There are many reasons why someone may move back in with their parents or even their parent(s) move in with them. The reason doesn’t really matter. It’s the change in dynamic that is troubling. Individuals may experience a loss of freedom; either the child (who is a grown adult) is now reporting back to the parents or the parent(s) are now dependent on their grown child to get around. Specifically, in the South Asian community, a sense of obligation resurfaces and feelings of guilt. How do we navigate this? The first step before any one moves in with or back in with is to have a conversation as a family. I know this might sound simple and a no brainer, however when it comes to the South Asian community, we all tend to skip past the talking piece and go straight into our old family dynamic. Here are some topics to explore help navigate open and honest conversations as a family:
- What are the expectations we have of one another?
Independence
Nucelear family time together
Whole family time together
Creating space within the house for all members
Financial responsbilities
- House rules
- How to approach challenges with one another