The economy is in a weird place right now. We are in the process of trying to recover after the events of Covid and the cost of living is increasing tremendously. Absolutely everything is more expensive than it used to be. The cost of buying a home is much higher than it used to be, the cost of utilities are becoming more expensive and even general groceries are becoming more costly.
 
Though everything around us is becoming more expensive, the wages that we are earning do not reflect this. We are expected to be able to deal with the drastic increase in costs, but our employers are not helping us do so.
 
In order to deal with the increased cost of living, many people have made the decision to downsize. Downsizing has a number of benefits. First of all, smaller homes usually come with a lower cost, which means that you can save money on rent. Secondly, it costs a lot less to heat a smaller house and so you will be able to save on your utility bills.
 
Moving into a smaller house isn’t really a problem if you are someone that lives alone or you are a couple, but if you are a big family it can come with a lot of problems. Even in the biggest house, it can often feel as though your big family is tripping over itself and this means that tensions can be very high and your kids can argue very often.
 
Even if living in a smaller house is only a temporary situation, you want to ensure that all of your children are as comfortable as they can be. Something that children really value is privacy, but this can be difficult to achieve when you are only working with a small space. Here is how you can give your children privacy in a small house.
 

Bedroom Divider

 
If you are moving into a small house and you have multiple children, then it is likely that your children are going to have to share a room in order to save space. Our children all have individual personalities and it is likely that your children will be upset that they will not get their private space and a place to express their individuality. If the room is big enough, I would definitely suggest that you invest in a room divider. Something as simple as a curtain can be used to do this and it will ensure that your children can have their own privacy if they choose to do so. If you are worried about space and other problems like this, a curtain will be useful because you can pull it back when it is not needed, meaning you will still have the space that you expect to have in the bedroom.
 

Do Not Invade Their Space

 
Something that your children already have to worry about is their siblings not respecting their space and going through their things. For this reason, it is important that you show them the respect for their space that they deserve. This means that you should not go into their room without their permission, you should knock if you do want to enter and you should not touch any of their items. You have to remember that your children want to be treated with respect and they want to feel as though you trust them, so allowing and trusting them to have control of their own space is the best way that you can show them that you love them and respect them.
 

Give Them an Outdoor Area

 
If your house is small, but you have been lucky enough to land yourself a garden, be sure that you make the most out of it. You can really transform your outdoor space so that it is comfortable for your children to escape to. Make sure that you have plenty of seating and a bit of protection from the rain. If you really want to make it a private space for your children, I would also definitely suggest that you put up a decorative screen for a bit of separation in the garden. If you want that separation and also style, be sure to check out this selection of luxury garden screens and find one that fits your taste.
 

Give Them Time Alone

 
If you have children that are old enough to be left in the home alone, in order to give them the privacy that they deserve, let them have some time alone in the house. If you have errands, you may be tempted to bring your child with you, but instead, you should trust them enough to leave them in the house on their own. This will give them some time to relax alone and it will show them that you really trust them.

Being young is hard. If you are older, you may look at a younger person and think, what responsibilities and issues do they even have? Well, at a young age you have to work really hard in school and the decisions that you make at that age can have a huge impact on your future. Not only that, but you have hormones that are flooding your body and making everything around you unbelievably confusing and overwhelming.

If you can imagine how difficult having to deal with all of that is, imagine adding questions and confusion surrounding your sexuality into the mix. You have to remember that when you are young your brain is still developing and you are not exactly in tune or understanding of your body.

Even though the world is becoming more open and accepting of queer people, there is still stigma and shame that surrounds liking the same sex. If your child has come to the realization that they may be gay, then it is likely that they are feeling a lot of self-hate and anger. As a parent, it is your duty to make sure that your child is happy and healthy and if their sexuality is tormenting them, then it can be hard to watch. It is likely that all you want to do is help them and so here are 5 ways that you can help your child come to terms with their sexuality.

Ask to Learn More About It

If you are someone that is straight, then you may not understand how your child is feeling right now. Instead of just accepting that you don’t understand it, ask your child to educate you. Ask them how they feel and how long they have felt that way. Ask them if they want any support as they figure out their sexuality, just be there for your child.

Make Sure They Know It’s Not a Big Deal

Being gay in this day and age really isn’t a big deal, but for a young child that is scared and confused, it may feel like the end of the world. Make sure that they know that their sexuality is not a big deal and it doesn’t affect your relationship. You can even make it into a bit of a joke to alleviate the tension that your child may be feeling. When I found out a sibling of mine was gay, I didn’t want it to change the dynamic between us and so I suggested that we both do a am I gay quiz for a bit of fun, it was a good laugh and it made my brother feel much more comfortable coming to me.

Reach Out For Support

If your child is really struggling to come to terms with their sexuality and you do not know how to help them, why not reach out to someone that does? One in five people these days are gay and so it is likely that you know at least one person that identifies as gay or queer. Reach out to them and ask for advice and even ask if they can speak to your child and make them feel more comfortable.

Remind Them That They Are Loved

A big fear that a lot of people have when it comes to coming out is their parents not supporting them or even no longer loving them. To make your child feel more comfortable with their sexuality, you have to let them know just how much you support them and how much you want to be there to support them. Don’t forget to tell them every day that they are loved and your relationship is as good as it has ever been. A lot of queer kids have negative relationships with their parents because of their sexuality and you do not want your child to be one of these kids.

Encourage Them to Explore Their Sexuality

If your child is still confused about their sexuality, you should encourage them to explore it and figure out who they are. There are a lot of great books out there that are great for understanding your sexuality and you could always get one for your child, as this will further enforce the notion that you support and care for your child.