There are definitely times in your life when you want privacy, but I found that going through a divorce wasn’t one of them. While some people opted to weather it alone, I knew that as
There are definitely times in your life when you want privacy, but I found that going through a divorce wasn’t one of them. While some people opted to weather it alone, I knew that as an extrovert, I would be more comfortable with family around. So after I sought support from Irwin Mitchell, I opted to move me and my kids in with extended family because I knew that they would never feel an absence of love if we spent time with their aunts, uncles and cousins.
If you’re hesitant to live with extended family, here are five reasons you might find it to be better than living alone.
Getting extra help with little ones. Any parent can tell you that the more help they have with their children, the better. Moving in with siblings or parents could be the exact change that you need right now. From picking up little ones and monitoring teens and pre-teens after school to helping with homework, having extended family around buys you some time to do other things that are important to you.
Sharing financial responsibility. With many families still climbing out of the recession, having more than one income in the household is a welcomed financial relief. Your costs will go up if you invite aunts and uncles into the immediate family, but your collective earning potential will far outpace the extra monthly bills. Even grandparents can help out financially if they help you forego the need for childcare. This in turn helps you to get ahead by giving you a chance to save.
Merging philosophies on parenting. This might seem like a difficult task, especially if you don’t take kindly to aunts, uncles and grandparents giving you unsolicited parenting advice. But on the other hand, if you are a single mum or dad, facing parenting alone is one of the most daunting outcomes of a divorce. Having other adults around to help you through childhood milestones could be a welcomed relief.
Weathering family crises together. And of course, when emergencies arise, other adult family members can lend you the emotional and practical support that you need. Whether you are dealing with a health crisis, behavioral issues or any other urgent matters, knowing that other family members will be around to help you will give you room to process these kinds of challenges yourself.
Learning how to resolve conflicts. Ultimately, living with multiple family units under the same roof will shape how you deal with everyone with whom you cross paths. People who live with extended family are often much more flexible outside of the household and more diplomatic when counseling others. This personality enrichment may be the biggest benefit of living with a large family for both you and the kids.