10 Ways to Help You Retain Your Sanity when Your Empty Nest Becomes Full Again!

As a mother who has experienced this "return to the nest" for the past two months, I feel I must share my ideas for survival.

I think I have finally learned to "never say never." When my son and his wife moved to Texas a little over a year ago, I was sad to see them moving 1500 miles away from both of their families which are located in northern Wisconsin. When they flew home for a visit this past August, I must admit I was happy when I heard they didn't want to live in Texas any longer and would go back on their return flight only to get their vehicle, pack up and drive back to Wisconsin. To help them out, I offered to keep the two little ones (Emma, then 20 months and Gage, then 1 month).

Surprisingly, their parents did a very quick turnaround, packing only their most important possessions into the car, storing everything else, and arriving back in Wisconsin a mere four days later. While I am always more than happy to extend a hand to those I love, the past two months have taught me some important things that only experience could provide.

Having been a social worker in my younger days, and our home has frequently been full with extra faces when my husband and I became foster parents, having grown children and their family come back to live definitely provides some unique challenges.

10 Tips to Keeping Your Sanity

Generation gaps have always existed. In the case of grown children returning to the "nest" there is the added stress of living with these differences on a daily basis. After careful thought, my experience has enabled me to prepare the following list. Enjoy, learn and put them to practice if you find yourself in my position.

#1 - Extra people always mean extra chores! Hold a "family meeting" the very first day to establish how each person can contribute to keeping the household in order.

#2 - Have a "family conference" weekly for everyone to air their concerns. Open lines of communication are essential to keeping things as happy as possible.

#3 - Set aside one night a week to go out with your spouse, or a good friend for a much need quiet, relaxing meal.