Thursday, May 30, 2013

Moving In



Big news - we are moving into our new house this weekend!!


The last piece of the puzzle (carpet installation) was completed this week so we are ready.  Finally.  Not ready to put this company on blast yet, but when you promise us something and we base our decision to buy from you based on that promise, you better follow through.  Without an attitude.  Roar.

But I digress.

For those who are keeping track, we have been in with my parents for approximately six weeks.  We have had some nice times along with some difficult ones.   I am a full-grown adult with a family of her own living with her parents - there are bound to be a few bumps in the road.  (And if you are going to practice multigenerational living, I can attest that these tips from my interview with Susan Newman for The Mother Company are super helpful).

Since I knew this arrangement wasn’t forever, I tried to approached the experience by diligently focusing on the moment with the knowledge that there is a good chance that I probably won’t be living with them like this again.

Having said that, there are a few things I am looking forward to when we finally take residency in our new home.*

My office :

This was a huge selling point for me!  Not only will I be able to have my computer, books, printer, and calendar on the same level of the home, but they will all be in the same room!  A room that will not be shared with the kitchen.  Or the basement.  Which was how my old “office” was set up, like bits and pieces throughout the house.


Big trees in our backyard instead of a major road:

 I grew up with a huge backyard with lots of trees, which I totally took for granted until our last house which was backed up to a busy road right by an intersection.  Fire trucks always paused there, and lucky for us, we were situated between two fire houses.  Now we can hear birds sing without the backdrop of traffic.


An upstairs:

It will be so very nice to have bedrooms that are not on the main level.  I am just fantasizing here, but maybe, just maybe I can make coffee without waking everyone up.  And since I am already day dreaming, I will take that coffee into my office and look out at all those big trees in my backyard.

A pool: 

There is a pool in our neighborhood - a pool that I can enjoy without having to take care of it!  This is a game changer for how we are going to spend our days this summer for sure!  On a related note: I see a lot of dirty laundry piles and sandwiches for dinner in our future this summer.


Here’s to hoping this all lives up to my expectations!!

*It just dawned on me that I have no photos of this whatsoever.  I think I avoided taking photos because it just seemed like a place we would visit. I will be sure to rectify this immediately. 


Friday, May 24, 2013

Multigenerational Living



Things have been kind of hectic since we are still in the middle of moving.  By kind  of hectic, I mean my whole world is totally turned upside down.

My nightstand is a cardboard box which hold the contents of my regular nightstand that is in storage.  I have to drive approximately 30 minutes to pick up my daughter from school.  My food is in plastic bins on the floor in my parents’ kitchen.


That’s right, my parents’ kitchen.

I am living with my parents.

Yes, there have been some challenges.  I mean, I am an adult with her own family that has moved back in with her parents, right?!

But I feel lucky to have an opportunity to experience multigenerational living.  Living with my parents as an adult, I am able to see them in a different light than I did the last time I lived with them, about eleven years ago.

My kids are also getting to know their grandparents on a level different than when visiting and babysitting.

Apparently, we are not unique.  There is a huge trend of multigenerational living families in the United States.  I recently wrote a post for The Mother Company which was all about how to successfully live in a multigenerational home.  I was super excited to interview Susan Newman, Ph.D. who wrote Under One Roof Again: All Grown Up and (Re)learning to Live Happily Together.  She had some great advice on how to move back in with your parents.  

I would be ever so grateful if you checked out my post.

I will leave you with some pictures of the positive highlights of living with my parents.

Reading comics




Birds-eye view


Generations and technology


Have you had to move back in with your parents or in-laws?