What to do if your children move back in with their parents

Let's face it: we're a country of grown-ups. According to Eurostat data, 46 percent of young Italians between the ages of 25 and 34 still live at home with their parents. And they often return . Due to a relationship crisis, a traumatic separation, the loss of a job. Or simply because living with mom and dad is better and saves money. What to do when your child returns home? Here are five tips we've developed in consultation with experts.

Managing friction

The first difficulty may arise from a new incompatibility, linked to the fact that each parent has developed their own habits after spending their adolescence together. Without being too rigid, your child must understand that home is not a hotel, and a good coexistence is based primarily on mutual respect. A simple but essential rule.

Clarifying roles

If the return is related to a traumatic event or a new life choice, it's best to clarify the respective roles from the outset. Parents must be supportive of their children, especially in difficult times: but don't overdo it.

Provide some contribution

A good way to give your child more responsibility when they return home is to provide them with some form of contribution to household expenses. Even a small one. This would be a sign of goodwill and also an incentive to find a new job.

Agree on the tasks

If your home isn't a hotel, it's important for everyone to do their part to keep it tidy. For example, tidying up your room, taking care of some household chores, helping with the cleaning. Small gestures that make a big difference.

Mediating on habits

Getting back together also means grappling with new habits. So, it's best to clearly negotiate your different needs: the right times for watching TV, the right volume for music in your bedroom, and a proper night's sleep. More than diplomacy, common sense is crucial here.

What can you ask of a child who comes home?

Ultimately, a child returning home requires more than material things (some would even quantify this expense for the parents who welcome them), to maintain a balance that they cannot question or encroach upon. Everyone makes their own choices, but we shouldn't expect helicopter parenting when we set foot in the home we left behind to live our lives.

The child's right to return to live with his parents

Children have the right to be cared for by their parents not only until they reach the age of majority (18), but also until they achieve financial independence. Therefore, until a child has sufficient income to ensure their independence, they have the right to live with their parents. The age at which this right can be exercised is more controversial. A landmark ruling by the Milan Court establishes the age limit at 34 for a child with insufficient income to exercise the right to parental support.

What to do if children return to live with their parents