The Parents Guide to Helping Your Child Move Home

When your kids flew the nest to start the next chapter of their life, it may have taken a little bit of time to adapt, but now you have got used to having the space back, TV remote to yourself and money in your wallet! Then they drop the bombshell; they are moving back in.

This isn’t uncommon with the ever-increasing costs of living, in fact two million men and a million women aged 20 to 35 live with their parents. This has grown by more than 20% since 1997 according to the Office for National Statistics and is only expected to rise further by 2020.

Perhaps your child has finished university or come back from travelling and simply can’t afford to live on their own. Or maybe they were renting and found that they are unable to save for a house whilst paying all the bills.

But, as a result, now you don’t have a stroppy teenager living under your roof, you have an adult who still wants the independence that they had when they were living under their own roof. 

So, with that in mind, here is how you can help your child (and just as importantly, yourself) as they make the big move back home. 

Set ground rules
Your child may be an adult now, but this is your home. Whilst they won’t want to lose their independence, you have adjusted to a home without them – and they need to respect this.

Before they move back in set some ground rules – talk about it like the adults that you both now are and ensure you are going into a living situation that you are both happy and comfortable with. This may include agreeing rent, drawing up a rota for chores and encouraging them to keep their independence by doing their own laundry and occasionally cooking meals.

But remember they are no longer a child 
If you treat your child well, like a child, then you are going to do the opposite to helping them with their move back home – you are going to cause hostility and arguments.

Remember they probably don’t want to be there as much as you don’t really want them there. They are adults now – you have done your job raising them into one and now you need your time back and they need their independence. So whilst (as above) there do need to be ground rules, don’t forget that they are an adult and not a child.

Organise their belongings 
Depending how long they have lived away from home for, you have more than likely re-decorated their room, perhaps even transforming it into an office or hobby room for yourself.

On top of this, your child is likely to have accumulated many belongings over the years, which is likely to include sofas, tables, a bed and so on. Where is this all going to go? That is why storage units are so handy! Whilst you are sat down working out ground rules, look at what they have and what they really want to keep. Some items they will be able to sell, whilst the rest can be put into storage until they move out again!

Ultimately, they may not be a child anymore, but they are still your child, so if you are happy for them to move back in, then make it as easy for them as possible, which will in turn make it easier for yourself.