Couple And Their 5 Kids Live Their Life “Unblended” In Two Separate Suites In The Same House
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A woman has inspired a conversation about unconventional families after revealing that she and her partner live in separate suites of the same house with their respective children.
Shelley Hunt, 38, and her two kids share a home with her partner, Peter Verge, and his three children. But while you could say they live together, you could also make a case that they’re not. Shelley and her sprouts are staying in one suite, while Peter and his are in the other.
Earlier this month, Shelley shared her family’s living arrangement on TikTok, and it quickly went viral, gaining over 5 million views. In the video, the woman explains the reasoning behind moving into a home with two suites, and how the whole “blended-unblended” situation is working out for them.
More info: TikTok
Meet Shelley Hunt, a mom-of-two who shares a home with her partner and his three kids
Image credits: shellhuntful
Recently, Shelley released a TikTok to explain their unconventional living arrangement
Image credits: shellhuntful
Image credits: shellhuntful
Shelley explained to BuzzFeed that she and Peter came into this arrangement while they were newly dating and both were planning to buy a home. “I had been through a house fire and a divorce and many subsequent moves/transitions, and I was hoping to settle with my kids long-term,” she said.
“We were very new in our relationship, so living together with five kids didn’t seem wise, for us or them.”
Image credits: shellhuntful
In one of her TikToks, Shelley said that two-suite homes are much more common in Canada, where she and Peter live.
“When I found this place, I couldn’t believe how ideal it was for two families. We could be close by but have our own family units. We looked at the house once and put in an offer. It resulted in us both spending less money on a home than if we’d bought separately.”
Image credits: www.tiktok.com
Image credits: shellhuntful
@shellhuntful#WouldYou or #DoYou live like this? #LAT #LivingApart #Unblended #Family #Opinion #WhatDoYouThink #BadMomsOfTikTok #WhatDoYouThink #FYP #StitchThis #ShowMeYours #ShoppersWishlist #SephoraGiftList♬ Home – Edith Whiskers
Both suites have their own kitchen and living room. Shelley’s has two bedrooms and one bathroom, while Peter’s has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The only shared spaces are the hallway and laundry room.
Each suite also has its own separate entrance. Shelley said that she and Peter are completely separate when spending time with their kids, unless they plan something together like a game night or dinner.
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I've actually considered buying a big property with multiple suites connected by a common area -- kind of like vacation lodges -- in order to share with close friends. Everyone gets their private space, as well as the common area for hanging out together.
That's been a dream of mine for a long time.
Up vote for that! But I think they are called communes. Not sure how they really work.
Comunally. ;)
Communally, haha
I had a friend in high school whose mom got remarried to a man who had no children and didn't want any. He was about 20 years older as well, though I don't know if that matters. To resolve the problem, they bought a duplex and put a door between the two. My friend and her sister (14y&12y) lived on one side and mom/step dad on the other. The girls weren't allowed to enter the other side and were to basically never let their presence be known as stepfather wanted no sign of them. Mom would either make dinner on her side and bring it to the girls, or feed him then go next door and make a totally different dinner for the girls. It was sad and ridiculous.
this sounds very toxic. But better than putting the girls in a trailer, but still terrible.
I thought so. The girls behaved like it wasn't a big deal, but periodically they would say something making you see it really was.
As a mom with a 21 year age gap with my hubby, together 15 years, I can tell you it's not the age gap that's the problem it's the mom's priorities. I thought she was gonna be on one side with her kids him on the other and she'd join him to go to bed at the end of the night. What you described is a psychological nightmare
The girl my age was extremely mature for her age. She was always logical and to her it made sense as she wasn't much into the emotional side of things. But her sister was very damaged by it. Their mom was a good, loving and caring mom. The stepfather was wealthy and I will always believe mom was playing along to ensure security of care for the girls. Mom spent quite a bit of time on the girl's side, but at any moment when hubby summoned her, she had to rush next door, no matter what she was doing at the time. By the time I moved to the town and met them, we were in high school. But they had lived there since the oldest was 6 or 7. I still have a difficult time wrapping my head around it for that age.
That is awful
Sounds very "Flowers in the Attic" to me. Mom puts the needs/wants of new hubby ahead of the needs/wants of her own children for a spouse. Hubby wants the wife, but won't tolerate even the sight of her children? And Mom said "ok, bet" Cant imagine that the kids weren't at least a little traumatized by that. But, on the bright side, from the sound of it, the kids didn't have to tolerate their toxic mother either...so there's that
I had great parents, but still, when I was 14, I'd have loved that arrangement. ;-)
This is so interesting! I love it when people embrace what works for him. Lots of couples need their space and this shows a lot of consideration for the children too.
I've actually considered buying a big property with multiple suites connected by a common area -- kind of like vacation lodges -- in order to share with close friends. Everyone gets their private space, as well as the common area for hanging out together.
That's been a dream of mine for a long time.
Up vote for that! But I think they are called communes. Not sure how they really work.
Comunally. ;)
Communally, haha
I had a friend in high school whose mom got remarried to a man who had no children and didn't want any. He was about 20 years older as well, though I don't know if that matters. To resolve the problem, they bought a duplex and put a door between the two. My friend and her sister (14y&12y) lived on one side and mom/step dad on the other. The girls weren't allowed to enter the other side and were to basically never let their presence be known as stepfather wanted no sign of them. Mom would either make dinner on her side and bring it to the girls, or feed him then go next door and make a totally different dinner for the girls. It was sad and ridiculous.
this sounds very toxic. But better than putting the girls in a trailer, but still terrible.
I thought so. The girls behaved like it wasn't a big deal, but periodically they would say something making you see it really was.
As a mom with a 21 year age gap with my hubby, together 15 years, I can tell you it's not the age gap that's the problem it's the mom's priorities. I thought she was gonna be on one side with her kids him on the other and she'd join him to go to bed at the end of the night. What you described is a psychological nightmare
The girl my age was extremely mature for her age. She was always logical and to her it made sense as she wasn't much into the emotional side of things. But her sister was very damaged by it. Their mom was a good, loving and caring mom. The stepfather was wealthy and I will always believe mom was playing along to ensure security of care for the girls. Mom spent quite a bit of time on the girl's side, but at any moment when hubby summoned her, she had to rush next door, no matter what she was doing at the time. By the time I moved to the town and met them, we were in high school. But they had lived there since the oldest was 6 or 7. I still have a difficult time wrapping my head around it for that age.
That is awful
Sounds very "Flowers in the Attic" to me. Mom puts the needs/wants of new hubby ahead of the needs/wants of her own children for a spouse. Hubby wants the wife, but won't tolerate even the sight of her children? And Mom said "ok, bet" Cant imagine that the kids weren't at least a little traumatized by that. But, on the bright side, from the sound of it, the kids didn't have to tolerate their toxic mother either...so there's that
I had great parents, but still, when I was 14, I'd have loved that arrangement. ;-)
This is so interesting! I love it when people embrace what works for him. Lots of couples need their space and this shows a lot of consideration for the children too.