Crowded-nest Couples
When returning offspring turn the empty nest into a crowded one,
middle-aged couples don't seem to mind.
By Alyssa Rappaport published March 1, 1996 - last reviewed on June 9, 2016
Nearly one in three unmarried adults lives with a parent nowadays.
But when returning offspring turn the empty nest into a crowded one,
middle-aged couples don't seem to mind.
In fact, crowded-nest couples actually enjoy high marital and life
satisfaction, reports Margaret O'Kane Brunhofer, Ph.D., of Wayne State
University. Surveying 30 such couples, she found that most adapted fine to
their recently extended family. Lack of privacy was rarely a problem. And
couples who were less happy about their new living arrangements were
likely having marital problems even before their child returned to the
fold.
So if you're looking for a cliche to describe crowded-nest
families, forget "three's a crowd." Try "the more the merrier."