Why do adult children live with their parents?

TownHall.com ^ | Wednesday, June 12, 2002 | by Dennis Prager

[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

Quote of the Day by Dog Gone

[Phlap]

Why? Because a parent only sees their child and not the monster it may have become.

[Phantom Lord]

My 32 year old brother in law lives with his mother.

My wifes father died in 1993, a year before I met her and she was away at college at the time. So, basically since then it has only been my MIL and BIL living in the home, which is rather large. He has it made. He is single, has a decent income, and has free run of the place as if he lived alone. Plus, being a former carpenter, he spends a lot of time renovating the 30+ year old house with an updated kitchen and bathrooms, new wood floors, new staircase and rail, etc... Almost like a project house.

To be honest with you, he would be crazy to move out.

[Phantom Lord]

My wife and I moved in with my parents for 5 months a few years back. Our lease expired and construction on our home wasnt complete yet. Was great. Mom cooked and cleaned. Did my laundry. Dad did the yard work and we went golfing and got drunk every Sunday. He loved walking and playing with our dog. Who happened to gain about 15 lbs when we lived there. They enjoyed toast and bacon for breakfast together.

Plus their house is pretty big and they have a 1st floor master. So my wife and I had the entire upstairs to ourselves and was like we lived there alone almost. Was great. But 5 months was enough.

[Always Right]

Maybe the kids spent so much time in daycare, this is their first real chance to spend time with their parents.

[Destructor]

It might also be out of necessity. The cost of living is the highest it's ever been, and life is not getting any easier for the average person.

[MadelineZapeezda]

I would have kicked your butts out before 5 months. Sounds like you took advantage of the situation and didn't contribute any help.

[Phantom Lord]

We contributed plenty. But my mom is a little strange. Some people play golf, garden, or engage in other activities for enjoyment. My mom vacuums and cleans. For some reason she loves doing it. And they wont let us put Clubber (the dog) in a kennel when we go away. They want him. Since then we have gotten a 2nd boxer, Maggie, and they refuse to take her. She is a devil dog.

[stevio]

It's Biblical to stay with your parents until you're married.
I had a great relationship with my parents until my father died in '92. I lived with my mother in the house until I got married 4 years later at 31. I treasure that relationship we had and I hope to offer the same to my kids. As long as they are not mooches and capable of taking care of themselves.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

FWIW, I think the article was right when it said you had to look at what the child is doing that is still living at home. Is he productive, or a lazy slob.

But on the other hand, in my experience, I have two children that are both married (24-21), living in their own homes, that BTW they OWN, (I'm not proud or anything:) watching thier friends, alot of these kids are productive living at home, BUT, I don't see alot of what the article says is repect for their parents, or wanting to hang with them. For most of these kids living at home, even while they are being productive, they just come and go as they please, very seldom to never including their parents in their activities. In fact most of them landed up hanging out over at our house.

As far as the old adage of "childern being seen and not heard," I think we should go back to it. When watching news cast, and they get some kid on their to voice their opinion on something, 99 X out of 100, I find myself feeling embarassed by thier idiotic opinions and always wonder why the news casters interview these kids who don't have the life experience to form an educated response. They need to be quiet and learn from their elders. Not that there are actually too many elders out there that are any more intelligent then them:)

Becky

[Judith Anne]

Nice post. Some years ago our DIL stayed with us while Son was in boot camp, and again when he went to Korea...we forged a deep friendship, she is a wonderful person.

[Phantom Lord]

Funny story. As noted, my mother loves to vacuum and clean. Well, one day a Rainbow Vacuum salesman came to the house to try and sell her a vacuum. Rainbows are by far the best vacuum ever. Well, The salesman starts going through his routine and talking about how my moms vacuum is missing all this dirt and hes going to show her by vacuuming with the rainbow. So he puts in the water, starts vacuuming a section. He then informs her of how dirty the water is going to be, bla bla bla. He takes off the motor and BAM, the water is clear as can be!

She bought it anyway.

I have a rainbow myself, and trust me, they are worth every penny. They are like $1,800 new, but are easily found used for several hundred bucks. I bought a used one.

[Phantom Lord]

I think that the editors at the news chanells purposfully go out and find the most idiotic people they can to put on camera and then on air.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I agree, but what would be the purpose of doing that? Sometimes, alot of the times, it makes them appear as stupid.

Becky

[NativeNewYorker]

My mom vacuums and cleans. For some reason she loves doing it.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder. :)

My wife has it too.

[NativeNewYorker]

I have two children that are both married (24-21), living in their own homes, that BTW they OWN

If I may be so bold, HTH did they swing such a financial feat at such tender ages?

[Phantom Lord]

The "News People" clearly think they are above and far smarter than the rest of us. Seeking out and putting on air the dumbest people they can find only boosts their feelings on the matter. Probably a part of the reason.

Also, shirtless morons seem to seek out tv cameras with the skill and speed of Jesse Jackson.

[barker]

Your mother sounds like my grandmother was. You could eat off her bathroom floor.

How many people take time to clean the bottoms of the seats of their kitchen chairs? My mother does.