Living with your parents as an adult

[Brentwood]

I have gone to live with my parents twice in adulthood, both very short term (for example, the first time, my condo lease had just expired and I expected to be moving out of state within a couple of months, so didn't want to sign a new lease), and I paid room and board both times.

Your situation is a bit different, though. If my mother and I were both single and would otherwise live alone, I wouldn't mind at all renting or buying a house with her. We get along great, we know each other's quirks, we enjoy many of the same hobbies and pastimes, and those that we don't share wouldn't conflict with each other's. It would be a fine situation for us.

I can completely understand anyone who would NOT want to do something like that, however.

[Amitisoo]

I do hide this fact from many, many people. They act like I am emotionally stunted freak.

Don't let them make you feel like that.  Remember, you can decide how you will feel in any situation.  The people who would criticize you probably wish they had such a good relationship with their mothers.

That's very true. Many people who do not get along with their mothers cannot understand anyone who does. I certainly can understand people wanting to live far, far from their mother!

The whole "must hate your mother" trend boggles my mother's mind. She grew up in a community where visiting your mother (daily), even after you were married, was a very acceptable thing.

[EvilAlice]

t's just a better deal for me financially to live here. I put money into this house rather than throwing it away on rent, my mom treats me like the adult I am, we get along fine (for the most part), and she understands that I don't need her watchful eye on me 24/7.

I did that for a time with my mother and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.  In our case, I don't think it would have worked out well if I had not lived away from her for quite some time prior to that.  It might have been weird for us.  But once it was established that I was an adult and acted as an adult, and that she respected that, we had no problems at all.  I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but in our case, it was really the perfect situation.  My mom was a pretty independent person and raised me to be the same- we honestly never had any weird issues or awkwardness.

[FolkRockFan]

I'm 25 and live at home. It's cheaper for me to commute to my college than it would be for me to rent an apartment nearby (this school doesn't offer on campus housing...my last college did and man, was that expensive).

Generally speaking, I get along well enough with my family to live here. Sometimes they drive me insane, but I do the same thing right back. I play drums, see, so I inevitably end up bothering somebody every time I pick up my sticks. We do, however, try to be reasonable with each other. I don't expect to be able to play at midnight and they don't expect me to be quiet at noon.

[Gwywnnydd]

I've boomerang-ed back into my Dad's house a couple of times since high school, and in general it worked out very well. Wouldn't work as well now, since he sold the house and lives in a much smaller condo (and my brother is in the spare room).
I haven't lived with my mother since I was 15, and I really think that is what makes it possible for me to continue to interact with her . She is a lovely woman, who grates on my nerves after a few hours. Living together? I'll just take hemlock now, thanks .

[dietcokeofevil]

My grandmother (Dad's Mom) moved in with my parents after her father died...uninvited.  My parents adapted, and when they built their house, they had an extra bedroom built for her.  I know that my Mom has resented it at times, so I know for a fact that she would never move in with me.  We both like our independence too much.  I would also go crazy if my in-laws moved in with us.

[mumma to KMC]

Shortly after dh and I got engaged, I moved back home to save money and pay off some  bills. I lasted at my moms house a week. The lady I was living with was NOT the lady who raised me. Someone took my somewhat normal mom and made her a clean freak with no off button.

DH's sister offered me their spare room and I jumped at the offer. That of course is "a whole nother" story!!