For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 19, 2022

If Grandma is going to drop a few hundred thousand on you, you might as well spend it on an addition to the house where she might be able to live once the kids have grown up and moved away.

pre-empty nesters’ syndome

A lot of those kids end up moving in back home, when the reality of the cost of living on their own kicks in.

Don’t fret, John and Elly. Additions boost the value of the home.

Not to worry. Michael will make good use of the addition down the road. :P

That last panel is my wife and I considering the wisdom of adopting young dogs in our 70’s. We figured the 2 we got at age 70 would probably age out about the same time we did, but then we got a yearling at ages 74/75. Somebody else is probably going to have to finish taking care of him.

A lot can happen between now and when Michael and Elizabeth move out.

Mostly, destruction by April!!

One good thing about Elly—she’s no June Cleaver!!

Elly actually admits that her kids are growing up and developing into adults.

Sigh. I did same thing. Went from 2 bedrooms to 4. Anyone need bnb?

Lynn’s Comments:

This idea meant that I had to figure out how to add to a make-believe house. Architecturally, this posed a real dilemma. The layout of the house didn’t make sense as it was, so creating an addition was going to be a challenge.

Boy, is this ever dated. These days, parents are lucky if their kids get the hell out of their house by the time they’re 35.

Room for Grandkids?

Future Rec room

These past few strips have had Elly squinting, then her eyes bugging out. Now John’s eyes are bugging out. These two need to see an eye doctor.

My folks owned a little 3 Bdrm 1 bath Cape Cod home in Ct. that was built for them around 1940. Sometime in the early 70’s my brother and I chipped in to remodel their cramped kitchen . In the late ’80s, as a present to my folks, we added a downstairs toilet and sink for them. If I recollect correctly, the cost of the powder room far exceeded the cost of the entire kitchen remodel!

You can always turn it into a pot shop down the road

They do?

It really makes more sense to move into a bigger house – cheaper, faster, less hassle.

Adds to the value of the house when you sell out and buy a condo in Florida

It finally struck them.

Should have drawn lightbulbs lighting up over their heads. I grew up with seven siblings in a three bedroom, one bath house. Close quarters but we managed……

The first floor addition is a good idea, providing there is also a first floor bathroom, because one day they won’t want to have to deal with steps… I’ve seen houses where people turned their living rooms, or dining rooms into bedrooms so they wouldn’t have to climb stairs! We have turned one of our bedrooms into a computer/puzzle/picture room…with a big table instead of a bed! Others make it an “office”…

“…it won’t be long….”

It will still be several years, which can be a very long time to deal with teenagers who each need their own space but don’t have it.

Also, adding a 4th bedroom doesn’t help resale value except for square footage.

If it buys them 6 years of peace and quiet it is worth it.

Kids growing up and moving out is natural but difficult for parents to comprehend in advance.

They never divorced. Lynn Johnson and her husband divorced.

The addition adds to the value of the property, and they can use it for when friends or family visit or come to live with them in the future. As we’ve seen with the Great Recession in 2008 and more recently with pandemic related job-losses and housing crisis, many people had to move in with relatives. Those with homes that had extra rooms were able to help their kids and grandkids have a roof over their heads. Those who downsized as empty-nesters couldn’t offer much more than either money or moral support to their displaced/newly homeless family members.

That’s one comfort I have as a grown woman that my parents who are both retired, still live in their 4-bedroom home and they always remind me that me and my family are welcomed to stay there if we ever find ourselves in need of a place to live. Luckily, we haven’t had to take them up on their offer but it’s comforting knowing it’s there. Just something for people to consider.

My great grandmother lived with us for awhile . So the garage was made into a spare room for her .

Well, you two old bags wouldn’t have this problem if not for April.

Next time, BOTH of you keep it in your pants!

Heck, my grandparents only built a two bedroom even though they had twins and then built an addition after the grandkids starting being born. Now the woman who bought the place gutted it for an “open floorpan” and it’s back to being a two bedroom.