We are living through difficult times–kids moving back home not just because they're out of college and haven't figured out what they'll do. It's more serious now: Our grown children are losing their jobs, or we're losing ours. Consolidated households are one answer. On her site, Linda Pogue blogs about some of the hidden costs of having the kids move back home.
Grocery is the biggest expense increase, followed by water consumption
(more dishes and clothes to wash, more people bathing and flushing
toilets), electric bill increase due to more lights, TVs, computers,
etc., in use, and more paper products–toilet paper and paper towels,
primarily. While none of these expenses, except perhaps groceries, will
increase an exorbitant amount, there will be enough that it can
financially undermine the parents allowing grown children's families to
move into their home.
Check out her blog for observations on how to negotiate the issues, with this in mind: Do it upfront to keep peace in the put-back-together household, especially if grandchildren are part of the bargain. Her advice is written for the adult kids who are moving back in with us. But one key point she makes to these adult children really hits home: "If you do not want your parents
correcting your children, be sure that you do it yourself. Just understand that as long as you are in
their home, they may feel they have the right to correct your children,
especially if you do not."
Amen. It's a lot easier to hold off on the "corrections" when you're only there for a brief visit. It's another when you're all living together. It's an issue that needs to be addressed at our end as well.
PenPenWrites 
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