Friday 13 August 2010

Playing House

Last week, I was on the receiving end of a request that could not have come at a better time.

Not employment unfortunately, but in lieu of  a h'actual job, the next best thing. Would I be able to come and stay at a family friend's flat while they are away, and cat-sit for ten days? Oh, yes. Yes, yes, I can. Sweetening the deal even more is the flat's location: it's just a short bus ride from Islington, Shoreditch, Camden and many more of my favourite haunts around central London. Aside from that, it's precious alone time.

Being back at home has it's perks: a fully stocked biscuit tin, nightly meals and lifts to the tube station to name a few. But with Recently Retired Mum hanging around the house, the parent-free life I've been experiencing for the last eight months is officially no more. For I am back under "their roof" and, alas, that means "their rules".

The Boy has been a frequent fixture at the house since we got back. Disentangling yourself from someone you've just spent the last three and a half months with is no easy feat. We sleep well in each other's company, keep each other entertained, have a mutual understanding that 'irritable' means 'hungry', and all manner of other horribly coupley-things. We both live with our parents, me with more ease than him, and so he comes round and stays the night, and while we've not been working, often in the day as well.

Adjusting to being back at home, living with a family again, is a bit of a shock to the system. And it's even harder when you put a boyfriend into the mix as well. You just want to flop in front of the TV, stay in bed until the afternoon and decide on dinner options at the last minute. But this is always hindered by the fact that your living space is now shared. It's your parents space, and what they say goes. All I can say is at the moment, keeping everyone happy is proving to be a challenge.

So today I gratefully moved out into my temporary abode. Later the Boy, fresh from his first day back at work, will come over and stay too. We have ten days to play house. Ten days to pretend that this is how life is. And I have ten days to get my arse in gear, discover what exactly the hell it is I want to do with my career, and get a job. Once this is done, moving out of home is top of the agenda. Because, as I'm frequently reminded by the powers that be, I'm an adult now, and I can make my own decisions. It's just a little bit harder to do that when you're living at home. 

9 comments:

nuttycow said...

I don't know how you do it. If I had to live with my parents again... *shudder*

Please Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open said...

I thought all was going well until the other night, when it became clear that there was unrest in the parental quarters.
It only spurs me on I suppose...kick up the arse I need, so to speak.

Elaine Denning said...

I don't know how you do it. I left home about 2 weeks before my 17th birthday and never looked back!

Frankly, Scarlett said...

Congrats doll! What a great motivator to move on and move on up! XO, dahling! I hope you and the boy have a LOVELY time.

Grump said...

Yep I'm with Elaine on this. I left home at 16/17 and lived in France, never to return to live at home again. I have an eighteen year old myself and have tried to explain the benefits of living with his mates, instead of his mates living with us.
x

lapa said...

O bom filho à casa torna... (volta)

Jane said...

Don't beat yourself up, love - living with parents, while definitely not ideal and in some cases actively harmful is, often, the best solution. I did it off and on til I was (eek) 29 and, although I wish I'd been able to move out earlier, staying with them allowed me to save the deposit for my flat. All worked out for the best in the end. Keep your pecker up.

Please Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open said...

Elaine - I do it with increasing difficulty. Truly, I've never really minded living at home that much until I went away for so long.

Grump - Haha, no one needs to explain the benefits to me. I could do with some money to put the benefits into practice though!

Lapa - Alas, you will have to translate.

Jane - Yeaaah, my sister followed a similar course of action to you. I know that living at home until I can really afford to move out comfortably is the best way to do things (especially in this city), but sometimes it's difficult to see it all happening. I'm impatient.

Please Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open said...

Scarlett - Thanks :) If we ever move out, that is...

 

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