EMPTY ROOST AWAKENS: ADULT CHILDREN MOVE BACK. HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?

So, you have been seasoned Empty Nester’s for a while now and really embracing the time you have together and quite actually, really enjoying all the FREE time you have together that has not been interrupted by children, having to shift here and there…rearrange your schedules because you must be involved in your children’s affairs.

But now, you receive the unexpected call, text, or show up at the front door with luggage in this type of situation.

The script goes something like:

“Mom & Dad, I need to move back in with you for a while.”

What is a while? You and your spouse are thinking at that moment and feeling all the privacy and seclusion you have will now be interrupted once again!

When these situations arise, don’t panic but rather calmly and peacefully start laying ground rules. If you have never derived such a plan once the children moved out, then it is wise that you do so. Empty Nester's must have ground rules as to how to handle this type of affair so that neither of you become stressed or taken advantage of as sometimes happens- not intently I’m sure, but still the two of you need to be prepared for such an encounter.

So here are some idealistic examples on how you can start implementing and staging for a returning live-in and that which you can expound on to be generated to the now adult child or children wanting to move back.

First, try your best not to enable any certain behaviors or needs that your adult child exposes.

All of you sit down to discuss a plan that everyone feels comfortable such as:

1. Develop a time management system for what or how things are handled in the home.

2. Set a time limit on the living arrangement. How long? What expectations does the adult child toward you? What are your expectations toward him or her or them?

3. Charge rents effectively based on the amount of time he or she will be staying.

4. If your adult child is not employed…make the contract include how he or she will assist around the home I lieu of unemployment which must also include finding employment within a reasonable, doable time.

5. At the end of all this, draw up the contract and make it a valid one just like any other real estate rental agency would do.

Remember, your child or children are adults now, and certain expectations follow this. So, make him or her or them, stand up to the learned challenged.

Copyright © 2025 Brenda Rockward Coaching LLC. LifeSkillsAuthor.com Brenda Rockward. All rights reserved

 Request permission from the author before using any of the creative content postings.

Please note that any disputes arising under the posting of these blogs, articles or other author content shall be brought exclusively in the courts of Texas and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.