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Economy forces adult children to move home

With whom do you live?

Moving back with parents requires respect, other skills

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Teresa and Will Eichelberger (foreground) have 13 people living under her roof, and sometimes as many as 16, thanks to the economy. Her daughter, son-in-law and their three children moved in last October after he lost his job and then their home in Greenville.

Jim Witmer Teresa and Will Eichelberger (foreground) have 13 people living under her roof, and sometimes as many as 16, thanks to the economy. Her daughter, son-in-law and their three children moved in last October after he lost his job and then their home in Greenville.

By Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writer Updated 12:18 AM Monday, June 15, 2009

For Will and Teresa Eichelberger, having a baker’s dozen plus one — 14 people and three generations — under one roof may be cheaper, but the toll in privacy and comfort has its own price tag.

Since October of last year, their modest, three-bedroom home has added a stepdaughter, the homeless friend of a college-age son, a homeless son and an unemployed daughter, their two spouses and five grandchildren.

Bedrooms have been set up in the basement, utility room and enclosed back porch.

Family members eat in shifts. Use of the one full bathroom runs on a tight, tight schedule.

An in-law “told us we need a doormat that says, ‘Welcome to the Jungle,’ ” said 45-year-old Teresa Eichelberger.

The Eichelbergers represent the crowded extreme of a fast-growing trend — adult children seeking shelter from a stormy economy under their parents’ roof.

According to the Census Bureau, 5.1 million Americans ages 25 to 34 were living in the home of a parent in 2008 — a 20 percent increase from 2004. Even more surprising, a survey in January by AARP, the lobby for older Americans, found that 11 percent of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 were living with parents or in-laws.

Among them are Mark and Karen White, ages 48 and 52, who both lost jobs in January and moved in with Karen’s mother in Miamisburg, and Tim Supinger, 41, who returned to his parents’ home in Lebanon two years ago after months of job hunting.

The upside of family togetherness is the ability to share costs and find emotional support.

But there are challenges — stress, care-giving dilemmas, space and privacy constraints, and scheduling chaos. Not to mention who gets to be boss.

Experts warn it’s tough, but some families say they wouldn’t want it any other way.

“There has been more good than bad, probably for all of us,” said Cheri Supinger, Tim’s mother.

Continue reading: Moving back with parents requires respect, other skills

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2437 or jdebrosse@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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My parents had told us that we were welcome to stay at home as long as we liked, but if we left we were only able to come back in an emergency. I moved out not long before I turned 30 and my sister joined me. She bought a house 4 yrs ago but is totally down & out. Finances have been tough for me, but she's moved back. We're lucky our parents were so helpful those extra years. Now if our cats would cooperate...

Lucky
10:36 AM, 6/17/2009

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Belmont is full of 35 year old men, living in mom's basement. The guys with the tatoos on the necks. The tell you that they you helping mom out. The truth is: these non-skilled want-a-be gangsters are human spunges. All they know is stealing and dope. No jobs, no drivers license, long arrest history and a no pride. They have names like: Debow, Bukee, BB, Spider, T-Ball... Nice job Belmont parents, feel the pride...

McHat Jr.
2:24 AM, 6/16/2009

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My dad charged me rent after I turned 18. My boy moved out for a year now back home saving his money. I don't charge him rent, He helps out a lot.

Sir Blog A Lot
10:34 PM, 6/15/2009

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Gee-I thought the stimulus was suppossed to make everything all better. Over 6 months and it's still getting worse! Guess the move towards socialism is doing more harm than good. Go figure? Who are all the idiots supporting all this crap being crammed down are throats by the Democrats??

Dawn
9:56 PM, 6/15/2009

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Unreal. They must have some patience to be this generous.

wow
6:01 PM, 6/15/2009

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