Why is it so unacceptable for adult children to live at home?

Question

Why do so many people in the US look down on people still living at home? In other cultures, people save money this way and are way more attached to their extended families. People living at home here are the butt of everyone's jokes, get no respect, and are contstantly made to feel second class. I know a few nice immigrant families who were telling me that they didn't understand why everyone in America were in big empty houses paying mortgages, when they lived in close quarters and were massively ahead of the average joe money wise. Is this "cultural thing" about everyone needing their own place just a bonus for greedy realtors and mortgage companies?????

Answer 1

I think that this attitude is rapidly diminishing. It is slowly becoming common knowledge that you can graduate college and still be unable to support yourself in many areas of the US. My sister lives in New Jersey and many families either let the kids stay at home after college or give them a stipend to boost them along. With the fall in home sales there are now a whole lot less realtors and mortgage companies are downsizing. Actually, I think it is better for many people to live with extended family from both a financial and emotional standpoint..

Answer 2

It's the American culture. I live in the UK and its the same here. My Colombian partner says in his country people live with their families for a long time - but mostly because flats are so difficult to get.

I want to move out. I want privacy, independence, etc. I want to be able to share my room with my partner. I want to set my own timetable, do my own decorating, have my own space, buy the things I want, have what I want on TV without being treated like I am ten years younger (let's face it, even when you are fifty you are your parent's child).

Take a look at the animal kingdom also. Often once a baby reaches maturity the mother just LEAVES. Gone. To force the baby to grow up. It's how things are. I think people do need their own lives.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with families living together. It is often easier financially as well as emotionally. In the past families often stayed together so that children actually got to live with their grandparents. So many people now just can't get along and they are jealous of close families. Thats my opinion and Im sticking to it.

Answer 4

because living at home is different then living together. if you and your best friend pooled your resources and got a big assed house for both your families to live in, then you'd be very smart, and living together. if you're living at your parents house and still eating their means, following their rules, pretty much in an extended adolescence, then you are living at home. and then people are like, grow up.

many people in my family lived together. and i know have some cousins who are living at home, so i can see the difference.

Answer 5

I don't know...but I told someone that I lived with my son and my mother and they found that really odd. That person is from the US as am I. I'm 27 years old and I explained that this arrangement works since we split everything 50/50 and I have help raising my 3 year old.

Answer 6

I don't know, either. I live with my husband, our four year old daughter, our soon-to-be-born daughter, and his parents. We all get along, and the arrangement works for everyone.My daughters have live-in grandparents, I'm a stay at home mom, my parents live fifteen minutes away, the three adults work, and I cook and clean the house. The arrangement works for us.

Answer 7

I have no idea-my son is 22 and lives my husband and I. We all have a very good family bond--we look at family as first--not as privacy.

Answer 8

we americans love our privacy.....even from family...