I'm Moving Back in with my Parents - and I'm Terrified


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It's official. With my time here in Washington wrapping up, in two weeks I'll be moving back into my parents house in NY.

I love my family, and we're all pretty close, but I haven't lived with them for more than about two weeks at a time in over two and a half years, which is kind of a long time. I'm used to having my own space now, and taking care of myself, and moving back in with four "roommates" is going to be overwhelming. Especially when those roommates enjoy stealing your clothes and telling you what time you have to be home.

Of course, there will be some upsides. Not having to cook for myself every night will be awesome. My mom generally cooks, and when I'm home I always try to take turns, but she still cooks at least four out of five nights of the week. And my Dad always cooks huge breakfasts on the weekends, with eggs, biscuits, bacon, sausage, fruit, pancakes....the whole shebang. Plus, my mom has a huge garden, and she's been raving to me about how much produce she has.

Garden Gate Swingset
Here's a little section of my mom's garden. Her and my dad made the gate this year out of our old swingset!


It'll also be nice to hang out with my brother and sister. They're both in high school, so our age gap is pretty large, and I've been out of the house since they were pretty young. Still, we all get along so it will be nice to be able to go to their sports games and such while I'm home. However, I am afraid that I will become the family chauffeur since neither of them has their drivers license yet.

Black and White Dogs
Plus, I get to see these two crazies again.


I think my biggest issue is the indefinite-ness of me going home. Every other time I've been home in the past four years it was temporary, with a set date that I would be back at school. This time, my plan is to be home until I have a set job elsewhere, which hopefully won't be too long, but theoretically could be months. I'm starting to feel like a stereotype. I recently read somewhere that 30% of millennials are living with their parents. Now I'm one of those figures. Just another kid with a college degree, student debt, and no job.

Please let me know in the comments if any of you moved home after college, and let me know how it went! I know that I'm super lucky to have parents that are willing to take me back in, and I should be grateful, but this is probably the scariest thing I've done since I started college.

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My name is Liz and I'm a 22 year old with a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation. I love beer and fashion and exploring the outdoors, and am currently figuring out how to do all of the above on a post-grad budget.

31 comments:

  1. Oh geez! That's quite a long time since you've been home for a long period of time. I am still going to college, but lived on campus the first three years and just recently moved back home to save money. It definitely was a little bit of a change because I wasn't used to having to answer to someone all the time. But I am sure you will be fine and I am praying that you find a job you love ASAP (:

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    1. Thank you so much! And glad to hear that it worked out for you!

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  2. I'm sure you will all adjust, just remember, college grad or not, your parents will still see you as their little girl and need to adapt to having an adult living there and making her own choices. Be respectful of each other and you will all do fine,
    Cynthia @craftoflaughter

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    1. Exactly! And especially with having two younger siblings I'm just afraid I might get clumped in with the rules they have for the teenagers. Hopefully we can come to a happy middle ground!

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  3. I feel you on the indefiniteness. I had to move back in with my parents a couple months ago and it was for an indefinite time for a little bit and that stressed me out to no end. Not that living with my parents is bad or was bad, but it was just not where I saw myself or wanted to be at that time.

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    1. Yes, that's totally how I feel! I feel like at 22 I should have a place of my own and a full time job.

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  4. It'll all work out! I moved back home after college when I started my first post-grad job and stayed for about 5 months until I had enough saved up to furnish an apartment and pay rent/bills. There are definitely pros and cons, but just think of how much money you'll be able to save!

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    1. I'm hoping I'm here around the 5 month mark! My biggest fear is ending up still at home a year or so from now. I'm definitely looking forward to paying off as much of my student loans as possible during this time!

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  5. My husband and I moved in with my parents not long after we were married because we moved cross country and hadn't found a place or a job yet. We weren't there very long, but it was difficult. I'm super tight with my family, and I found that it was hard to suddenly become Tim's wife, instead of my parents daughter. That was hard on us, but I learned a lot of very valuable lessons and our marriage is the better for it because I learned them early on. I think the fact that you're aware of it, will make it better. It's great that your parents are willing to help you out! Good luck!

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    1. I can't even imagine having Teddy move in with me and my parents at any point. My parents lived with my mom's parents when they first got married and had me, and I can't even imagine how stressful that must have been. I'm definitely grateful that Teddy and I are in a point in our relationship where we can both live with our own parents separately.

