Privacy is a Privilege

Fact #3: What’s yours is theres baby – The dissemination of personal space.

Away at school we all got used to being able to speak as LOUD as we wanted to. Cherish the memories of being able to graze casually in the fridge at 1 a.m. without having to worry about the sleepers upstairs. Unfortunately, this new situation affects your parents just as much as it affects you. Reality is, you share a lot more, you give up privacy, but so do they. Family psychologist Susan Newman's research suggests that adjusting expectations and attitudes can significantly improve the time spent together and even make privacy an easier issue to deal with. I have found with my experience that little things can make a huge difference.

Survival Tip: Create your own bubble  

A) The Bedroom 

I have a relatively small room, but this small room is all I have to work with to maintain my private life. When you move back home – make your room somewhere that you LOVE. This may involve making some changes, moving some things around or doing some DIY to make it yours again. Get inspired from these easy tips here. 

SIDE NOTE: Please don’t let your parents try and clean your room for you.

B) The Common Space

As much as I love my bedroom, I also don’t like to see the same four walls all day. I personally enjoy seeing the rest of the house during the day. It may be difficult, but try to feel comfortable watching TV and hanging out with your parents. Establish some simple rules (or in my case ‘signals’) that enable you to be left alone, while being outside of your room. My signal for privacy from my parents generally revolves around me being focused on my laptop, reading, or not being chatty (this is an obvious one for my parents because I am known to never be quiet). 

*You will find your own ways to tell your parents you’re not in the mood to be social – just be gentle, they’re only biologically programmed to love you.

Becoming "That" Person From High School

Fact #2: You are effectively back in high school.

While it may be a silent rule, you will have a curfew. As a silent killer, you will undoubtedly be compelled to return home early since your parents will “stay up until you get home,” or harass you via texting until you are safely back within the walls of their home.  You will be ordered to run strange errands. You will whine to your parents that they “DO NOT UNDERSTAND.” You will blast music to block out the fact that your parents are trying to listen in on your in depth phone conversations. Lastly, you will find yourself wearing pyjamas way more than what is considered acceptable, despite your attempt to maintain your grown-up status.

Survival Tip: Fake Adulthood Anyway

Just because you’re back to your status of high school living, avoid giving in to the situation. Retain your university graduate persona and take your adult approach to life back home with you.
A) Get Out:
This is the one time that creating structure for your life and being organized can actually be worth it. Get into a routine like you would if you were still in school- hit the gym, take a class, volunteer, but most importantly LEAVE THE HOUSE (preferably before the Price is Right comes on).
B) Wardrobe:
Change out of your PJ’s everyday regardless on if you plan on leaving the house that day or not. I am telling you this for your own good, it’s for your sanity folks.

Me, myself and I doing the dishes.

C) Domestic Dignity: Folks I’m only going to say it once: if you have a degree and can’t unload the dishwasher…you have bigger issues.

·    DO YOUR OWN LAUNDRY (click here for instructions).

·    CLEAN YOUR OWN DISHES.

·    COOK YOUR OWN dinner at least once a week (take-out not included). The Food Network knows how it's done.

(What a laundry room looks like)