ask your mum to write you a letter with advice or nice things to help you. It could help to ask your mum to talk to your brother so he knows how youre feeling. If you go with a school they sometimes suggest that you dont ring home in case it makes you feel worse.
Going to stay with family or friends in university can be a lot of fun and it could be that you go and you love being away. It can feel like an adventure. If you dont want to stay the night now, though, its okay to say that and maybe you could go and see your brother for the day with your mum.
If you would like to talk about this more, you can talk to a ChildLine counsellor anytime. Hope this helps for now.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
