Vibrant CommunicationsIf you are just graduating from college, have just lost your job, or are having a hard time making ends meet, you may face having to move back in with your parents. And it might suck. But don’t worry, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare yourself emotionally for the move.
First of all, know that you are not alone. We are called boomerang kids or the boomerang generation because, these days, 3 in 10 young adults will have to move back home because of tight finances. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 78 percent of the boomerang generation feel OK about living with mom and dad and 77 percent are hopeful about their future finances.
You may be living under your parents’ roof again, but this time you are living there as an adult. Now that you’re an adult, you shouldn’t expect your mom to make your bed or supply you with clean laundry. Not only will you need to take care of your responsibilities like you did when you were on your own, but you may be asked to help out with household chores or to chip in with expenses. It may seem like a bummer at first, but this will help you feel responsible and in control. It will also encourage your parents to treat you as an adult.
Keep your long-term goals in mind. Understand that this is just a phase, a necessary step so that you can save up enough to move out and live on your own. Setting expectations and goals is an important step that you should think through seriously. It often helps to use the SMART method. That means your goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
Maintaining a healthy relationship with your parents is key while you are living at home. That means making sure you are on the same page about how long you need to live at home and what the ground rules are. Make sure you’re all on the same level when it comes to ideas and expectations.
Hopefully, you have a relationship with your parents in which you can talk with them about anything, but if that is not the case, you should plan to lean on your support system of friends, other family members, and a therapist when you need to vent. If the move has made you feel like you aren’t yourself anymore, know that it’s OK to get help from a counselor.
Jennifer Bell
Brynne
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2Hey, there is a broken link in this article, under the anchor text – Census data by Pew Research Center Here is the working link so you can replace it – https://selectra.co.uk/sites/selectra.co.uk/files/pdf/pew-muslim-americans.pdf
Carly Thorpe, ii. Thank you for reaching out to us – please keep in mind our Facebook page is not intended for this kind are article and crisis intervention or support services however the Lifeline counselors are here for you any time day or night at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). They should be able to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. . The Lifeline is funded by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. While we will provide support to all callers, we are unable to provide local referrals to individuals outside the U.S. For crisis hotlines by country, visit iasp.info.