8. Living With Parents

“There is a senseless notion that children grow up and leave home when they’re 18, and the truth is far from that.” says sociologist Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin. Today, unexpected numbers of young adults are living with their parents. ”There is a major shift in the middle class, ” declares sociologist Allan Schnaiberg of Northwestern University, whose son ,19,moved back in after an absence of eight months.

Analysts cite pleasantness par-a variety of reasons ticularly attract-for this return to tive to young the nest.The people. A high marriage age is divorce rate and a rising, a condideclining remartion that makes riage rate are home and its sending economically pressed and emotionally hurt survivors back to parental shelters. For some, the expense of an away–from–home college education has become so excessively great that many students now attend local schools. Even after graduation , young people find their wings clipped by skyrocketing housing costs.

A mother says, “It’s ridiculous for the kids to pay all that money for rent. It makes sense for kids to stay at home.” But sharing the family home requires adjustments for all. There are the hassles over bathrooms, telephones and privacy. Some families, however, manage the delicate balancing act. But for others, it proves too difficult, Michelle Del Turco , 24,has been home three times – and left three times, “What I considered a social drink, my dad considered an alcohol problem,” she explains. “He never liked anyone I dated, so I either had tohide away or meet them at friends’ houses.”

Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on ? Most psychologists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake. Many agree that brief visits , however, can work beneficially.