How to Help a Sibling Move Home

Your older brothers or sisters might be the best in the world - and have everything going for them - but in the end, nobody's immune to that eventuality of being a "boomerang kid." Having to move back home is something many fledgling adults would no doubt like to avoid; but it can be made easier, with help from family members. If you're a supportive little brother or sister, you can have a REAL positive impact on your family. Remember, a family working together helps every single one that is a part of it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Pave the way with the parents. If you are still at home, you are the best advocate for your sibling. Bring up the subject over dinner or with each parent singly, and feel out the possibilities for a sibling's return, as far as possible conditions.

2. Free up space. Re-arrange space in the home to see how a move home can be accommodated; this might mean clearing a guest room, creating shared space, or cleaning out the basement.

3. Be supportive of transitional periods. Talk to your sibling and understand the reasons for their move, and be a listening ear for the situations they may be in. Be welcoming and help your sibling feel ok about a temporary move back into the home.

4. Show up for the move. If your sibling is feeling really bad, and you're feeling particularly generous, you could help organize the move. Being there to actually do some of the heavy lifting is a real show of support and compassion for someone going through a potentially difficult phase.

5. Help your sibling get back involved in family life. If economics are an issue, be proactive in helping to delegate roles within the family (buying groceries, organizing bill payments, giving rides to appointments). Families are an economy of scale: a well-coordinated family effort saves everyone time and money, whereas a dysfunctional home can end up wasting a lot of financial resources.