Granny flats

[Graeme]

Hi all,

Mum and dad will soon be moving in to a manufactured home on to the same property as our house. Cathy and I bought our house and the land (which is a bit less than 700 sq metres) with my parents so that they could get a house on to our place.

They have bought a manufactured home which means it was constructed off site and has just been brought on to the site by truck. It was quite interesting watching them get it on to the property and it brought out lots of the neighbours.

Jasmine and Alexa are very excited as they love my parents. Alexa complains if she doesn't see them every day. My parents are great grandparents and love our kids to bits. We get on well with them well too, although they do get get on our nerves sometimes (and I'm sure we get on theirs too).

Although we have no doubts that we are making a good decision, we are a bit nervous as well. I'm really glad we both have separate dwellings so we will have our own space. But as their living room and kitchen face our place and we are building a lounge and dining room with a side deck down the back, we are going to feel quite observed at times (as will they). They really try not to be the interfering in laws and mostly do a good job of it to, so I hope it works well.

I'm pretty impressed that Cathy has been happy to share our place with them as it will be tougher on her than me.

I'd be interested in hearing of other people's experiences of sharing with parents/in laws.

Regards
Graeme

[Imogensmum]

At pesent my daughter and i live in a flat- that i built under my parents house!! Self contained and quite large!!!

This is working really well for us- but i must admit it does have it's difficult days- and boy am i glad i have a car on those days :D

It will be a wonderful experience for your children as not many children today get to have close contact with their grandparents!

Enjoy- and good luck!!!

[Mamaduke]

Hi Graeme,
We bought a house 2 years ago with a 2 bedroom granny flat on the property.
It is wonderful!!!!!
My parents moved in and it has been the best thing we ever did!
Every morning Jesse puts his slippers on (which are conveniently placed at the back door by me!) and trots off to Nanny and Poppy's place - they are always happy to see him, no matter what the time is!
It's also good in the respect that there is almost always someone home - to be able to duck to the shops when you've run out of something at 10pm is a godsend!
Another wonderful thing I have noticed is that our oldest son, who is 4, is really into gardening - he spots rhododendrons, camelias, magnolia trees when we're in the car and that's thanks to his Nanny! The two of them potter around the garden together, grow petunias, tomatos, peas and started a worm farm!
This is the sort of thing that Daddy and I just couldn't teach him - no idea in the garden!!!!
I grew up living with my parents in a unit that my grandfather had built behind his house so I also know first hand the benefits of living with grandparents.
When mum and dad were too busy, my grandmother and grandfather would always have time for me! Many an afternoon was spent outside dictating to my grandfather what I wanted to do - paint the fence yellow, put the tent up for a sleepout (my grandfather would then sleep under the plum tree to keep an eye on us!) and so many other activities that I'm sure I wouldn't get away with with my parents.
I think grandparents are an incredible resource for our kids and I feel so lucky that my boys have contact with them every day.
Good luck & I know you'll love it!
Carly

[Ky]

Graeme ...

How great, your kids are going to have such a close relationship with their grandparents ... this is something to treasure.

Have you thought about offering to build them a little walled or trellissed courtyard so that they can have some privacy and in turn you get some too?

This will give them somewhere nice to sit in the cool of the evening, invite friends to join them without having to disturb you etc. It doesn't mean that they will be any less accessable and it can be a special place where they put their own mark on the property.

Just a suggestion!

[H&B'sMum]

Hi Graeme,
How sepcial for J and A. I bet it caused excitment in the street, you would see that everyday in Newcastle ;)
I think Cathy is a saint for doing it and how wonderful the girls get to see their grandparents and share really special times with them.
As you know I don't have family around us at all and I can only think how it would affect you and Cathy, probably not that much.
For privacy have you thought about maybe a couple of tall trees or hedges that would shield you both from each other.
It might also be a good idea to have a set of ground rules so you each know where the boundries are. You could have a sign that tells them when you are wanting space, like a special smiley sign on the back door, so when they see that they know you and Cathy want time alone with the kids.
I hope the arrangements work out beautifully for you all and I'll see you next week (;) remember!?!?!?!?!?!!?)