Since this blog is mostly reviews of lighting gear, or tips for improving your photography and I don't post on social media, some of you may not know that for six months starting last fall, we had my sister and her spouse living with us while they undertook a significant renovation on their home (they had spent 6 months prior to that staying with other friends). They had about two weeks in their place before we started the renovation on our house (lifting to add a bedroom and bathroom in what was previously the basement/garage) and we moved into their house!

It's a trade off where we are unquestionably getting the better end of the deal. Offering them to stay in a tiny bedroom in the back of our house pre-remodel, with one bathroom and set up their work from home office in the basement. Then we, a family of four, get to stay in their beautifully renovated home - in bedrooms that are larger than the bedrooms we had at our own house! Our room here even has it's own fireplace!

Living with me is hectic - I work odd hours, have lots of gear... and I'd say the same for every member of my nuclear family! 

Living with kids is hectic - They wake up early, sing loudly, run around the house naked, and despite their best efforts, never get 100% of any meal in their mouth.

Living with your siblings in adulthood is hectic - 4 adults, 4 different routines, 4 different morning beverage preferences, 4 (sometimes 5!) different vehicles to park.

Moving out of your house is hectic - How did we accumulate so much stuff?!

But none of this is me griping. This is the high life!! I say that not only because we are lifting our house, and currently living at my sister's place in the hills, literally living the HIGH life, but just because as hectic as it is, I know I will look back on this as one of the best seasons of my life.

While we are trying to not take advantage of the potential for built-in babysitting, it is such a treat to see my kids light up when my sister gets home from work. And I love watching them do legos or watch Bluey together on the weekends. Not only is it a little break for me after being with the kids all day otherwise, I am just so grateful for all the extra adult attention and love. It's assumed they get grandparent love, but auntie/uncle love (even if they aren't by definition an aunt or uncle, just a trusted adult) is special relationship too.

Not to mention the impromptu adult cocktail hours, especially during summer when the sun sets well after kid's bedtime.

The only downside is, my kids have more toys here than they ever did at our house. They are not going to want to go back!

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I am so incredibly lucky and privileged. Not only to have a home and the resources to renovate it, but also for the relationship with my sister, our spouses, and our kids.

How About You?

Have you lived with your siblings in adulthood? Would you?