"It now takes four of us to make ends meet"

In this tough economy, more adult children are moving home than ever before. And sometimes, it’s not just the adult kids who need financial support. Nowadays, parents may be having a hard time dealing with their own living expenses, and may need the extra financial support that comes from adult kids living at home, even if the adult children can’t contribute much.

Here are some stories of families in just this situation, including one family with two adult children, their spouses and five small children (with a sixth child on the way), plus a teenage stepdaughter and the homeless friend of a college-age son, all living in a three-bedroom home. Their food bill is almost $1,000 a month — but for 14 people, that sounds like a steal.

You can read the whole story here.

Three generations — and 14 people — under one roof

Today’s Dayton Daily News has the story of one family that has three generations — and 14 people — living under one roof. They’ve managed to convert lots of unused spaced into bedrooms, but there’s still only one full bathroom, which makes for tight scheduling! With several of their kids, plus their kids’ kids, all living in what was originally a three bedroom home, they’re sure to face some interesting challenges.

You can read the full article here.

Different perspectives on adult children living at home

A recent article from the New York Times provides some different perspective from adult children who are living at home. Some feel the bedroom they have at their parents’ house is their last bit of private space and figure they should be able to treat it how they want (as long as they don’t damage the house). Others strongly feel that they are guests in their parents homes and strive to minimize the impact of the presence, even in their own bedroom. Which perspective is playing out in your house?

You can read the whole article here.

If you’re struggling to find a balance between your adult child’s need for space and privacy and your own needs for your home, check out the tips offered in our book.

Family dynamic changes as each child returns home

Here’s a recent article from Ohio that profiles families with adult children moving home. One mother, who is now sharing her home with her 20-year-old and 27-year-old daughters, as well as her 29-year-old son-in-law, says that things change as each new person moves into the home, just as they changed when the girls first arrived home as infants:

“I remember bringing home each new baby. As with any family dynamic, everything changes and we had to shuffle and make things work.”

You can read the whole article here.

Moving home is different at 45 than 25

This recent article from the Ventura County Star tells the stories of some families with adult children who have moved home, or are considering doing so, because of layoffs and other economic troubles. According to the article:

For young adults in their 20s or 30s, moving back in with parents can create a power struggle around the young adult’s emerging identity, according to Dr. Debra Sheets, a CSU, Northridge health sciences professor who counts intergenerational issues among her specialties.

Younger adults are still marking their territory, but when you’re older, you’re supposed to be established. Moving back in with the parents holds a more negative social stigma.

More stories of adult children living at home

We keep hearing more and more stories of adult children living at home as the economy worsens and more people lose jobs and can’t afford their housing costs.

This recent article from the LA Times shares a few of those stories.

This growing trend can be really tough on families, as the article reveals. For help with the challenges of dealing with extra people living in your home, visit www.adultchildrenlivingathome.com.

Admitting to living at home on a first date may reveal your date does too!

This recent article from the Philadelphia Inquirer profiles a couple of twenty-somethings who were both afraid to reveal that they lived with their parents on their first date. It turned out, of course, that like many of their peers they were both living at home.

It makes for interesting dating scenarios, like this one:

There is also the privacy issue. When [Mike] and [Kelly] cozy up to watch a movie on the weekends, a parent might walk through the TV room. They tell their parents of their whereabouts when going out, something they’d never have to do living on their own. And that spare bedroom in [Mike's] family’s trilevel in Cherry Hill? That’s where [Kelly] sleeps. “At least, to the best of my knowledge that’s where she sleeps when she comes here,” says Barbara Englisch, Mike’s mother.

Sleepovers are one contentious issue (of many) when adult children live at home. It’s important for all of these issues to be sorted out ahead of time to keep all family members happy with the living arrangement. We explain how to decide what works best for your family at www.adultchildrenlivingathome.com.

"Zero rent gets you the creepy room": A charming perspective from one adult child living at home

Today we share with you the story of Sam, a 22-year-old New Zealander who’s back living at home after 3 years away. While he was gone, his mother took over the newly vacated “spare room” for her craft passion. His parents’ house has a guest room, too, but that’s not where he lives. No, he gets the “creepy room.” Here’s how he describes it:

Although there is a guestroom, I have been assigned to a room labeled by my father as “the adult child returning home” room, although this is a purpose it has evolved into over the years. It was originally built in a section of the attic as a room for my then ten-year-old brother. There is no door, just a set of stairs that leads directly into a single room with bright colours and walls that connect the ceiling and floor at a forty-five degree angle, as opposed to the standard ninety. It’s the ultimate tree fort, and a child’s dream room.

It’s an adult’s nightmare.

But Sam bears his parents no ill will for the attic room. He shares his perspective on his blog, in an entry that is worth checking out if you have adult children living at home.