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  6. I think you will be ok! My hubs lived with his parents for 18 months before we got married after college (he was 25!) but we saved a lot of money doing that! Good luck!

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    1. I just keep telling myself that it's the best option financially to keep myself sane! But wow, I think I might go crazy after a full year!

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  7. Best of luck to you, Liz! I moved back in with my mom for a few months post-college and I think the best thing was spending quality time and not having to pay rent. It was tough, though to not have the same flexibility and freedom I had grown accustomed to. I think you'll be just fine. Feel free to reach out if you have a tough time!

    www.emmabyers.com

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    1. I'm definitely looking forward to the quality time. My relationship with my family has actually grown since I moved out so I feel like I'll have a good time with them.

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  8. I'm completely opposite. I've been living with my mom since the college campus isn't far, but by next year I'd be living on campus. I think any change if it's something you're not used to takes some adjusting. I think it's great to enjoy the quality time you'll spend with your family. I suppose catch up on everything you've might of missed in their lives. As you mentioned there are some perks to living at home, it's a great transitioning place. Good luck!!

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    1. Thank you! Have fun living on campus, I had such a great experience living at school!

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  9. I never moved back home after college. I actually still live in the same city I went to college lol! I wish I had gone back home and allowed myself to really plan my next move. All I can say is go with the flow of things. One day you will look back and long for this moment. On another note, how awesome is it that your parents made the garden door out of your old swing set! Love it!

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    1. I'm definitely hoping that I can take the time at home to organize my life and figure everything out. And thank you! My mom was so upset that I used a picture without the full grown vegetable plants haha

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  10. After college, I lived on my own for a while, then moved back home for grad school. I only lasted there about a year before I got a job and apartment because the commute was terrible. I'm sure you'll have a job in no time.

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  11. After college, I lived on my own for a while, then moved back home for grad school. I only lasted there about a year before I got a job and apartment because the commute was terrible. I'm sure you'll have a job in no time.

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  12. After college, I lived on my own for a while, then moved back home for grad school. I only lasted there about a year before I got a job and apartment because the commute was terrible. I'm sure you'll have a job in no time.

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  13. I moved back in with parents when I was 28. It was tough and I really don't ever want it to happen.

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    1. I'm definitely grateful that I'm only 22 now and hopefully this will be the last time I live there!

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  14. Good luck! I haven't lived at home since college, but sometimes I would kill to take a break from being an and let my mom cook me dinner for awhile :)

    Very Erin - http://veryerin.com

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    1. I'm seriously excited just to veg out a little bit!

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  15. I haven't lived with my parents since college, but I did live with my brother and sister-in-law for a while. It's a new normal, but I feel like as long as you try to establish some new norms and expectations from the beginning it's not too bad. And hey...much respect for making a smart financial decision to save money and live at home! Even though I don't know all your circumstances, I'm sure that wasn't easy, and I think it's super brave and smart!

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    1. Thank you so much! Since I'm the oldest I can't imagine what living with a sibling would be like, although I used to joke that I wanted my siblings to move in with me when they go to college so we can have a What I Like About You sibling relationship haha

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  16. I haven't had to move back in with my parents, but I am married and still finishing college. I wouldn't fret about being one of those numbers. You are doing everything in your power to find a job. I don't think it will be a bad thing to go home and find a job. Good luck! By the way, are you talking about Washington state? If so that was a huge travel from college and home.

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  17. Oh man, I did everything I could when I graduated college to avoid moving back in my mom. In my words, I did it BECAUSE I loved her and knew that it would likely destroy our relationship. The idea of living with 7 of my closest friends to suddenly living with my mom and her boyfriend in my old childhood room was terrifying. I got lucky... I had a few grad in savings, moved to Berkeley on a whim, and had a job within a couple of weeks. But all of that being said, a lot of my friends lived at home in their early twenties, my boyfriend included, and as long as it doesn't last more than a year or so, it usually went well :) It's a great way to save money as you figure out the next step! It's pretty funny to get pampered by the parents too, isn't it?

    Cat
    http://oddlylovely.com

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  18. I am currently in college and I think this is a rational fear of any millennial facing the unknown after college. However, I have a feeling you're going to love being home again!

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