A problem shared with agony aunt Anita Naik
Q My two grown sons have recently moved back home after being at college. I love having them here, but they act as if they are kids again. Both are in their mid-20s with jobs and yet they expect clean laundry and to be fed, and think nothing of rolling in at 3am and waking me up. I still work and don’t charge them anything but have asked them to help out. Yet after a few days they’re back to their old ways. What do I do? Anne, 58 A Having grown children move back home is a tough one, which is why it pays to set up ground rules from the off. Your sons, as you say, are now grown adults. This means they need to pull their weight with regards to laundry, meals and being considerate late at night. Remind your sons that you are doing them a favour in giving them a rent-free place to live, and don’t play into their teen mentality. Stop doing their laundry and providing daily meals, as this will help to remind them that they need to take responsibility for their lives and not rely on their mum all the time.