Upgrade to Larger Home for When Kids are Teens?

[Anonymous]

I live with my husband and two kids in a small home. As the kids get older, especially in their teen years, how important do you think it is to have more space? Right now the kids (same gender) share a bedroom and the entire family spends a lot of time together in our limited space. I'm wondering if we should think ahead and upgrade to a home where each child can have their own bedroom and maybe there is a large rec room and kitchen for teenagers to feel comfortable hanging out. Right now, inviting one or two friends over works, but any more than that can be a challenge.

[Anonymous]

We have a tiny house but everyone has a bedroom. We've thought about it, but we want to pay of the house and be debt free. In your case, I might so each kid can have a bedroom.

[Anonymous]

Moving is very expensive and disruptive. How many years till college? It will go by in a flash.

[Anonymous]

The kids don’t need their own bedrooms.

[Anonymous]

It certainly is nicer to have a little more space when they are teenagers and increases the likelihood that they will choose to spend time at home rather than going to other peoples’ houses. However, a larger house doesn’t guarantee that it just creates a little more opportunity. So if it’s an easy thing to do for you then sure, everybody would probably appreciate more space. But they may end up hardly spending any time at home anyway so if it’s a big sacrifice I don’t think it’s worth it.

[Anonymous]

We had a situation and we stayed in the smaller house. I used to let one of my kids use my bedroom for phone calls and homework for quiet and privacy if they needed it when my DH and I were downstairs in the evening and then one could hang out downstairs when we went to bed. It worked out fine for us.

[Anonymous]

We live in a standard-for-DC small row house with two kids. Both kids were born while we were living here, and it wasn’t until both were young teens/tweens that we realized they need a little more space for hanging out with friends. Instead of moving, we dug out our basement and made it a family room. Even though we have way fewer toys than before, that space comes in handy for kids who want to socialize but not in their tiny rooms.

[Anonymous]

I would not. Your question makes me wonder if you would sell again for smaller space when the kids leave home, or just rattle around and pay more to heat and cool that larger space until those rare visits with grandchildren... someday.

[Anonymous]

We partitioned off a bedroom in our basement. It's nice for them to have separate rooms, but they'll probably have a roommate when they start college anyway so it's good for them to have the skills of sharing. My DD always says she wants to move to NYC, so no matter how tight our house is it'll feel like a palace compared to what she can afford in NYC

I know people that sold their homes and moved into condos near Wilson. The kids don't need the yard anymore and they love having everything walkable and a condo roof pool.

[Anonymous]

The answer depends on what your plan is after your teens graduate. Would you still want the extra space and the cleaning, mortgage and utility expenses associated with it?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't. We expanded our space and our kids didn't invite more people over. They are busy with school, activities, work and family.

[Anonymous]

Could you extend rather than move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't. We expanded our space and our kids didn't invite more people over. They are busy with school, activities, work and family.

Yeah but kids share room which could be awkward as teens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We partitioned off a bedroom in our basement. It's nice for them to have separate rooms, but they'll probably have a roommate when they start college anyway so it's good for them to have the skills of sharing. My DD always says she wants to move to NYC, so no matter how tight our house is it'll feel like a palace compared to what she can afford in NYC

I know people that sold their homes and moved into condos near Wilson. The kids don't need the yard anymore and they love having everything walkable and a condo roof pool.

Cool idea

[Anonymous]

My oldest is a teen and my youngest is 11. They love having their own room for privacy when talking on FaceTime or Discord to friends. As for the rec room, we have a large one and neither use it anymore. They want to go out with friends, not hang out at our house. My youngest sometimes has friends over but even then she prefers to be in her room for the privacy. We can hear them since they are so loud and her room is off the kitchen and it’s just laughing and talking.

I’m not sure I’d move since that is a huge financial and emotional stress. But if there is anyway to give them some privacy some times that’s ideal. My oldest liked hanging out in the garage with friends when he was younger and some of the kids FaceTime from there too.