Adult Children Living At Home: How Clinging to Mommy and Daddy Is Ruining a Generation

[superfan1]

As children grow up and venture out into the world, the transition from a bustling household to an empty one can be difficult - so, why not skip it all together?

Comments

[bowtomecha]

In the U.S., we don’t have a serious fertility problem because we have a significant immigrant population, which tend to have larger families. But if you subtracted the immigrants we wouldn’t look all that different from countries that are now suffering the consequences of very very low fertility, which usually means lower productivity.

I'm side-eyeing this and wondering why you would need to subtract the immigrant population to begin with.

[thepuddingcook]

Because of the "unfortunate implications" down the road? Namely, if there are way more "immigrant" babies than white babies, those "immigrants" are going to be the majority. And we can't be having that, can we?

[thenakedcat]

The most generous possible interpretation of that sentence: The fertility rate of recent immigrants has, throughout US history, dropped off very sharply in later generations. The children and grandchildren of immigrants have a near-replacement fertility on par with the general population.

[bowtomecha]

I hate that "americans" are a "we" versus the americans that are a "them". Its like saying that all 1st generation citizens aren't americans or don't have the potential to make new american citizens that inherit the cultural traits of this country.

[spiegel11th]

There is a really weird glitch with this - it's sort of gone: first page twice, second page twice, third page twice, end.

And - well, I'm twenty two, so I'm not certain I'm old enough for this to apply yet (depends on your definition), but most of my friends who've moved out of their parents' houses did so with a partner, while I am persistently single. I also have a strong desire to look after my parents as they age, my father being disabled and my mother being prone to forgetfulness (and as her mother has late-stage Alzheimers, lets hope that's all it is), and I doubt that would really be doable if I moved out.

[brookiki]

I was wondering about that. I kept reading the same thing over again and wondered if it was time to go to bed (well, it's 5AM, so clearly it is, but

[superfan1]

My fault for the double wording repeating in my post. Sorry and agree with everything you said about the stigma of adult children living at home.

I'm also sorry about your parents. Hugs.

[spiegel11th]

And I'm not even American! So lulz at that.
And I'm sorry to hear about your parents - all I can say is that, while there's terrible emotional torment over putting ones parents in care, it's also not good to wear yourself to the bone looking after them (which is more likely if you don't live with them, I'd say, which'd add so much worry to it). I watched my mother try to look after her mother (all my mother's older brothers and sisters living too far away) as she deteriorated, and it was painful. So do be sure to look after yourself, too.

(Says someone who goes through paroxysms of guilt at the thought of moving away, but never mind me~)

[recorded]

this.

[foureyedgirl]

mfte ughh

[screamingintune]

Personally, even though I adore my mother, I could not deal with living at home. I'm almost 33 and moved out at 18, and never even went back for a summer. I guess I just have a really strong need for independence and not having to be accountable to someone I live with. I've lived in some shitty, shitty arrangements with terrible roommates in shitty houses, but I still preferred it to living with my mother. But I get that other people have different priorities.

But idk, ruining a generation? Have the considered how fucking hard it is to get by these days? I had to have roommates, sometimes some sketchy people I barely knew, until I was 30. It's hard for a young person to get a job to afford living on their own, harder than ever. I think what's ruining a generation is an economy which is very hard on people who aren't rich.

[brookiki]

It's also killing the economy. Apparently (and I don't have the link off-hand), the fact that young adults are choosing to delay living on their own and instead moving back with their parents after graduating college means that they're selfishly not dumping money that can't really afford to spend into renting apartments and setting a new household. Because needlessly spending money you can't afford to spend is always the solution to a problem. /sarcasm

[kyakki]

Young people - ruining the world because they are just too selfish to actually like being bled dry.

[spiegel11th]

Homg Rainbow Dash is adorable.

[kyakki]

Plus, there are plenty of people who could live alone, but remain with their parents to help them. I get that this is not common with every culture, but for others it is and it does not equal inferior. Get over it.

I also hate the title of this article - as if Gen X/Y is at fault for the politics and policies in US society that pretty much led to the circumstances that caused them to need to rely more on their parents or grandparents. You know - the people actually old enough to have really helped shape how things are now.

Unless you seriously believe that people who were anywhere from just leaving diapers to just entering college in the 80's and onwards were actually the ones with majority (or any) power, I guess. FYI, those commercials of babies managing stock accounts and other adult matters are not meant to be taken seriously.

[zombieroadtrip]

I also hate the title of this article - as if Gen X/Y is at fault for the politics and policies in US society that pretty much led to the circumstances that caused them to need to rely more on their parents or grandparents. You know - the people actually old enough to have really helped shape how things are now.

But "KIDS TODAY!" *shakes fist*

[kyakki]

"YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN, THE KIND YOU MAY NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO OWN!"

[marrasyn]

A+