Currently on 31 Days of Multi-Generational Living, we’re looking at making room in the house for your parent.
Yesterday we covered the kitchen, and today we’ll look at the bathroom. Tomorrow, we’ll cover storage.
I have to admit this one took me some time to figure out. When Dad moved in last December, I was very pregnant, and pretty much in a state of constant exhaustion. The kitchen was easy, because it didn’t really require much work on my part–just downsize the stuff in the fridge/freezer, and get used to a coffee pot on the counter.
Everything else? It just didn’t happen for a while.
So, at first, Dad kept all of his toiletries in a tote and carried them back and forth to the bathroom (think college dorm style.) He never complained about this, and I’m very thankful for that!
After Brynna was born in late January, I got my energy back and wanted to make Dad feel more at home. I decided to invest some time and effort into purposefully making room.
I think he’s probably glad that I made the changes. It’s more comfortable for him, and helps it to feel more like home instead of being an unwanted guest or something.
The kids and I cleared off a couple of shelves in our medicine cabinet, for Dad to keep his shaving supplies and other small toiletries in. I decluttered a bit (seems to be a common theme in this series) in our bathroom storage cupboards, and made room for his shampoo, soap, and other toiletries.
Now he no longer needs to bring a tote back and forth. He can just go the bathroom and know that his toiletries are there.
Let’s talk medicine for a minute. Dad has many different pills. I thought he’d keep them in the medicine cabinet, but he was worried that the kids would get them, so he decided to keep them in his room, on a high shelf. Thankfully, my kids have been around medicine their whole life, thanks to Owen’s pharmacy, so I’m not worried about them getting into meds. They’ve been trained not to touch anyone else’s medicine.
I bring this up, because two people aren’t always going to see eye-eye. As you make room in your house for a parent, take time to talk things over. See what changes will have the biggest impact. And don’t argue about it.
If Dad feels more comfortable keeping his meds in his room, who am I to tell him to put them in the bathroom? In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal!
Having only one bathroom for all 10 people has been interesting, but we’ve all managed to make it work. Maybe I’ll do a post on that in this series.
Do you have any tips for making room in the bathroom? What’s been the hardest area for you to adjust by having a third generation move in?