My husband and I have one child, a son, he is 18 and due to start university after summer. We live in London, where he intends to study so will be staying at home, at least for first year.
Our family are particularly close to another family, they live in the Lakes, are the Godparents to our son and we are the Godparents of their eldest daughter. Every summer my son spends the middle two weeks of the holidays with them, an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of where they live. Our goddaughter tends to visit for a week in April and again for October half-term, sometimes with her sister but mostly without. This set-up began when our son and goddaughter started secondary school, so 7 years ago.
We know our goddaughter to be a lovely, friendly and sweet girl. She too is to start university in London come the Autumn.
During the weekend just passed we spent some time with the family, we attended a wedding together then had them for dinner on Sunday evening. A conversation took place regarding the accommodation of our Goddaughter come Autumn, currently Halls are the most likely choice, though her parents are far from fond of this. She is to attend the same university as our son, as such we spoke of how good it will be for them both to have a familiar face when they begin.
Since they left on Monday, my son has spoke of how we should consider offering our guest room to our goddaughter, and allow her to reside with us for the first year of her course. They are close friends and have much in common so I'm sure that is why he is suggesting rather than a true concern of her wellbeing.
I mentioned to my goddaughters mother the suggestion and she said that if it were to be offered they would be keen to accept if our goddaughter so wished, but did no accept the offer and told us to feel no pressure in making it.
My husband is not certain we should make the offer, although the guest room is seldom used by anyone other than our goddaughter it is good to know we have it available and he thinks it inevitable that some level of relationship would develop between our son and goddaughter, romantic or otherwise. I on the other hand think that if that were going to happen, it either already has during their weeks spent with one and other over the last 2 years or will happen regardless as they will still see a great amount of the other. I also don't see why it should be impossible that they are should remain just friends.
Am I being unreasonable to think we should go ahead and make the offer? Ask of a small amount of money monthly to cover board but do it more so to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our Goddaughter?