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Dear Annie: My 27-year-old son moved back home eight months ago after his lease ended. The plan was for it to be temporary while he “regrouped.” But since then, he’s applied to only a handful of jobs. Meanwhile, he’s sleeping in, playing video games and getting defensive if I bring up the job search.
I don’t want to kick him out, but I also wonder if I’m making it a bit too comfortable for him here. I don’t charge him for rent or groceries, but he does do chores and help out around the house. My husband thinks we should just let him find his own timeline and insists the job market is really tough right now. I think we’re making it too easy for him to stay stuck. Who’s right? -- Full Nest
Dear Full Nest: You’re both a little right. Job hunting is hard right now, but a handful of applications in eight months isn’t making his odds any better.
Sit down together and set actual terms: a move-out date or a real job-search plan with weekly targets. If he balks, that tells you something.
Dear Annie: My husband and his brother share ownership of my home. We’ve discussed it, and my husband won’t buy out his brother because he says he’ll keep coming to visit us twice a year anyway. I’m starting to hate when my brother-in-law comes to stay with us.
What can I do to shorten the frequency and length of the time he spends with us? He has partial ownership of the house, so I can’t stop him from coming entirely, but it is our home and I’m feeling less and less at peace in it. — Half at Home
Dear Half at Home: Your husband is the key here. He needs to hear how these visits affect you and work with you to find a solution. His brother may own part of the house, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some say in how your home is shared.
Talk with your husband about how often and how long you’re comfortable having his brother stay. Then let him take the lead in discussing those expectations with his brother.
It may also be time to revisit the conversation of buying him out, if you can afford it. Home should be a place where you can put your feet up, not feel like you’re walking on eggshells.
“Out of Bounds: Estrangement, Boundaries and the Search for Forgiveness” is out now! Annie Lane’s third anthology is for anyone who has lived with anger, estrangement or the deep ache of being wronged -- because forgiveness isn’t for them. It’s for you. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Follow Annie Lane on Instagram at @dearannieofficial. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM