When adult children return to their parents' homes - or if they never leave - all the relationships in the household are put under extra strain. But there's no need to be caught by surprise when common emotional traps start appearing in your own home.
The top three most common emotional landmines are also the most potentially damaging to your long-term relationship with your adult children living at home, and your relationships with your grandchildren and your own spouse. So don't take the impact of your new living arrangement lightly. Be prepared for these traps so you can spot them coming and avoid disaster before it strikes.
Emotional Landmine #1: Anger and Resentment
If your adult children are moving back in with you in a time of crisis - or if they've never left your comfortable nest - it means they see you as a stable force in their lives, a warm and welcoming parent who will be there for them through thick and thin. And the truth is, you want to be that parent who can solve everything for your adult children living at home.
But when two generations of adults live in one household, it's extremely easy for anger and resentment to build up on both sides. And once those bitter emotions have crept into a relationship, they are extremely difficult to overcome.
That's why it's critical that you and your adult children living at home work together to develop communication techniques and strategies that will deal with negative feelings before they take over - and potentially damage your relationship with your adult children forever.
Emotional Landmine #2: Undermining your adult child's ability to be a good parent
When your adult child moves back home with an entire family in tow, your life changes drastically - and your lifestyle can take a sharp downward turn.
In addition to the other challenges associated with adult children living at home, you may have to deal with the expectation that you'll be a full-time babysitter - for free. That may be okay if you're retired and your adult children living at home are working full time. But what if they take advantage of the free sitting services to start staying out late, partying, or generally shirking their parental responsibilities?
The most important thing for your grandchildren is that your own children continue to be good parents. You can help your adult children living at home to be good parents without damaging their credibility or undermining their authority, but you have to walk a fine line to make it work.
When adult children come home with families of their own, the ground rules and expectations must be crystal clear. And your adult children living at home must understand that no matter what they may be going through in their own lives, it is their responsibility to parent their children - not yours.
The top three most common emotional landmines are also the most potentially damaging to your long-term relationship with your adult children living at home, and your relationships with your grandchildren and your own spouse. So don't take the impact of your new living arrangement lightly. Be prepared for these traps so you can spot them coming and avoid disaster before it strikes.
Emotional Landmine #1: Anger and Resentment
If your adult children are moving back in with you in a time of crisis - or if they've never left your comfortable nest - it means they see you as a stable force in their lives, a warm and welcoming parent who will be there for them through thick and thin. And the truth is, you want to be that parent who can solve everything for your adult children living at home.
But when two generations of adults live in one household, it's extremely easy for anger and resentment to build up on both sides. And once those bitter emotions have crept into a relationship, they are extremely difficult to overcome.
That's why it's critical that you and your adult children living at home work together to develop communication techniques and strategies that will deal with negative feelings before they take over - and potentially damage your relationship with your adult children forever.
Emotional Landmine #2: Undermining your adult child's ability to be a good parent
When your adult child moves back home with an entire family in tow, your life changes drastically - and your lifestyle can take a sharp downward turn.
In addition to the other challenges associated with adult children living at home, you may have to deal with the expectation that you'll be a full-time babysitter - for free. That may be okay if you're retired and your adult children living at home are working full time. But what if they take advantage of the free sitting services to start staying out late, partying, or generally shirking their parental responsibilities?
The most important thing for your grandchildren is that your own children continue to be good parents. You can help your adult children living at home to be good parents without damaging their credibility or undermining their authority, but you have to walk a fine line to make it work.
When adult children come home with families of their own, the ground rules and expectations must be crystal clear. And your adult children living at home must understand that no matter what they may be going through in their own lives, it is their responsibility to parent their children - not yours.
