"Still, we all felt pretty apprehensive heading into this living arrangement. For one, our lifestyles were quite different: My husband and I had been empty nesters for the past decade, and we had routine sleep and mealtimes. Meanwhile, they were young parents with a small child and a baby on the way - a lot of their schedules depended on seasonal and weekly activities."
"Our son and his family moved into our basement, which we'd set up to be a private, comfortable space with furnished bedrooms, a living area, and a bathroom. In the beginning, they often kept to themselves and spent a lot of time down there. Meanwhile, my husband and I wanted to figure out how to be supportive without overstepping. This wasn't easy for me."
"As a mama bear by nature, I felt compelled to nurture by preparing healthy meals that would please everyone. This quickly became an impossible feat as I tried to juggle the many differing tastes and dietary needs of our household. Sometimes, I felt overwhelmed with the task, especially on special occasions when the rest of the extended family joined us. I also tried to keep our space and theirs tidy, cleaning while they were away to avoid disturbing them - another"
A son, his pregnant wife, and their 4-year-old moved in with a homeowner couple after a house fire left them homeless. The households initially clashed due to differing routines: the homeowners were empty nesters with fixed sleep and mealtimes while the young family had seasonal schedules and a new baby on the way. The young family also faced trauma, insurance issues, pregnancy, and job changes. The homeowners created a private basement suite and attempted supportive actions like meal preparation and cleaning. Communication improved, boundaries were negotiated, and the living arrangement became mutually beneficial.
Read at Business Insider
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