I live in Sri Lanka. Here, the idea of an extended family is a given. A norm rather than an exception. The advantages of collective living far outweigh the disadvantages. Kids get quality parenting and grand-parenting which gives a great balance to the growth of a child - they get to see the idiocy of young parents bumbling along in their ego and the solid, wise, tested and experienced care of their grandparents. (yeah, young wedded people imagine they know how to bring up their kids best - until their ruefully wondering if they didn't make a big mistake in deciding that when they are are themselves grandparents).
Further, overall management of a household becomes infinitely easier with many people sharing tasks. (If I either myself or my wife is sick, we can be sick without adding worry to the sickness - the kids will be washed, fed, packed off to school, brought back, homework attended to etc. leaving us to be happily sick).
Finally, we don't believe in sending our parents to old aged homes. They bore us, taught us, supported us, helped us in our adulthood - when they are old, we bear them, support them, help them and make sure they pass on surrounded in that cocoon of love that continues from generation to generation. No institutions, meds, geriatrics or euthanasia can ever compare. :)
PUBLIC OPINION > Don't Move Back Home With Your Parents
SodaHead Living
2012/03/30 13:00:00
The economy is tough. For young people just getting out on their own, it's especially tough. The job market is thin, the skill gap is wide, and the rent is too damn high. As a result, the number of people between the ages of 25 and 34 who live with their parents is up from 4.7 million before the recession to 5.9 million -- about a fifth of the age group. We asked the public if moving back in with the 'rents sounds like a good idea.
Tough living or not, most people think moving back in with your parents is a bad idea. To be fair, older (and younger) generations sometimes answered in reference to their own situations, and many "No" votes included asides like "if I had no other options at all" or "if possible." On the other hand, many of the "Yes" voters said the same thing, so it really came down to a gut response. And most people's gut says get your own place ASAP.
Teens Want Out
Young adults, the age group this whole poll centers around, was just about split on the issue, and willingness to move back dropped as voters got older. But the most interesting age demographic was the teens. With the exception of voters over 55, teens were the least willing to stay with their parents. That's because most of them still do, and they want out. Now.
Smokers Stay Away
Sometimes it's tough to determine why smokers might vote differently. It's not a very big difference, and doesn't come with a whole lot of stereotypes. But in this case, it's obvious. Smokers don't want to live with their parents because their parents don't want them to smoke. We're pretty positive about this one.
Wedded Bliss
Finally, one of the biggest differences was relationship status. Again, this one is pretty obvious. First of all, if you're married there's a good chance you can already support yourself, if not an entire family, so there would be no reason to move back. Second of all, sex. Less enjoyable with your parents down the hall.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about living with parents. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
-
Arjuna 2012/03/30 18:35:04
my decease father had warned mother not to let her move nearby...seem to me that mother don't listen or take father's word well enough...
I wonder how many of these adults would want their parents to move in with them -- to help take care of their elderly parents.