Son Wants to Move in with Parents: “We Can’t Say No, He’ll Inherit Part of the House Anyway”

In a few days, our son, his wife, and their two children will likely move into our two-bedroom house. My husband and I have been discussing this situation for weeks, and we feel a mix of emotions—concern, frustration, and a sense of obligation. Our son, Mark, has always been a good kid, but life hasn’t been easy for him lately.

Mark lost his job a few months ago, and despite his best efforts, he hasn’t been able to find another one. His wife, Sarah, works part-time, but her income isn’t enough to support their family. They were evicted from their apartment last month because they couldn’t keep up with the rent. When Mark called us, he sounded desperate. “Mom, Dad, we have nowhere else to go,” he said. “Can we stay with you for a while?”

My husband and I looked at each other, knowing what we had to do. “Of course, you can stay with us,” I replied, trying to sound reassuring. But inside, I was worried. Our house is small—just two bedrooms and one bathroom. How would we all fit? And what about our privacy? My husband and I are both retired and used to having our own space.

As the days passed, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. I started to imagine what our lives would be like with four more people in the house. The kids are young—ages three and five—and full of energy. Our quiet mornings would be replaced with the sounds of cartoons and children’s laughter. Our evenings would be filled with the chaos of bedtime routines and sibling squabbles.

I also worried about the financial strain. We’re on a fixed income, and adding four more people to our household would increase our expenses significantly. Groceries, utilities, and other bills would all go up. We had saved for our retirement carefully, but this unexpected situation would put a dent in our savings.

Despite these concerns, we couldn’t say no to Mark. After all, he’s our son, and family comes first. Plus, we knew that one day he would inherit part of the house anyway. It felt like we were just speeding up the inevitable.

The day they moved in was chaotic. Boxes were everywhere, and the kids were running around excitedly. Sarah tried to keep them under control while Mark and my husband carried furniture into the house. I did my best to help organize things, but it was overwhelming.

That first night was tough. The kids were scared in their new surroundings and had trouble sleeping. Sarah and Mark were exhausted but grateful to have a roof over their heads. My husband and I lay in bed, listening to the sounds of our crowded house. “We’ll get through this,” he whispered, trying to comfort me.

But as the weeks went by, things didn’t get easier. The house felt cramped and noisy all the time. There were constant arguments over bathroom schedules and meal times. The kids’ toys were everywhere, and it felt like there was no escape from the chaos.

Mark continued to look for work but had no luck. The stress of their situation began to take a toll on his marriage. He and Sarah argued frequently, adding to the tension in the house. My husband and I tried to stay out of it, but it was hard not to get involved.

One evening, after another heated argument between Mark and Sarah, my husband pulled me aside. “I don’t know how much longer we can do this,” he said quietly. “This isn’t good for any of us.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. We had hoped that things would improve, that Mark would find a job and they could move out soon. But it was becoming clear that this situation wasn’t sustainable.

We sat down with Mark and Sarah the next day to have a difficult conversation. “We love you both and want to help,” my husband began gently. “But this arrangement isn’t working for any of us.”

Mark looked defeated but nodded in understanding. “I know,” he said quietly. “We’ll figure something out.”

As they packed up their things a few days later, I felt a mix of relief and sadness. We had tried to help, but sometimes love isn’t enough to solve every problem.