Adult Children & Keys to Your House

[NannyBeBe]

My daughter has a key to my house and I have a key to hers. We come and go to each other's home as we please.

 

[AllisonK]

I recently moved out of my parents’ house. I still have a key but 99% of the time they know I’m coming and the door will be unlocked anyway, so I just let myself in. My parents have keys to my condo as well, but I only have two keys to the main door (it’s a converted school, so all of the condos are in the same building), so my mom has one and I have the other. My dad does have a key to my actual front door, though. My mom comes by occasionally to visit my cat (I took her with me when I moved), which I don’t mind, as my cat likes the company (I am a teacher and leave for school before 7 am and usually am home no earlier than 3 pm).

 

[jo-jo]

They have keys/garage code to our house and we have them for their houses.

DS lives close by, usually calls or text, "are you home, thought I'd stop by in a little while." And then walks in.

DD lives 2 1/2 hours away , no just stopping by. Usually we are asking for ETA and waiting on porch to see them pull in.

When we go to their houses, we always knock and wait. If no one answers in a few mins, we will use our key.

 

[antmaril]

Yes, my son has a key to my condo and I have a key to his house. He comes in to check on my condo when I‘m on vacation (when will that be?) and I feed his dog when he‘s working.

He wouldn’t just come here randomly when I’m not home and use his key, but, even if he did, it would be okay.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

When we bought our own house and re-keyed the locks we re-keyed them using my parent’s house key. That way not only do we have a key to their house, they have a key to ours and we didn’t have to purchase a whole bunch of new keys.

My parents don’t care if we come over unannounced or while they are not home. Nor do they care if we grab food while we are there. We all have a open door policy.

We don’t have a key to my IL’s but we do have the code for their garage door. They have a key to our house and know they can come over whenever but they are not comfortable with open door policies so we do not just drop by unannounced with them.

 

[mjkacmom]

We don’t lock our doors during the day, neither did my parents. I’d stop by their house at least once a day, so did my kids, and they stop by here. No announcement ahead of time, no knocking. My 24 year old lives 45 minutes away and pops in without calling, I don’t know why she doesn’t send a text but whatever. My kids know that our home is still their home, even if they live elsewhere.

 

[Donald13]

We all have keys. I usually call first but I’ve let myself in to use the pool. My parents are fine with it. I can’t answer for my siblings but I imagine it’s the same.

 

[tennisfan]

My sister & I both still have keys to our parents house. I live about 5 minutes away so if I go round & they arent in I will let myself in as I know they won't be long as they usually only go out shopping. They have a dog so I will keep him company until they come home.

My sister lives about 40 minutes away so will call before coming over.

My parents have a key to my house and my dad will let himself in if im at work as he is usually dropping parcels I have delivered to their house or he is mowing my lawn for me. He will always knock if im home.

 

[Sleepy425]

I go to my parents house when they aren't home and they come to mine (dropping stuff off, picking stuff up, work being done at my house and want the kids not bothering the workers, don't feel like feeding my kids so I'm hoping they will...etc). No knocking, no formality.
My husband is used to it and we all get along so it isn't an issue. However this would never happen with my inlaws.They have a totally different mind set in their family.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

No and I would always knock first, anyway!

 

[loves to dive]

Mine does, he does not stop by when we are not home, heck he rarely comes by when we are home, especially now because of Covid. We also have a key to his apartment and do not use it unless he expressly asks us to go over and do something if he is out of town. I think I've used it once. We also have a keypad that raises our garage and he has the code to that. I had a key to my parents house when they were alive (I actually owned the house) but never used it unless they asked me to.

 

[disneychrista]

Yes, and yes.
Adult kids can come and go - doesn't bother us.
They also keep their boats & hunting stuff at our farm, no problems there.
It's still very much a family home, but make no mistake....love being empty nesters!

This is pretty much how I feel. It doesn't bother me at all that she stopped by or looked in freezer (and I am sure fridge & cupboards too). I actually find the fridge thing funny because as mentioned she used to do this at my parents house too.

I am just getting used to having an empty nest. Unfortunately, my youngest will be back at the end of the month. I am thinking the two months she has been house sitting will give her the final push to get a place of her own.

 

[sk!mom]

Yes, to keys. Stopping by went we aren’t home...not specifically because we aren’t home but I want them to feel comfortable so I’m fine if they want or need to.

DD lives in another city so sometimes when she comes to visit she gets in while we are at work. I would prefer for her to have a key then have a situation like December when she got in and realized that she didn’t have a key and was texting me at work that she was locked out.

In Summer 2019, she and her then fiancé now husband stayed at our house when we were away on vacation. They were in town for a big reunion of his family and would have normally stayed with his parents for that visit but their home was under major renovation and the only usable guest room needed to be occupied by an elderly family member. We were fine with them using the key and our house.

 

[PrincesCJM]

I have a key to my mom's house but for the life of me, I have no idea which one it is. She lives 3 miles down the road from me and I have her other garage door opener and use that instead. The only time I stop by without her there is with her permission or if we are trying to surprise her. She has a key to my house as well. I'm also 99% sure that she has a key to my brother's house, 2 hours away.

 

[kanne323]

I have not lived with my parents in about twenty years but do have a key. I live about four hours away, though, so there's no reason to just drop in. They always know when I'm coming. I also have a key to their cottage, but that's even further away (12 from me), so I never just drop in, and I've never gone up when they haven't been there.

 

[xjillianpaige]

I have a key and garage door opener. I do stop by when they’re not home but they know I’m going by. Usually to drop something off or pick something up or use the laundry machine.

 

[verleniahall]

Yesn- I have a key to my parents house and so does my husband - and Yes - We go over whenever and no - we dont have to tell them in advance - my brother and SIL each have keys as well - We are FAMILY and family goes in and out whenever

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My brother, sister and I all have keys to our mom's house. If she sees me coming, she'll usually open the door. If she's in another part of the house, I let myself in rather than ringing the doorbell and making her walk to the door. I announce myself right away so she knows it's me. My sister and I have keys to each other's houses as well. We feed each other's rabbits if we're out of town and it's easier to have a key. My adult kids still live at home, but I can't see them not having keys and being welcome to come in anytime after they move out.

 

[willowsnn3]

I have a small apartment in the basement of my daughter's house. Have my own entrance & my own driveway. All the doors coming into the house are keyed the same. She & my teen granddaughter live on the main level. My adult grandson moved out a few months ago but he is still in and out frequently whether we are home or not. He does his laundry here and also the yard work (huge yard).
My other daughter & my son both have keys as they both have lived here with us at one time or another (big house, lol) & until the past year the grands were dropped off here every school day as my daughter has to be at work super early & I got them off to school. My son only comes in through my entrance tho & since he moved out never comes without asking/letting us know.

 

[karen4546]

All four of my adult children have keys to our home-not that they need them because the back door is always unlocked We have a GSD and security cams inside and out.