Managing Expectations

Camie called me the other night. She said, "I just wanted to tell you that I'm getting really excited to be roommates!"

"That's great!" I said, genuinely pleased. "I'm excited too! I guess this means that you've been having fun living with Anna?" Cam had to move out of her apartment a few weeks early, and has been staying with her former roommate Anna before we move to our new place at the beginning of September.

"Yeah! We've been to the pool every day, and we make our favorite drink -- which is DELICIOUS! -- and its just so NICE to come home and have someone there," she gushed.

"Wow, that does sound like fun! Anna really is the best. Didn't she also make you fruit and yogurt parfaits for breakfast too?" I asked.

"Yeah, she said that those were her breakfast of choice. Who was I to disagree with that?"

"Who indeed!"

After I hung up the phone I realized that despite Anna's saintliness, a bad precedent is being set here.

I believe I'm going to have to take Anna aside and ask her to introduce some behaviors that will help transition Camie to what life will REALLY be like living with a roommate. The first step will be to immediately stop making tasty snacks and being all companionable. The second step will be to use all of the hot water and take an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom. The third, and I think most important step to attune Camie to what it will be like living with me, Anna will need to start talking (or singing, or tra-la-laa-ing) to herself as she grand jettes around her apartment.

Although it will go against Anna's very grain to adopt these measures, I think it's best to manage these expectations now. I don't want to find Camie sobbing by the front door and calling Anna's name after the movers leave us with all of our boxes.