Living with my parents boosted our sex life

Sam Pettit, 48, moved her mum and dad in so she and her husband could get some time alone

- ALLEY EINSTEIN

Waking up on a Saturday morning, I hear the usual banging and slamming of doors. My daughter, Ella, who is 11, runs past my room offering a cursory wave. Instead of coming in for a cuddle, she’s heading to her grandparents’ room in the massive, old hotel we now call home. She starts her morning with a hug and chat there before we all settle down to breakfast in our multi-generational kitchen.

While many husbands and wives hate the thought of in-laws visiting, for us it’s a dream come true. In fact,we were so determined to ensure they’d stay for good that we bought an old hotel and converted it into our very own home.

It’d been my dream to have a home big enough for everyone in the family to not only have a bedroom, but a whole area to call their own. But we also love the big, communal spaces, which are roomy enough for everyone to cook, have dinner and watch TV together. We even have a pool table.

Now that I’ve finally achieved my goal, I couldn’t be happier. It’s brought our family closer together – and given my husband and me some quality time as a couple. It’s improved our relationship and even our sex life.

I’ve been dreaming of this set-up since I was a child. My first marriage ended in divorce in 2000, leaving me a single mum to Amy, now 29, a dog walker – who has a daughter of her own called Mia, four – and Billy, 25, a bricklayer.

My second long-term partner tragically died of motor neurone disease while I cared for him. I was pregnant with Ella at the time. Today,I’m a mum of three, step mum of two and grandmother of one.

Starting again