Your Student Is Back at College—But the Stress You Saw at Thanksgiving Isn't Going Anywhere

Deer in Headlights Monday on Campus! 

Here’s what last week revealed—and how to help your student turn things around before spring semester.

Thanksgiving break is over, and for many parents, it was the wake-up call they didn’t expect.

Your student walked in the door looking exhausted, emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or simply “off.” Some parents saw irritability. Others saw withdrawal. Many saw a child who was functioning, yes—but clearly struggling beneath the surface.

And now… they’re back on campus.

But here’s the truth:

Whatever you saw last week is still there—just no longer visible to you.

The relief of being home is gone.
The assignments, exams, and projects are crashing back in.
And with only 2–3 weeks left in the semester, pressure is peaking.

December is when I see:

• Burnout turn into shutdown

• Anxiety turn into avoidance

• “I’ll catch up later” turn into academic collapse

• Poor habits become permanent patterns

• Parents worry about their students finishing the semester strong - and healthy. 

This is the part of the semester where most students don’t ask for help—because they feel embarrassed, overwhelmed, or convinced it’s “too late.”

But this is also the moment you can intervene before small problems become big consequences.

That’s why I created the 3-Day Parent Challenge (Dec 8–10).

For three nights, I’ll show you:

🔹What your student’s behavior over break actually means

🔹 How to prevent burnout from turning into academic crisis

🔹 The exact conversations to have over winter break (and the ones to avoid)

🔹 How to support them without micromanaging or triggering shutdown

🔹 The root skills struggling students are missing—and how to help them build them

These three days can completely shift the trajectory of spring semester.

If your student came home showing signs of overwhelm, emotional fatigue, or lack of motivation, this challenge will give you the plan, the language, and the strategy to help them bounce back for a confident spring semester. 

👉 Learn more and save your spot for the Parent Challenge (Dec 8–10)
College BounceBack Parent Challenge

Don’t wait until finals blow up.
This is the window where change is still possible.

—Dr. Joel