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WHEN ADULT CHILDREN MOVE HOME
There’s a reason those in their mid-twenties and -thirties are called the “Boomerang Generation” – nearly 30 percent move back in with mom and dad after leaving home. If you have an adult child asking for a house key, remember the story of a young Scottish boy who had a run-in with a real boomerang.
If you’ve ever thrown a boomerang, you know it takes skill. So when nine-year-old Max Maunder tossed one for the first time, he was surprised when it came circling back toward him. That’s when it dawned on him: he didn’t know how to catch it. Sure enough, it struck him right in the nose, sending him to the hospital. Fortunately, he was okay. He even got his photo in the newspaper. But he’d learned a valuable lesson about the need for a plan before the boomerang came circling back.
A plan is no less important when you have adult kids who might “boomerang” back home. Establish some “house rules.” Decide how your child will contribute toward household needs like laundry, transportation, grocery money, and rent. And don’t forget to discuss whether this is a temporary stay or a long-term arrangement. In some situations, it might even be necessary to set a deadline for them to leave before they actually move in.
Managing “boomerang” kids takes some planning, but it can work well as long as you heed Scripture’s advice and do everything “in a fitting and orderly way.” Lay the groundwork ahead of time, get everyone on the same page, then follow through with those agreements.
There’s a reason those in their mid-twenties and -thirties are called the “Boomerang Generation” – nearly 30 percent move back in with mom and dad after leaving home. If you have an adult child asking for a house key, remember the story of a young Scottish boy who had a run-in with a real boomerang.
If you’ve ever thrown a boomerang, you know it takes skill. So when nine-year-old Max Maunder tossed one for the first time, he was surprised when it came circling back toward him. That’s when it dawned on him: he didn’t know how to catch it. Sure enough, it struck him right in the nose, sending him to the hospital. Fortunately, he was okay. He even got his photo in the newspaper. But he’d learned a valuable lesson about the need for a plan before the boomerang came circling back.
A plan is no less important when you have adult kids who might “boomerang” back home. Establish some “house rules.” Decide how your child will contribute toward household needs like laundry, transportation, grocery money, and rent. And don’t forget to discuss whether this is a temporary stay or a long-term arrangement. In some situations, it might even be necessary to set a deadline for them to leave before they actually move in.
Managing “boomerang” kids takes some planning, but it can work well as long as you heed Scripture’s advice and do everything “in a fitting and orderly way.” Lay the groundwork ahead of time, get everyone on the same page, then follow through with those agreements.
Scripture
About this Plan
Do parents ever stop being parents? Well, yes and no. You’ll never stop loving your children. But once they’re adults, everything changes. Your influence in their lives, the complexion of your relationship, even the dynamics in your marriage will be impacted by the empty nest. But change doesn’t have to mean chaos. With a little preparation, parents can smooth out the bumps that crop up when kids transition into adulthood.
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We would like to thank Jim Daly for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.jimdalyblog.com
