The experiences of older mothers following the return of an adult child home

• In response to the return home of an adult child, three types of mothers were identified: (1) the Mother as Rescuer (2) the Ambivalent Mother and (3) the Involved Mother.
• The mothers differed in their a) perception of the parental role; b) perception of the returning son or daughter; c) perception of living together with the adult child; and d) the emotional ramifications arising from co-residence.
• The patterns that characterize the maternal role become stronger and sharper at a time of crisis, in this case the return home of the adult child and his or her need for help and support.
• The parental role at this stage is less defined and is subject to personal interpretations.

ContextThe present study examines the experience of co-residence of older mothers with their adult children who have returned home, as seen from the mothers' perspective.MethodsThe population of the study consisted of 14 women between the ages of 58 and 74, whose sons and daughters aged 30 to 40 had come to live with them. The study is a qualitative one, conducted on the basis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the mothers. The data were analyzed using constant comparisons.FindingsThe analysis of the interviews yielded four main themes: a) the mother's perception of the parental role; b) the mother's perception of the returning son or daughter; c) the mother's perception of living together with the adult child; and d) the emotional ramifications arising from co-residence. The differences among the mothers interviewed allowed for the distinction of three types: (1) the mother as rescuer (2) the ambivalent mother and (3) the involved mother.ImplicationsThe study sheds light on this late stage of the mother–child relationship, points to the complexity of the phenomenon, and offers insights for professionals working with clients in such situations.