Parent POV: Families Weekend

Families Weekend on Oct. 2-4 is right around the corner (have you registered yet?). It’s a chance for families to step into their student’s world for a few days, explore the places they’ve come to know as home and make memories together along the way.

There are plenty of ways to experience Rice through your Owl's eyes, from sharing a meal in the servery to attending FITQ (Fun in the Quad) to meeting President DesRoches.

We talked to RJ Muthukumar (Parent 2029), who is also a member of the Rice Parents Council, about her first Families Weekend and what made the experience so special for her family.

A Q&A with RJ Muthukumar (Parent '29)

What did attending Families Weekend mean to you and your family?

Last year was our very first Rice Families Weekend, and we truly loved each and every event we attended! It was such a wonderful way to experience Rice and get to know our Owl’s new home a little better.

What advice would you give parents attending Families Weekend?

Every Owl has a different schedule, so don’t make spending the entire weekend with yours the priority. Make time for meals, the tailgate or other moments with your Owl, but also enjoy the weekend independently. Those moments together are precious, but Families Weekend is also about you as a parent — exploring this beautiful campus, learning more about your Owl’s life at Rice, meeting other parents and simply enjoying being there.

And definitely eat in one of the serveries with your Owl! It may seem like such a small thing, but as a parent, you love getting that little glimpse into your child’s everyday life. There’s something so special about seeing your child happy in the place they now call home.

What were some of your favorite things you did during Families Weekend?

We loved visiting our son’s residential college, attending events at the Shepherd School of Music and simply walking around campus. He was especially excited to have us experience the Shepherd School, which is such a huge part of his life at Rice. We watched a lunchtime opera recital with him, and even though he had very little time to spend with us because of his schedule, those little moments together made the weekend so special.

There is something so peaceful and happy about the Rice campus. We were amazed by how beautifully the facilities are maintained, and walking around helped us understand a little more about why our son loves being at Rice. As parents, seeing the places that are part of his everyday life gave us a glimpse into his world and made us feel much more connected to his experience at Rice.

What was a Families Weekend event that stood out to you?

The tailgate was one of our favorites! There was so much energy and such a fun hustle and bustle, but what really stood out was the wonderful sense of community. Another very special memory was seeing President Reginald DesRoches and his wife making their way around the tailgate. They stopped at the tables, spoke with families and really took the time to interact with everyone. I loved that. It made an already festive event feel even more welcoming and personal.

We also loved the Night Owls parent social, where we met and connected with other Owl parents. When you have been interacting with so many Rice parents virtually through Facebook, there is something really heartwarming about finally putting names to faces, giving each other a hug and talking in person. The Night Owls social wasn’t just an event for us — it was a chance to turn online connections into real friendships. You realize that while our Owls are finding their community at Rice, we parents are finding ours, too.

What would you say to parents who are considering attending Families Weekend?

My advice? GO! Attend as many events as you can, explore, meet other families, make the weekend your own, take lots of pictures and soak it all in. Families Weekend made us love and appreciate the Rice community even more!