| Do you have adult kids who plan to stay with you | | | | Cut them some slack, especially if they are new high |
| while attending college or doing nothing? Do you have | | | | school grads who are going to college. As long as |
| a son or daughter moving back in after finishing | | | | they are taking at least three courses a semester, |
| college? If you are anxious, I know how you feel. I | | | | let them stay for free. I do not think it is a good idea |
| can empathize with you because my older brother | | | | to start charging them rent if they decline to take |
| and I are still at home. Although this situation is | | | | summer courses like my dad did to me after my |
| unfortunate, there are ways you can make the best | | | | sixth year because attending college is a grind and it |
| of it. You will learn tips for parenting an adult child | | | | is nice to take the summer off and mentally regroup. |
| living in your home. | | | | Consider charging your kids rent if they are not |
| The first thing you can do is put this situation into | | | | first-time college students. Although times are tough |
| perspective. Do you think it is stressful for parents to | | | | and I do not like paying rent, your kids have to pay |
| have adult offspring living at home? Well, it is | | | | their own way and you can actually do them a favor |
| stressful and uncomfortable for us too. I yearn for | | | | and toughen them up by becoming the landlord. They |
| the day when I can afford to move out as a result | | | | just might find a way to pay what they owe. |
| of making a lot more money than I am now because | | | | I have done what I can over the years, including |
| I do not like living with my parents and I want my | | | | substitute teaching, working as a temp and being |
| own space just as I am sure they want their own | | | | self-employed while using up my savings to pay rent. |
| space. | | | | I am starting to make solid gains by taking a lot of |
| Another thing you can do is set boundaries. Remind | | | | online surveys and writing articles over the Internet |
| your kids that you are in charge and let them know | | | | every day, particularly for Helium. |
| what they can and cannot do. | | | | If you choose to charge your kids rent, you must |
| Give them plenty of responsibilities. Although I had | | | | stand behind whatever they do to make ends meet, |
| always done household chores such as washing the | | | | as long as it is honest. For example, if they take a |
| dishes, taking out the trash and picking up the dog's | | | | lowly job or accept a temp assignment that involves |
| waste, my dad decided it was time for me to start | | | | doing hard physical work even though they have a |
| doing more one day after I had graduated from | | | | college degree, you have to back off and not chide |
| college a couple of years before. Although I initially | | | | them. |
| balked, I agreed to start cleaning the bathroom | | | | If they fall behind on paying rent, you should |
| every day plus vacuum the living room and sweep | | | | interrogate them to see what they are doing to |
| the kitchen and basement once a week. | | | | meet their obligation. If they cannot find a job, they |
| Although you own the home, you should not be | | | | should at least give self-employment a try. |
| intrusive. You should give your kids their privacy as | | | | Follow these tips to cope with adult children living in |
| long as they have earned your trust. | | | | your home! |