Q. Our 26 year old son lost his job several months ago and wants to move back home “for a while.” My wife and I have different reactions. What do you think? Are there advantages and disadvantages?
– S.B. Columbus OH
Gary: I’m not sure if there’s a father’s answer vs. a mother’s answer. Of course, my first reaction is “Sure, why not! It’s only for a while, right?”
As a father, you want to help. After all, at our age and his age, how many opportunities do you have to do that? The tricky part is if “for a while” becomes “forever.” Can you handle that? He’s an adult now and he has his own life. You can’t exactly tell him what he should do now, what time he should come home, and to clean up his room, can you.
No doubt, it won’t be the same. It’s important to remember that it’s your house now, not his. There’s an old joke about a priest, a minister and a rabbi. They’re arguing at what point life begins. The priest says, “at conception.” The minister says, “at birth.” The rabbi thinks for a second and says, “when the kids are out of the house and the dog dies.” The point is, at this point in your life you need your life.
That said, if he’s a nice kid and a good person – not a little shit, my opinion — take the kid in. Let life in, let the kid in, same thing. You’re his parents and always will be his parents. And that’s what parents do.
Gary Geyer is Chief Editor of Let Life In.
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